Re-Tooling From Lit to Corp Forum

[Anonymous User]

I'm about to lateral and re-tool from lit to corp. Let me know any and all tips/suggestions you wish you knew when you were essentially starting out in corporate / as a corporate specialist.

[Anonymous User]

bump

[Barnabyboom]

Also interested in this.

[gregfootball2001]

I did this about seven months ago, midlaw lit to v50 corp. It's been an interesting transition. YMMV.

There are many more moving parts to keep track of in corp. In lit, the normal motion may have an exhibit or five, but in corp, every contract has 30+ attachments. And they're all changing, and they all affect the main agreement. And that's just one agreement. I ended up keeping separate Outlook folders for some of the more heavily negotiated attachments. It's a lot more to keep in your head.

There's something new every day. In lit, you may know that three weeks out a MSJ response is due, so that week is gonna suck. Plus you have that hearing to prepare for, and discovery responses need to be put together. That trial is in March, and the arbitration in April, so that time is generally going to be very busy, but summer may be light because the next big deadline isn't until October. There are certainly fire drills, but it's not every week, and certainly not every day. In contrast, it's a rare day in corp where someone doesn't ask for something to be done either that day or the next day. I literally have zero deadlines farther out than a week (other than X client wants to close in Feb, for example - but this isn't very helpful because (a) it's likely to move anyway, and (b) how much work there will be depends entirely upon how the negotiations go). It can be harder to negotiate your workflow.

There are fewer assholes on the other side. There's a small but active percentage of lit attorneys who feel that opposing attorneys are the enemy, and treat them as such. In corp, everyone wants to come to a deal in the end. So the overall atmosphere is somewhat more collegial. For me at least, it really makes a difference.

The stress is more spread out. In lit, the stressful days were in peaks and valleys - trial, arbitration, big hearing. In corp, everything is a little more important (oh, no one else is ever going to look at this important attachment I just revised until signing, so it really needs to be perfect), but there are rarely peaks of stress unless multiple things hit at once.

The work itself is more detailed. In lit, you come up with your overall story (or theory for the brief), put together your arguments, do research on each point, and put it all together as a cohesive whole. There are the strongest arguments, the less strong arguments, and the hail mary arguments - if one doesn't work, hopefully another does. Everything serves and supports the overall theory. In corp, other than "X wants to buy Y," or "A wants to build B," there aren't overall theories in the same way. Each part, the financials, the terms, whatever, can sink the deal. There are dozens of terms that can become dealbreakers, and that's before financing gets involved. It all has to work. An overlooked clause can become a nightmare for a company down the road, so you have to know everything really well, and think through the consequences of changing things. It's a different kind of intellectual exercise.

Every corp practice is different, so let me say again, YMMV. If you have any questions, let me know.

[worklifewhat]

I did this about seven months ago, midlaw lit to v50 corp. It's been an interesting transition. YMMV.

There are many more moving parts to keep track of in corp. In lit, the normal motion may have an exhibit or five, but in corp, every contract has 30+ attachments. And they're all changing, and they all affect the main agreement. And that's just one agreement. I ended up keeping separate Outlook folders for some of the more heavily negotiated attachments. It's a lot more to keep in your head.

There's something new every day. In lit, you may know that three weeks out a MSJ response is due, so that week is gonna suck. Plus you have that hearing to prepare for, and discovery responses need to be put together. That trial is in March, and the arbitration in April, so that time is generally going to be very busy, but summer may be light because the next big deadline isn't until October. There are certainly fire drills, but it's not every week, and certainly not every day. In contrast, it's a rare day in corp where someone doesn't ask for something to be done either that day or the next day. I literally have zero deadlines farther out than a week (other than X client wants to close in Feb, for example - but this isn't very helpful because (a) it's likely to move anyway, and (b) how much work there will be depends entirely upon how the negotiations go). It can be harder to negotiate your workflow.

