Military Officer biglaw employment Forum

[mikes82]

Hi everyone,
I just wanted to know if a prior career in the Military as an officer, particularly a special operations background, would be favored by biglaw firms or not. Would a degree from a T14 school coupled with a background as a Ranger or SEAL for example be beneficial to someone, or would it not make much of a difference?

And in regards to age cutoffs, are most firms opposed to hiring older individuals or is age irrelevant?

I'd appreciate any advice, take care.

[UVAIce]

I was just an enlisted 11B (E-6) and it definitely gave me a boost in OGI/OCI (PM me if you want to know the outcomes). I know for a fact that former military leadership positions in the military, especially as an officer, are valued at almost all major law firms.

I have a friend at UVA who is a former Army Special Forces E-7 and he essentially received a 1L SA due to his experiences. I also know that some firms (Williams & Connolly for example) have a lot of former military.

But there will also be interviewers that pigeonhole you because of your background, which can be good and bad. You just have to know how to spin things correctly so that they don't think you're Rambo, etc.

[TheSpanishMain]

Also interested in hearing takes on this.

[zbollenb]

The Spanishman... You former military too?

[TheSpanishMain]

Yep, Army.

[mikes82]

I was just an enlisted 11B (E-6) and it definitely gave me a boost in OGI/OCI (PM me if you want to know the outcomes). I know for a fact that former military leadership positions in the military, especially as an officer, are valued at almost all major law firms.

I have a friend at UVA who is a former Army Special Forces E-7 and he essentially received a 1L SA due to his experiences. I also know that some firms (Williams & Connolly for example) have a lot of former military.

But there will also be interviewers that pigeonhole you because of your background, which can be good and bad. You just have to know how to spin things correctly so that they don't think you're Rambo, etc.

Thanks for the help, appreciate it.

In regards to age, are most wary about hiring someone older (ie is there an unofficial age cutoff)?

[TheSpanishMain]

Any other former military that can speak to the impact of veterans' status on hiring?

[NYker]

I have a special operations background and come from a T-14. I found my background to be hugely helpful during EIW but I think military in general would probably be comparable because of the leadership experience, ability to work under pressure, etc, that vets usually have. If you have specific questions feel free to PM me.


Edit: And I don't think that age is really important. If anything, being older helps since it probably correlated with maturity.

[A. Nony Mouse]

I can't speak to the military element from personal experience, but age is generally not an issue. You may get asked if you're comfortable taking direction from people younger (ahem, less experienced) than you are, or if you're really willing to start over again from the bottom (depending on what you're leaving). But as long as you can answer appropriately, I doubt it will hinder you. I think there is the occasional hiring person who likes brand new shiny blank slates, who can be appropriately molded into their chosen image. But there are going to be plenty of others who will take someone with job experience over a K-JD every time.

From not-personal experience, everyone I know with a military background who isn't a complete tool has done very well - I think military experience is highly regarded. (The one military guy I know who has semi-struggled is truly one of the biggest assholes I have ever met who has a gift for alienating people - which I should emphasize is all on him, not the military.)