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Hi,

I’m a 3L looking for a big law job and have been asked for an interview with a firm’s Executive Compensation group. Based on the bios of the partners I’ll be interviewing with, the firm’s practice is more like M&A exec comp work.

My concern is I haven’t taken any employment/labor law classes or securities regulation. But I have taken other business law classes and have done some internships at major companies’s employment law department during law school, as well as a big law internship (corporate). Would it be a hard sell to say I’m interested in Exec Comp when I haven’t taken any related classes?

I’d also appreciate any general advice for interviewing for this position. Thanks!

I have not worked in executive compensation, but while having a demonstrated history of activities/coursework focused in a specific area can be helpful, it's also not super necessary (although some could argue they would expect more specific interest in 3L hiring, but I don't think that's always true). You should focus hard on your interest in corporate work, especially your existing internships/business classes, your energy and willingness to be at their service all hours of the day and your positive experiences in law thus far.

I also interviewed for a couple different niche corporate positions as a 3L and for what it's worth, they didn't expect me to have a demonstrated prior focus or interest in the niche practice. As you'll hear most people say, 90% of the job is learned on the job, and while coursework can be helpful, there's no training like actually doing the work. Good luck!

Although a bit dated, this article from 2016 might be of interest to you:

https://abovethelaw.com/2016/08/10-thin ... pensation/

Executive Compensation is primarily a tax law specialization involving deferred compensation in various forms such as stock options & restricted stock. Knowledge of employment law as well as securities law is also involved in this practice area.

The key skill: Being able to explain to non-lawyers complex concepts in clear & concise language.

Hope this helps. Good luck.

They don’t expect you to know anything in Exec comp when you start. In our group, we had a corporate associate “forced” to move to exec comp because we needed another associate. Just show your willingness to learn tax, employment and securities law, and you’ll be fine.

I think the real question is whether you want to do exec comp (most people actually don’t).

Good luck with your interview.

.

I'm an exec comp associate. Feel free to PM me if you have any questions.

Anonymous User wrote: ↑

Fri May 21, 2021 10:41 am

They don’t expect you to know anything in Exec comp when you start. In our group, we had a corporate associate “forced” to move to exec comp because we needed another associate. Just show your willingness to learn tax, employment and securities law, and you’ll be fine.

I think the real question is whether you want to do exec comp (most people actually don’t).

Good luck with your interview.

Thanks! Can I ask why most people don’t want to do exec comp?

what's the firm range? there are some firms to be avoided at all costs.

most people don't want to do exec comp because it's a support role. that's all.

also, you'll likely work a lot. if you don't care, or you find the work pointless and boring, or if you are suffering under abusive partners and associates, it's hard.

Anonymous User wrote: ↑

Fri May 21, 2021 5:30 pm

what's the firm range? there are some firms to be avoided at all costs.

most people don't want to do exec comp because it's a support role. that's all.

also, you'll likely work a lot. if you don't care, or you find the work pointless and boring, or if you are suffering under abusive partners and associates, it's hard.

One of the people who posted earlier. This is correct. Most people don’t like it because it isn’t the “sexy” corporate role. I’ve had friends who lateraled into corporate afterwards. On top of that, many people find the work boring, which makes it difficult to stay long-term.

I didn’t know there are firms to avoid, and I’d like to know what those firms are (if you don’t mind sharing), but associates are generally getting slammed at Kirkland, Fenwick and Goodwin, so good luck if that’s where the interview is. I regularly get emails from recruiters regarding those 3 and people I know at those firms are billing 2500+ hours right now. 2500 hours for exec comp is very different than 2500 hours for corporate.

Anonymous User wrote: ↑

Fri May 21, 2021 5:52 pm

Anonymous User wrote: ↑

Fri May 21, 2021 5:30 pm

what's the firm range? there are some firms to be avoided at all costs.

most people don't want to do exec comp because it's a support role. that's all.

also, you'll likely work a lot. if you don't care, or you find the work pointless and boring, or if you are suffering under abusive partners and associates, it's hard.

One of the people who posted earlier. This is correct. Most people don’t like it because it isn’t the “sexy” corporate role. I’ve had friends who lateraled into corporate afterwards. On top of that, many people find the work boring, which makes it difficult to stay long-term.

I didn’t know there are firms to avoid, and I’d like to know what those firms are (if you don’t mind sharing), but associates are generally getting slammed at Kirkland, Fenwick and Goodwin, so good luck if that’s where the interview is. I regularly get emails from recruiters regarding those 3 and people I know at those firms are billing 2500+ hours right now. 2500 hours for exec comp is very different than 2500 hours for corporate.

Going into exec comp. Could you please elaborate on how 2500 hours for exec comp is different than 2500 corporate? I heard that exec comp hours are steadier, especially in a service group, so I would have thought different = better. But the tone of your post makes it seem otherwise? Not trying to argue, genuinely curious. Thanks!

flowersandsunshine wrote: ↑

Sat May 22, 2021 6:47 pm

Anonymous User wrote: ↑

Fri May 21, 2021 5:52 pm

Anonymous User wrote: ↑

Fri May 21, 2021 5:30 pm

what's the firm range? there are some firms to be avoided at all costs.

most people don't want to do exec comp because it's a support role. that's all.

also, you'll likely work a lot. if you don't care, or you find the work pointless and boring, or if you are suffering under abusive partners and associates, it's hard.

One of the people who posted earlier. This is correct. Most people don’t like it because it isn’t the “sexy” corporate role. I’ve had friends who lateraled into corporate afterwards. On top of that, many people find the work boring, which makes it difficult to stay long-term.

