Top Law Schools

Money aside, the grind is pretty rough. I'd love to get some opinions on what the ideal quick exit from biglaw corporate work is. Not desperate yet but I am already thinking about it plenty.

Let's assume the following:

V10 first year in a major market
"specialist" corporate group
TTT/T law school with great grades (whatever that means to you, but good enough to get biglaw from such a school)
Some prior work experience (approx. 3-5 years, unrelated to law, no science)
Likes being a lawyer generally
Under 100k in debt

Just looking for ideas on what jobs are available the soonest, what they might pay (both near and long term), and how long it would take to be marketable for them.

Thanks in advance.

Anonymous User wrote:Money aside, the grind is pretty rough. I'd love to get some opinions on what the ideal quick exit from biglaw corporate work is. Not desperate yet but I am already thinking about it plenty.

Let's assume the following:

V10 first year in a major market
"specialist" corporate group
TTT/T law school with great grades (whatever that means to you, but good enough to get biglaw from such a school)
Some prior work experience (approx. 3-5 years, unrelated to law, no science)
Likes being a lawyer generally
Under 100k in debt

Just looking for ideas on what jobs are available the soonest, what they might pay (both near and long term), and how long it would take to be marketable for them.

Thanks in advance.

One guy from my firm went from Wachtell/S&C/Cravath to a top investment bank in ~1 year. He was noticeably favored at the firm within a few months.

Other fast exits include in-house legal counsel positions at investment banks starting after 2/3 year, business development positions at startups starting after 1 year, etc.

Anonymous User wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:Money aside, the grind is pretty rough. I'd love to get some opinions on what the ideal quick exit from biglaw corporate work is. Not desperate yet but I am already thinking about it plenty.

Let's assume the following:

V10 first year in a major market
"specialist" corporate group
TTT/T law school with great grades (whatever that means to you, but good enough to get biglaw from such a school)
Some prior work experience (approx. 3-5 years, unrelated to law, no science)
Likes being a lawyer generally
Under 100k in debt

Just looking for ideas on what jobs are available the soonest, what they might pay (both near and long term), and how long it would take to be marketable for them.

Thanks in advance.

I don't think your school matters after you spend sometime at your job.

One guy from my firm went from Wachtell/S&C/Cravath to a top investment bank in ~1 year. He was noticeably favored at the firm within a few months.

Could you please say how being noticeably favored looks?

Anonymous User wrote:One guy from my firm went from Wachtell/S&C/Cravath to a top investment bank in ~1 year. He was noticeably favored at the firm within a few months.

Could you please say how being noticeably favored looks?

Getting more work

LaLiLuLeLo wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:One guy from my firm went from Wachtell/S&C/Cravath to a top investment bank in ~1 year. He was noticeably favored at the firm within a few months.

Could you please say how being noticeably favored looks?

Getting more work

Consistently getting cool/high profile matters.

.

Anonymous User wrote:

LaLiLuLeLo wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:One guy from my firm went from Wachtell/S&C/Cravath to a top investment bank in ~1 year. He was noticeably favored at the firm within a few months.

Could you please say how being noticeably favored looks?

Getting more work

Consistently getting placed on the highest profile matters by senior associates/partners. Also, there is a type of junior work that all juniors want to avoid, but end up getting assigned to do anyway. This guy barely did any of such work.

Same anon as above. Getting more work is not ideal on its own.

Anonymous User wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:

LaLiLuLeLo wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:One guy from my firm went from Wachtell/S&C/Cravath to a top investment bank in ~1 year. He was noticeably favored at the firm within a few months.

Could you please say how being noticeably favored looks?

Getting more work

Consistently getting placed on the highest profile matters by senior associates/partners. Also, there is a type of junior work that all juniors want to avoid, but end up getting assigned to do anyway. This guy barely did any of such work.

Same anon as above. Getting more work is not ideal on its own.

Thanks for clarifying.

Anonymous User wrote:
One guy from my firm went from Wachtell/S&C/Cravath to a top investment bank in ~1 year. He was noticeably favored at the firm within a few months.

Other fast exits include in-house legal counsel positions at investment banks starting after 2/3 year, business development positions at startups starting after 1 year, etc.

OP here. Curious about the startup stuff. Do you know any examples? Maybe I can search the message board...

Anonymous User wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:Money aside, the grind is pretty rough. I'd love to get some opinions on what the ideal quick exit from biglaw corporate work is. Not desperate yet but I am already thinking about it plenty.

Let's assume the following:

V10 first year in a major market
"specialist" corporate group
TTT/T law school with great grades (whatever that means to you, but good enough to get biglaw from such a school)
Some prior work experience (approx. 3-5 years, unrelated to law, no science)
Likes being a lawyer generally
Under 100k in debt

Just looking for ideas on what jobs are available the soonest, what they might pay (both near and long term), and how long it would take to be marketable for them.

Thanks in advance.

I don't think your school matters after you spend sometime at your job.

I think this is definitely false. ESPECIALLY if you're making an exit like the aforementioned business development at a startup.

Maybe its less of a factor if you're doing a run of the mill in house exit and the company is familiar with your firm. I think most companies have far more familiarity with, and consequently ascribe more value to, prestigious schools than prestigious law firms.

Anonymous User wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:Money aside, the grind is pretty rough. I'd love to get some opinions on what the ideal quick exit from biglaw corporate work is. Not desperate yet but I am already thinking about it plenty.

Let's assume the following:

V10 first year in a major market
"specialist" corporate group
TTT/T law school with great grades (whatever that means to you, but good enough to get biglaw from such a school)
Some prior work experience (approx. 3-5 years, unrelated to law, no science)
Likes being a lawyer generally
Under 100k in debt

Just looking for ideas on what jobs are available the soonest, what they might pay (both near and long term), and how long it would take to be marketable for them.

Thanks in advance.

I don't think your school matters after you spend sometime at your job.

I think this is definitely false. ESPECIALLY if you're making an exit like the aforementioned business development at a startup.

Maybe its less of a factor if you're doing a run of the mill in house exit and the company is familiar with your firm. I think most companies have far more familiarity with, and consequently ascribe more value to, prestigious schools than prestigious law firms.

I am not saying you're completely wrong, but I would say with a startup the school probably matters less than if you are looking to go in-house at an investment firm or PE fund. Start-ups don't have the same ability to be as picky and will look more at your work experience. Schools always help, but firm and work experience are more important after a while.

what's the specialty?

Anonymous User wrote:what's the specialty?

Let's assume its one of benefits/comp, IP, or tax. Does that affect the advice? I'm assuming it does.