So you want to be a NY Corporate Associate? Forum

A forum for applicants and admitted students to ask law students and graduates about law school and the practice of law.
User avatar
cavalier1138

Moderator
Posts: 8007
Joined: Fri Mar 25, 2016 8:01 pm

Re: So you want to be a NY Corporate Associate?

Post by cavalier1138 » Tue Oct 29, 2019 1:20 pm

Johnnybgoode92 wrote:
nealric wrote:
ProbablyWaitListed wrote:God this shit is scary
The people who post in these threads tend to be the malcontents. If you are happy with your job, you are probably not posting on TLS about it. I'm in tax, not corporate, but under the transactional umbrella. I see what those folks do (and was officemates with a corporate associate for the first two years before we got private offices). I have a family member who is a corporate partner.

The sort of experience this thread rants and rave about does exist, but it's not universal. I think things tend to be better if you avoid the massive NYC M&A shops. Smaller and more niche groups allow for better experiences early on.

As far as in-house. I have one of the supposedly mythical in-house roles. I can't say everything is perfect, but it's a very good gig. Almost nothing I do is routine. The biggest downside of in-house work is the politics, but it's not like politics don't exist in every work setting.
I’m glad you like your situation. Aside from your anecdotes, however, many studies and surveys have been cited in this thread indicating that law has some of the lowest professional satisfaction rates. The amount of lawyers who regret their careers is astronomical compared to the overwhelming majority of other professions. To blanket over that fact and not even try to explain it is not helpful.
But those surveys are across all legal careers, not specifically corporate lawyers in biglaw. There are plenty of people who are unhappy because they took on an insane amount of debt on the expectation that they would make biglaw money, be running a trial on their first day, have clients that adored and respected them, etc.

Not that corporate law can't be miserable. I'd never do it. But I have colleagues who really enjoy their corporate practice. They're generally not the ones posting about it online.

User avatar
nealric

Moderator
Posts: 4273
Joined: Fri Sep 25, 2009 9:53 am

Re: So you want to be a NY Corporate Associate?

Post by nealric » Tue Oct 29, 2019 2:13 pm

Johnnybgoode92 wrote:
nealric wrote:
ProbablyWaitListed wrote:God this shit is scary
The people who post in these threads tend to be the malcontents. If you are happy with your job, you are probably not posting on TLS about it. I'm in tax, not corporate, but under the transactional umbrella. I see what those folks do (and was officemates with a corporate associate for the first two years before we got private offices). I have a family member who is a corporate partner.

The sort of experience this thread rants and rave about does exist, but it's not universal. I think things tend to be better if you avoid the massive NYC M&A shops. Smaller and more niche groups allow for better experiences early on.

As far as in-house. I have one of the supposedly mythical in-house roles. I can't say everything is perfect, but it's a very good gig. Almost nothing I do is routine. The biggest downside of in-house work is the politics, but it's not like politics don't exist in every work setting.
I’m glad you like your situation. Aside from your anecdotes, however, many studies and surveys have been cited in this thread indicating that law has some of the lowest professional satisfaction rates. The amount of lawyers who regret their careers is astronomical compared to the overwhelming majority of other professions. To blanket over that fact and not even try to explain it is not helpful.
I find lawyers to be a generally pessimistic bunch. There's a chicken and egg problem: do pessimistic people decide to become lawyers or do people become pessimistic because they are lawyers? The question is whether the people who are miserable in law might be miserable in any profession.

Plus, as said above, a survey of the entire profession is going to capture a lot more state defenders/prosecutors than biglaw corporate types. We resort to anecdotes because it can be difficult to impossible to find or generate useful statistics for this sort of thing.

dabigchina

Gold
Posts: 1845
Joined: Mon Jan 13, 2014 2:22 am

Re: So you want to be a NY Corporate Associate?

Post by dabigchina » Tue Oct 29, 2019 4:15 pm

Agreed that lawyers (especially biglawyers) tend to be cynical, unhappy bunch. I disagree that it's a chicken and egg problem. I'm just a first year, but I've already seen the light and optimism leave my classmates' eyes in the past year. People who were telling me they wouldn't mind sticking it out 8-10 years for a shot at partnership are now pretty unhappy and actively thinking about lateraling to a different shop/wondering when they can go in house.

