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Hey everyone!

Thank you so much for all the advice on figuring out OCI/Summer Associate stuff. The program recently ended and we just got asked which practice group we would prefer to be placed in - although firm needs will obviously be considered.

I know for a fact that I do not want to do litigation, so it is coming down to either Corporate or Real Estate. I enjoyed both to a certain degree, but I wanted to ask about exit opportunities. The firm is much *better* in real estate for what that is worth, but still has a sizable corporate group. Is it better to pick the stronger group for exit opportunities (real estate) or the more broad group (corporate)? I could foresee myself doing either group, so it really just comes down to setting myself up for my future goals.

I would also potentially want to lateral back to my home market in a few years (secondary market) from the large market that I would be working in next year.

Any advice would be great! Thanks!

The answer first depends on how you define "better" exit options, and then depends on the firm. Corporate in general has more exit options than real estate, but real estate could arguably have "better" (subjective) exit option. The numbers people on this board will tell you to go corporate to increase your odds at having more exit options, but no one can answer which is "better" (again, subjective) without knowing more about your personal goals, the markets in which you'll be practicing, and how you define "better". The firm also matters; I'd rather be in WSGR's corporate practice than their real estate practice, but the same might not be true for a firm like Fried Frank.