There are fewer assholes on the other side. There's a small but active percentage of lit attorneys who feel that opposing attorneys are the enemy, and treat them as such. In corp, everyone wants to come to a deal in the end. So the overall atmosphere is somewhat more collegial. For me at least, it really makes a difference.

The stress is more spread out. In lit, the stressful days were in peaks and valleys - trial, arbitration, big hearing. In corp, everything is a little more important (oh, no one else is ever going to look at this important attachment I just revised until signing, so it really needs to be perfect), but there are rarely peaks of stress unless multiple things hit at once.

The work itself is more detailed. In lit, you come up with your overall story (or theory for the brief), put together your arguments, do research on each point, and put it all together as a cohesive whole. There are the strongest arguments, the less strong arguments, and the hail mary arguments - if one doesn't work, hopefully another does. Everything serves and supports the overall theory. In corp, other than "X wants to buy Y," or "A wants to build B," there aren't overall theories in the same way. Each part, the financials, the terms, whatever, can sink the deal. There are dozens of terms that can become dealbreakers, and that's before financing gets involved. It all has to work. An overlooked clause can become a nightmare for a company down the road, so you have to know everything really well, and think through the consequences of changing things. It's a different kind of intellectual exercise.

Every corp practice is different, so let me say again, YMMV. If you have any questions, let me know.

How senior were you when you made the move? How did you find your job?

[gregfootball2001]

I did this about seven months ago, midlaw lit to v50 corp. It's been an interesting transition. YMMV.

There are many more moving parts to keep track of in corp. In lit, the normal motion may have an exhibit or five, but in corp, every contract has 30+ attachments. And they're all changing, and they all affect the main agreement. And that's just one agreement. I ended up keeping separate Outlook folders for some of the more heavily negotiated attachments. It's a lot more to keep in your head.

There's something new every day. In lit, you may know that three weeks out a MSJ response is due, so that week is gonna suck. Plus you have that hearing to prepare for, and discovery responses need to be put together. That trial is in March, and the arbitration in April, so that time is generally going to be very busy, but summer may be light because the next big deadline isn't until October. There are certainly fire drills, but it's not every week, and certainly not every day. In contrast, it's a rare day in corp where someone doesn't ask for something to be done either that day or the next day. I literally have zero deadlines farther out than a week (other than X client wants to close in Feb, for example - but this isn't very helpful because (a) it's likely to move anyway, and (b) how much work there will be depends entirely upon how the negotiations go). It can be harder to negotiate your workflow.

There are fewer assholes on the other side. There's a small but active percentage of lit attorneys who feel that opposing attorneys are the enemy, and treat them as such. In corp, everyone wants to come to a deal in the end. So the overall atmosphere is somewhat more collegial. For me at least, it really makes a difference.

The stress is more spread out. In lit, the stressful days were in peaks and valleys - trial, arbitration, big hearing. In corp, everything is a little more important (oh, no one else is ever going to look at this important attachment I just revised until signing, so it really needs to be perfect), but there are rarely peaks of stress unless multiple things hit at once.

The work itself is more detailed. In lit, you come up with your overall story (or theory for the brief), put together your arguments, do research on each point, and put it all together as a cohesive whole. There are the strongest arguments, the less strong arguments, and the hail mary arguments - if one doesn't work, hopefully another does. Everything serves and supports the overall theory. In corp, other than "X wants to buy Y," or "A wants to build B," there aren't overall theories in the same way. Each part, the financials, the terms, whatever, can sink the deal. There are dozens of terms that can become dealbreakers, and that's before financing gets involved. It all has to work. An overlooked clause can become a nightmare for a company down the road, so you have to know everything really well, and think through the consequences of changing things. It's a different kind of intellectual exercise.

Every corp practice is different, so let me say again, YMMV. If you have any questions, let me know.

How senior were you when you made the move? How did you find your job?

3rd year, but I took a year cut for the job, so I'm currently a second year.

Online posting at the v50, and then friends I had there talked me up. No recruiter.

[worklifewhat]

I did this about seven months ago, midlaw lit to v50 corp. It's been an interesting transition. YMMV.