But yeah, don't do V10 Corporate, kids. It's a recipe for unhappiness. Working in support groups is generally better because there are fewer people who are interested, and the partners are (generally) interested in retaining the people who are, but it's still not guaranteed. I've worked with plenty of impossible partners in tax. Plus, you have to remember that a lot of your work will be supporting corporate transactions, which means you generally work on corporate's timelines and you're usually the last person to find out about shit.

That being said, it's not any better in banking/consulting/medicine/other high visibility, high prestige professions.

QContinuum

Moderator
Posts: 3594
Joined: Mon Aug 07, 2017 9:52 am

Re: So you want to be a NY Corporate Associate?

Post by QContinuum » Tue Oct 29, 2019 5:17 pm

dabigchina wrote:Plus, you have to remember that a lot of your work will be supporting corporate transactions, which means you generally work on corporate's timelines and you're usually the last person to find out about shit.
Sure, the corp. team will (generally) get info from the client before the specialists (not always; clients can and do communicate directly with specialists, y'know - it cuts down on delay and helps them avoid unnecessary billable hours), but that doesn't mean much. Even if the corp. team finds out first, they then have to turn around and brief the specialists before the specialists can get to work. It's not like the corp. team can just hoard the info all to themselves. The corp. team also has to deal with specialists getting work product in at the last minute and having to assemble and reconcile everything asap for the client.

There are pluses and minuses to both. Many folks enjoy "running" deals, and you can't do that as a specialist where you're only responsible for your particular slice of the transaction. But "running" deals can/often is very painful and extremely bad for work/life balance. Then there's the part where some folks feel like the corp. team gets to tell the specialists what to do, and not vice versa - except, that's not actually true. The corp. team is not going to override what Tax says, or what IP says, or what exec comp says. After all, by definition the specialists know more about their respective specialties than the corp. generalists. Finally, in theory, it's easier to build a business case for partner as a generalist (since, by the time you're up, you will presumably be the key contact person for many clients). But the burnout rate is atrocious, and when it comes down to it even if the chances of making partner as a generalist are a few times higher, it's still a very small number in absolute terms. Kinda like how HLS confers a large relative boost, vs. (say) CCN, in one's chances of clerking on SCOTUS, but it's still a minuscule chance for any particular HLS student.

dabigchina

Gold
Posts: 1845
Joined: Mon Jan 13, 2014 2:22 am

Re: So you want to be a NY Corporate Associate?

Post by dabigchina » Tue Oct 29, 2019 5:42 pm

QContinuum wrote:
dabigchina wrote:Plus, you have to remember that a lot of your work will be supporting corporate transactions, which means you generally work on corporate's timelines and you're usually the last person to find out about shit.
Sure, the corp. team will (generally) get info from the client before the specialists (not always; clients can and do communicate directly with specialists, y'know - it cuts down on delay and helps them avoid unnecessary billable hours), but that doesn't mean much. Even if the corp. team finds out first, they then have to turn around and brief the specialists before the specialists can get to work. It's not like the corp. team can just hoard the info all to themselves. The corp. team also has to deal with specialists getting work product in at the last minute and having to assemble and reconcile everything asap for the client.

There are pluses and minuses to both. Many folks enjoy "running" deals, and you can't do that as a specialist where you're only responsible for your particular slice of the transaction. But "running" deals can/often is very painful and extremely bad for work/life balance. Then there's the part where some folks feel like the corp. team gets to tell the specialists what to do, and not vice versa - except, that's not actually true. The corp. team is not going to override what Tax says, or what IP says, or what exec comp says. After all, by definition the specialists know more about their respective specialties than the corp. generalists. Finally, in theory, it's easier to build a business case for partner as a generalist (since, by the time you're up, you will presumably be the key contact person for many clients). But the burnout rate is atrocious, and when it comes down to it even if the chances of making partner as a generalist are a few times higher, it's still a very small number in absolute terms. Kinda like how HLS confers a large relative boost, vs. (say) CCN, in one's chances of clerking on SCOTUS, but it's still a minuscule chance for any particular HLS student.
Yeah, I'm not saying corporate doesn't get a raw deal. I'm saying being a specialist isn't all rainbows and butterflies either.

edit: And to be clear - nobody is saying corporate overrides us. It would be a huge problem if some corporate midlevel randomly decided not to incorporate our comments because he took intro to tax in law school. The issue is when the corporate team sits on a document from the other side for a couple of hours (or days) before remembering that they need to get input from tax, turning something pretty mundane into an unnecessary firedrill.

