Dream Job Possible? Forum
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Dream Job Possible?
5th year M&A / VC Associate at a v30 with a roughly 80/20 split of that work with a solid background in finance.
In an ideal world, I'm in-house at a job that has:
(1) better hours (I'm young without kids so I'm fine with not having a true 9-5), but would like an improvement from law firm life.
(2) a mix of M&A and VC work with operating companies that you can advise and give both legal and strategic advice to.
(3) uses outside counsel for most deals.
(4) is near NYC (or is open to remote work).
(5) allows for meaningful upward mobility for those that work hard and excel.
(6) provides not too much of a paycut.
How likely is it that I can find this role? It's probably a bit optimistic, but I'm hopeful that I can find a role that ticks most (if not all) of these wish list items.
In an ideal world, I'm in-house at a job that has:
(1) better hours (I'm young without kids so I'm fine with not having a true 9-5), but would like an improvement from law firm life.
(2) a mix of M&A and VC work with operating companies that you can advise and give both legal and strategic advice to.
(3) uses outside counsel for most deals.
(4) is near NYC (or is open to remote work).
(5) allows for meaningful upward mobility for those that work hard and excel.
(6) provides not too much of a paycut.
How likely is it that I can find this role? It's probably a bit optimistic, but I'm hopeful that I can find a role that ticks most (if not all) of these wish list items.
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Re: Dream Job Possible?
In my experience, generally you get to select 2-3 items on your list. The jobs that meet all of those qualifications are ultra unicorn jobs; chances of seeing an open position is probably 0.00001% (this does not include off-market opportunities, unless you have contacts/relationships that can inherently increase your odds). Chances of actually being offered the position, probably 0.00000001%.
Even the most coveted legal positions don't hit all of these marks. What you're probably looking for is a multi-multi-million or billion dollar family office type role; some have VC/tech arms.
Even the most coveted legal positions don't hit all of these marks. What you're probably looking for is a multi-multi-million or billion dollar family office type role; some have VC/tech arms.
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Re: Dream Job Possible?
(1) and (3)-(6) don't seem that unachievable, even together. Combining them with (2) seems to be where the problems would start.
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Re: Dream Job Possible?
In addition to what has been said, this is kind of a massive variable. I'd try and pin down your target numbers for starting/max salarylawstudent212 wrote: ↑Sat Jan 15, 2022 4:15 pm(5) allows for meaningful upward mobility for those that work hard and excel.
(6) provides not too much of a paycut.
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Re: Dream Job Possible?
this. if you want to do VC work, you'd either need to work at a VC, or at a startup that I doing a lot of fundraising, I guess? and if you're at a startup doing a lot of fundraising -- or a VC for that matter -- I'd think that M&A would be somewhat unlikely (unless you're the one being acquired).
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- Joined: Thu Mar 19, 2020 12:42 pm
Re: Dream Job Possible?
Exit to a VC fund? There will be M&A work on companies as they exit; going to be a lot smaller portion of your work than the incoming deals but you'll need to review the Merger Agreement, indemnification provisions, stockholder joiners and releases, etc. Upward mobility can be constrained in those opportunities though (small legal teams).
If you want to keep "advising" companies on both financings and M&A, then you need to stay at a law firm.
If you want to keep "advising" companies on both financings and M&A, then you need to stay at a law firm.
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Re: Dream Job Possible?
How much do VC funds tend to pay their legal teams?
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- Joined: Thu Mar 19, 2020 12:42 pm
Re: Dream Job Possible?
I think there is fair amount of range but would expect $2-300K. I know some offer profit sharing/carry and I have no idea how generous that could be but some VC funds have been killing it so I had the sense from one guy that (who got carry) he felt he hadn't left any money on the table by leaving the law firm as a mid-level. Caveat that all of this is pretty anecdotal.
- Monochromatic Oeuvre
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- Joined: Fri May 10, 2013 9:40 pm
Re: Dream Job Possible?
What you dream about: $300k, 9-5, no weekends
What you think you'll get: $225k, 9-6, one weekend day a month
What you'll actually get: $175k, 9-7:30, calls during every dinner and child's birthday party you have
What you think you'll get: $225k, 9-6, one weekend day a month
What you'll actually get: $175k, 9-7:30, calls during every dinner and child's birthday party you have
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Re: Dream Job Possible?
Easy solution is to not have kids and to only eat lunch and breakfast. You're welcome.Monochromatic Oeuvre wrote: ↑Tue Jan 18, 2022 7:51 pmWhat you dream about: $300k, 9-5, no weekends
What you think you'll get: $225k, 9-6, one weekend day a month
What you'll actually get: $175k, 9-7:30, calls during every dinner and child's birthday party you have