I didn’t know there are firms to avoid, and I’d like to know what those firms are (if you don’t mind sharing), but associates are generally getting slammed at Kirkland, Fenwick and Goodwin, so good luck if that’s where the interview is. I regularly get emails from recruiters regarding those 3 and people I know at those firms are billing 2500+ hours right now. 2500 hours for exec comp is very different than 2500 hours for corporate.

Going into exec comp. Could you please elaborate on how 2500 hours for exec comp is different than 2500 corporate? I heard that exec comp hours are steadier, especially in a service group, so I would have thought different = better. But the tone of your post makes it seem otherwise? Not trying to argue, genuinely curious. Thanks!

It is not really that much steadier because we have to balance multiple closings as opposed to one or two. And I mean that 2500 hours are harder in that you don’t do as much due diligence, DD calls and sig pages (and other less taxing kinds of work) in exec comp.

Anonymous User wrote: ↑

Sat May 22, 2021 10:07 pm

flowersandsunshine wrote: ↑

Sat May 22, 2021 6:47 pm

Anonymous User wrote: ↑

Fri May 21, 2021 5:52 pm

Anonymous User wrote: ↑

Fri May 21, 2021 5:30 pm

what's the firm range? there are some firms to be avoided at all costs.

most people don't want to do exec comp because it's a support role. that's all.

also, you'll likely work a lot. if you don't care, or you find the work pointless and boring, or if you are suffering under abusive partners and associates, it's hard.

One of the people who posted earlier. This is correct. Most people don’t like it because it isn’t the “sexy” corporate role. I’ve had friends who lateraled into corporate afterwards. On top of that, many people find the work boring, which makes it difficult to stay long-term.

I didn’t know there are firms to avoid, and I’d like to know what those firms are (if you don’t mind sharing), but associates are generally getting slammed at Kirkland, Fenwick and Goodwin, so good luck if that’s where the interview is. I regularly get emails from recruiters regarding those 3 and people I know at those firms are billing 2500+ hours right now. 2500 hours for exec comp is very different than 2500 hours for corporate.

Going into exec comp. Could you please elaborate on how 2500 hours for exec comp is different than 2500 corporate? I heard that exec comp hours are steadier, especially in a service group, so I would have thought different = better. But the tone of your post makes it seem otherwise? Not trying to argue, genuinely curious. Thanks!

It is not really that much steadier because we have to balance multiple closings as opposed to one or two. And I mean that 2500 hours are harder in that you don’t do as much due diligence, DD calls and sig pages (and other less taxing kinds of work) in exec comp.

Different anon, but I'm on more than a handful of deals at once, so I'm juggling competing deadlines. I don't
have time to sit on a 3 hour call and "take notes" or listen in like an M&A associate, I jump on for my 15 minutes and then go do other work. So the ability to coast through some hours isn't there. Then there are still all of the professional development expectations that come with being in exec comp (writing legal alerts and articles, keeping up on the law changes) that junior M&A associates don't do. I don't mind it, but it's definitely a challenge. I don't want to say it's harder but...billing 200 hours as an exec comp associate is a different animal than billing hours in M&A.

Anonymous User wrote: ↑

Sat May 22, 2021 11:02 pm

Anonymous User wrote: ↑

Sat May 22, 2021 10:07 pm

flowersandsunshine wrote: ↑

Sat May 22, 2021 6:47 pm

Anonymous User wrote: ↑

Fri May 21, 2021 5:52 pm

Anonymous User wrote: ↑

Fri May 21, 2021 5:30 pm

what's the firm range? there are some firms to be avoided at all costs.

most people don't want to do exec comp because it's a support role. that's all.

also, you'll likely work a lot. if you don't care, or you find the work pointless and boring, or if you are suffering under abusive partners and associates, it's hard.

One of the people who posted earlier. This is correct. Most people don’t like it because it isn’t the “sexy” corporate role. I’ve had friends who lateraled into corporate afterwards. On top of that, many people find the work boring, which makes it difficult to stay long-term.

I didn’t know there are firms to avoid, and I’d like to know what those firms are (if you don’t mind sharing), but associates are generally getting slammed at Kirkland, Fenwick and Goodwin, so good luck if that’s where the interview is. I regularly get emails from recruiters regarding those 3 and people I know at those firms are billing 2500+ hours right now. 2500 hours for exec comp is very different than 2500 hours for corporate.

Going into exec comp. Could you please elaborate on how 2500 hours for exec comp is different than 2500 corporate? I heard that exec comp hours are steadier, especially in a service group, so I would have thought different = better. But the tone of your post makes it seem otherwise? Not trying to argue, genuinely curious. Thanks!

It is not really that much steadier because we have to balance multiple closings as opposed to one or two. And I mean that 2500 hours are harder in that you don’t do as much due diligence, DD calls and sig pages (and other less taxing kinds of work) in exec comp.

Different anon, but I'm on more than a handful of deals at once, so I'm juggling competing deadlines. I don't
have time to sit on a 3 hour call and "take notes" or listen in like an M&A associate, I jump on for my 15 minutes and then go do other work. So the ability to coast through some hours isn't there. Then there are still all of the professional development expectations that come with being in exec comp (writing legal alerts and articles, keeping up on the law changes) that junior M&A associates don't do. I don't mind it, but it's definitely a challenge. I don't want to say it's harder but...billing 200 hours as an exec comp associate is a different animal than billing hours in M&A.

Prior anon. I agree with this. Some months, I feel wiped out and I see that I’ve only done like 180 hours of billable work (but 230+ total hours).