Want to continue reading?

Register now to search topics and post comments!

Absolutely FREE!


atwinta

New
Posts: 2
Joined: Sat May 08, 2021 2:23 pm

Re: So you want to be a NY Corporate Associate?

Post by atwinta » Fri Jul 02, 2021 8:21 pm

Where is BernieTrump? Left law? Partner at his V3? I feel like he wrote one of the best posts on this forum.

User avatar
blair.waldorf

Bronze
Posts: 397
Joined: Fri Oct 20, 2017 12:52 am

Re: So you want to be a NY Corporate Associate?

Post by blair.waldorf » Fri Jul 09, 2021 5:20 pm

Biglaw can suck but honestly this post seems pretty limited to an NYC V10. To be clear, many of my friends in biglaw are unhappy, but this is not reflective of the lives of anyone I personally know in biglaw. This also sounds like someone who is unwilling to set boundaries at work and, despite despising his job, refuses to quit. Just fucking quit and take a paycut if you hate it that much. You make enough money and have a good enough resume that you will find something else.

flyinglow

New
Posts: 13
Joined: Sat Jan 29, 2022 5:35 am

Re: So you want to be a NY Corporate Associate?

Post by flyinglow » Wed Feb 23, 2022 6:22 pm

Anybody who commented here 4-6 years back got an update by any chance?

User avatar
Monochromatic Oeuvre

Gold
Posts: 2479
Joined: Fri May 10, 2013 9:40 pm

Re: So you want to be a NY Corporate Associate?

Post by Monochromatic Oeuvre » Tue Mar 22, 2022 12:00 am

flyinglow wrote:
Wed Feb 23, 2022 6:22 pm
Anybody who commented here 4-6 years back got an update by any chance?
Checking in upon rediscovering this thread. ITT I was a 3L ripping miserable associates maliciously recommending their firm to interviewees. Senior associate now--left NY due to predicted difficulty in ever buying a house there, still made lots of money, currently 6/10 on the burnout scale.

Actually, it turns out I used almost the exact same language about lawyers unethically removing action from agency in helping megacorps play bullshit games in another thread like, yesterday.

Needless to say, I stand by every word from six years ago.

Want to continue reading?

Register for access!

Did I mention it was FREE ?


manwithplan

New
Posts: 5
Joined: Sun Dec 23, 2018 1:58 pm

Re: So you want to be a NY Corporate Associate?

Post by manwithplan » Mon Mar 28, 2022 4:59 pm

My comments:

1. Why did this person leave a BB to go into law? On average, it makes less sense for someone who went to a top undergrad, and also was in a bulge bracket, to go into biglaw. IF he wanted something tamer, he got it - a nice boring job that pays very well but has less upside than an aggressive path in finance would.

2. The single biggest downside of biglaw (which OP touched on well) is that if you aspire to Firm practice, you will have to downgrade if you can't make partner at your first firm. There is no way around this. You can go in-house and still make a lot of money, but you'll always be a cost center from then on out.

nerd1

Bronze
Posts: 157
Joined: Mon May 26, 2014 11:35 pm

Re: So you want to be a NY Corporate Associate?

Post by nerd1 » Tue Mar 29, 2022 12:53 am

flyinglow wrote:
Wed Feb 23, 2022 6:22 pm
Anybody who commented here 4-6 years back got an update by any chance?
I was a first year associate when I first saw this thread, and now I'm a 5th year corporate associate. Started in NY but moved to a satellite office abroad after 3 years. I still agree with many of the things said in the OP, but as another poster said above, financially it was all worth it. Despite coming from a working class background with no lawyers, doctors, or bankers in my family, I now own a good house and feel financially secure. 2/3 burned out and will go inhouse in about two years. I thought the closer I get to potential partnership, the more I would want to stay in biglaw. But to the contrary, the longer I stay, the more I want to leave. My desire to learn new things in the field and grow as lawyer motivated me, to a meaningful extent, to stay in biglaw until this year. But from 5th year until I exit later, I'm pretty much here just for the money and better exit options.