There are many more moving parts to keep track of in corp. In lit, the normal motion may have an exhibit or five, but in corp, every contract has 30+ attachments. And they're all changing, and they all affect the main agreement. And that's just one agreement. I ended up keeping separate Outlook folders for some of the more heavily negotiated attachments. It's a lot more to keep in your head.

There's something new every day. In lit, you may know that three weeks out a MSJ response is due, so that week is gonna suck. Plus you have that hearing to prepare for, and discovery responses need to be put together. That trial is in March, and the arbitration in April, so that time is generally going to be very busy, but summer may be light because the next big deadline isn't until October. There are certainly fire drills, but it's not every week, and certainly not every day. In contrast, it's a rare day in corp where someone doesn't ask for something to be done either that day or the next day. I literally have zero deadlines farther out than a week (other than X client wants to close in Feb, for example - but this isn't very helpful because (a) it's likely to move anyway, and (b) how much work there will be depends entirely upon how the negotiations go). It can be harder to negotiate your workflow.

There are fewer assholes on the other side. There's a small but active percentage of lit attorneys who feel that opposing attorneys are the enemy, and treat them as such. In corp, everyone wants to come to a deal in the end. So the overall atmosphere is somewhat more collegial. For me at least, it really makes a difference.

The stress is more spread out. In lit, the stressful days were in peaks and valleys - trial, arbitration, big hearing. In corp, everything is a little more important (oh, no one else is ever going to look at this important attachment I just revised until signing, so it really needs to be perfect), but there are rarely peaks of stress unless multiple things hit at once.

The work itself is more detailed. In lit, you come up with your overall story (or theory for the brief), put together your arguments, do research on each point, and put it all together as a cohesive whole. There are the strongest arguments, the less strong arguments, and the hail mary arguments - if one doesn't work, hopefully another does. Everything serves and supports the overall theory. In corp, other than "X wants to buy Y," or "A wants to build B," there aren't overall theories in the same way. Each part, the financials, the terms, whatever, can sink the deal. There are dozens of terms that can become dealbreakers, and that's before financing gets involved. It all has to work. An overlooked clause can become a nightmare for a company down the road, so you have to know everything really well, and think through the consequences of changing things. It's a different kind of intellectual exercise.

Every corp practice is different, so let me say again, YMMV. If you have any questions, let me know.

How senior were you when you made the move? How did you find your job?

3rd year, but I took a year cut for the job, so I'm currently a second year.

Online posting at the v50, and then friends I had there talked me up. No recruiter.

Are you happy with your decision? What drove you away from litigation? I've wanted to do this for well over a year and haven't had any luck--admittedly, though, I haven't been trying all that much since it seemed like a near impossibility. Anything you wish you would have known before making this move?

[gregfootball2001]

I did this about seven months ago, midlaw lit to v50 corp. It's been an interesting transition. YMMV.

. . .

How senior were you when you made the move? How did you find your job?

3rd year, but I took a year cut for the job, so I'm currently a second year.

Online posting at the v50, and then friends I had there talked me up. No recruiter.

Are you happy with your decision? What drove you away from litigation? I've wanted to do this for well over a year and haven't had any luck--admittedly, though, I haven't been trying all that much since it seemed like a near impossibility. Anything you wish you would have known before making this move?

Yes, for multiple reasons. More money, more prestige (though more hours), better exit options. I really do enjoy the atmosphere of corporate work more, as I said. Overall it's working well. I don't know if I'm fully on board the making-partner train (it may require billing more hours than I want to bill), but I'm happy I made the move.

I wouldn't say I was driven away from lit - I saw this opening, I wasn't 100% happy, and there were numerous benefits, so I went for it. I really liked the people at my old firm, so it was a tough choice.

It really is a different side of the law, and a different kind of intellectual exercise, and you have to be okay with that. Also, the future is very different. In-house becomes a much bigger possibility, but jobs like AUSA or being a judge are impossibilities now. Something to think about if you have particular aspirations.