Answering why corporate law as a KJD? Forum

[Anonymous User]

Current KJD working on narrative development before OCI. Non-business/STEM undergrad major (humanities), no substantial WE. GPA at or around median.

Having trouble answering the question "Why corporate practice?" Have taken one class focused on deal work, but greatly enjoyed it and excelled in it. Still, I'm worried that isn't "enough" to be convincing for purposes of creating a narrative for OCI.

If answering truthfully, I would say that I am largely interested in deal work as a result of the class that I took. I enjoy working on a team and negotiating to reach a mutual agreement between two parties as opposed to something more adversarial (like litigation).

Any advice? TYIA.

[existentialcrisis]

You liked your contracts class.

You like the idea of the collaborative nature of deal work, where you want to help your client protect itself, but ultimately both sides are looking to get the deal closed.

[jotarokujo]

Current KJD working on narrative development before OCI. Non-business/STEM undergrad major (humanities), no substantial WE. GPA at or around median.

Having trouble answering the question "Why corporate practice?" Have taken one class focused on deal work, but greatly enjoyed it and excelled in it. Still, I'm worried that isn't "enough" to be convincing for purposes of creating a narrative for OCI.

If answering truthfully, I would say that I am largely interested in deal work as a result of the class that I took. I enjoy working on a team and negotiating to reach a mutual agreement between two parties as opposed to something more adversarial (like litigation).

Any advice? TYIA.

your truthful answer is good. It's very common to be interested in a field because of a class they took in law school.

[hangtime813]

Current KJD working on narrative development before OCI. Non-business/STEM undergrad major (humanities), no substantial WE. GPA at or around median.

Having trouble answering the question "Why corporate practice?" Have taken one class focused on deal work, but greatly enjoyed it and excelled in it. Still, I'm worried that isn't "enough" to be convincing for purposes of creating a narrative for OCI.

If answering truthfully, I would say that I am largely interested in deal work as a result of the class that I took. I enjoy working on a team and negotiating to reach a mutual agreement between two parties as opposed to something more adversarial (like litigation).

Any advice? TYIA.

This is as good a reason as any for almost everyone. A lot of law school courses skew litigation so if you actually liked more transactional classes (esp seminars or electives) that is usually enough.

[Anonymous User]

Don't want to litigate deals after they're done; want to be the one doing them. Like the broad diversity of work and collaborative atmosphere that corporate offers. Like not having to go to court. More business minded and want to add value to clients; not be a cost center for failed transactions. If interested in PE, may also want to express an interest in partnerships, setting up incentive structures, writing the rule book for how parties are going to create value together going forward.

[Anonymous User]

Nothing wrong with justifying the decision based on your coursework.

As others have noted, you can also talk about how you like to collaborate with others toward a common goal.

[mardash]

Don't want to litigate deals after they're done; want to be the one doing them. Like the broad diversity of work and collaborative atmosphere that corporate offers. Like not having to go to court. More business minded and want to add value to clients; not be a cost center for failed transactions. If interested in PE, may also want to express an interest in partnerships, setting up incentive structures, writing the rule book for how parties are going to create value together going forward.

“I want to be the one doing the deals that lead to litigation.”

[Anonymous User]

Almost all of the above answers are good. Try to have two or three reasons memorized and said slowly and confidently. As long as it sounds reasonable no one will question it. Interviewers are (in part) trying to gauge your interests so that they can fill out a class with X number corporate, y number tax, z number litigators, etc. The rationale doesn’t matter quite as much as your “confidence” in your chosen rationale.