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1L SA or SEC?
Posted: Tue Feb 23, 2021 2:50 pm
by Anonymous User
Anon for obvious reasons. 1L at a T25. Wanting to do transactional, finance work.
I worked for a Biglaw firm before coming to school and they offered me an SA position ($$$). I also have an offer from SEC in DC (unpaid).
I really need the money but need to know if the SEC program is prestigious enough to justify being broke and borrowing $$$ more for 2L. I want to go to the firm full-time after school and do 2L SA there, if possible.
Am I crazy for considering the unpaid position?
Re: 1L SA or SEC?
Posted: Tue Feb 23, 2021 3:02 pm
by jackshunger
Yes. Take the money and run.
Re: 1L SA or SEC?
Posted: Tue Feb 23, 2021 3:04 pm
by Anonymous User
jackshunger wrote: ↑Tue Feb 23, 2021 3:02 pm
Yes. Take the money and run.
Thank you for your honesty (and Steve Miller Band reference)
Re: 1L SA or SEC?
Posted: Tue Feb 23, 2021 3:20 pm
by 2013
If you really want to do SEC work, do it as an extern during the school year instead.
Re: 1L SA or SEC?
Posted: Tue Feb 23, 2021 3:35 pm
by jotarokujo
2013 wrote: ↑Tue Feb 23, 2021 3:20 pm
If you really want to do SEC work, do it as an extern during the school year instead.
seconding this, externing is so much better than taking doctrinals/seminars
Re: 1L SA or SEC?
Posted: Tue Feb 23, 2021 3:36 pm
by Anonymous User
What everyone has already said. Take the SA.
Re: 1L SA or SEC?
Posted: Tue Feb 23, 2021 4:12 pm
by Wubbles
1L SA is typically seen as hard to get so hits the "prestige" bar, possibly moreso than an SEC unpaid internship. I was competitive for the latter and didn't get a whiff for the former for instance. Also, as others said, SEC does a lot of in-semester externships, might be able to just ask them to bump it to the fall for that.
Re: 1L SA or SEC?
Posted: Wed Feb 24, 2021 3:14 am
by the lsat failure
If anything, take the SA for no other reason than the likelihood of receiving a return offer. Can't put a price tag on the reduced stress and anxiety when OCI rolls around. And yes, you are crazy for thinking about turning it down.
Re: 1L SA or SEC?
Posted: Wed Feb 24, 2021 9:47 am
by melpomene
I did 2 externships at 2 different SEC DC Divisions (ENF and a specialized division), really enjoyed the experience. Take the money for the summer, but definitely consider doing the SEC during the semester. It really helped me for OCI to have that kind of substantive experience, especially if you’re trying to do investigations or capital markets.
Re: 1L SA or SEC?
Posted: Wed Feb 24, 2021 9:58 am
by Anonymous User
For what its worth, Bobbie Sue and Billy Joe both got away. They're both good options on paper - go with the people you like most and think you'd more likely find long term mentors for what you want to do. Remember, they're both still running today and its been 40 years.