Do I think all this was worthwhile? Yes, I probably would do it again. If you want to earn over $200k per year from your mid 20s, but don't have the talent to be an athlete or music/film star, and also don't particularly want to go into medicine, finance, or engineering, this is probably the best path for you.

Cynic

New
Posts: 19
Joined: Mon Mar 14, 2016 12:22 pm

Re: So you want to be a NY Corporate Associate?

Post by Cynic » Mon Sep 05, 2022 5:48 pm

I too am wondering if anyone knows what happened to OP, or if anyone who was an early poster in this thread has any life/career updates of their own.

aspiring0L

New
Posts: 74
Joined: Tue Sep 06, 2022 12:44 pm

Re: So you want to be a NY Corporate Associate?

Post by aspiring0L » Tue Sep 06, 2022 12:51 pm

Monochromatic Oeuvre wrote:
Tue Mar 22, 2022 12:00 am
flyinglow wrote:
Wed Feb 23, 2022 6:22 pm
Anybody who commented here 4-6 years back got an update by any chance?
Checking in upon rediscovering this thread. ITT I was a 3L ripping miserable associates maliciously recommending their firm to interviewees. Senior associate now--left NY due to predicted difficulty in ever buying a house there, still made lots of money, currently 6/10 on the burnout scale.

Actually, it turns out I used almost the exact same language about lawyers unethically removing action from agency in helping megacorps play bullshit games in another thread like, yesterday.

Needless to say, I stand by every word from six years ago.
This thread scares me so much. If I may ask, did you move to another big market like DC or LA? Also how many senior associates make partner?

Register now!

Resources to assist law school applicants, students & graduates.

It's still FREE!


Excellent117

Bronze
Posts: 429
Joined: Fri Dec 23, 2011 4:44 pm

Re: So you want to be a NY Corporate Associate?

Post by Excellent117 » Wed Sep 07, 2022 11:01 pm

Cynic wrote:
Mon Sep 05, 2022 5:48 pm
I too am wondering if anyone knows what happened to OP, or if anyone who was an early poster in this thread has any life/career updates of their own.
Soon-to-be 8th year associate who no longer practices in NY. No interest in partnership whatsoever despite very much being in line for it. If I somehow end up at that meeting/on that call, I promised myself that I will quit on the spot Crazy Ex-Girlfriend pilot style. I spend a good chunk of my free time trying to figure out what I want to do for a second career. I would never go to law school again in a million years.

aspiring0L

New
Posts: 74
Joined: Tue Sep 06, 2022 12:44 pm

Re: So you want to be a NY Corporate Associate?

Post by aspiring0L » Wed Sep 07, 2022 11:28 pm

Excellent117 wrote:
Wed Sep 07, 2022 11:01 pm
Cynic wrote:
Mon Sep 05, 2022 5:48 pm
I too am wondering if anyone knows what happened to OP, or if anyone who was an early poster in this thread has any life/career updates of their own.
Soon-to-be 8th year associate who no longer practices in NY. No interest in partnership whatsoever despite very much being in line for it. If I somehow end up at that meeting/on that call, I promised myself that I will quit on the spot Crazy Ex-Girlfriend pilot style. I spend a good chunk of my free time trying to figure out what I want to do for a second career. I would never go to law school again in a million years.
Would you say bernietrump exaggerates or underplays the situation (some said the latter)?

User avatar
Monochromatic Oeuvre

Gold
Posts: 2479
Joined: Fri May 10, 2013 9:40 pm

Re: So you want to be a NY Corporate Associate?

Post by Monochromatic Oeuvre » Thu Sep 08, 2022 1:55 am

aspiring0L wrote:
Tue Sep 06, 2022 12:51 pm
Monochromatic Oeuvre wrote:
Tue Mar 22, 2022 12:00 am
flyinglow wrote:
Wed Feb 23, 2022 6:22 pm
Anybody who commented here 4-6 years back got an update by any chance?
Checking in upon rediscovering this thread. ITT I was a 3L ripping miserable associates maliciously recommending their firm to interviewees. Senior associate now--left NY due to predicted difficulty in ever buying a house there, still made lots of money, currently 6/10 on the burnout scale.

Actually, it turns out I used almost the exact same language about lawyers unethically removing action from agency in helping megacorps play bullshit games in another thread like, yesterday.

Needless to say, I stand by every word from six years ago.
This thread scares me so much. If I may ask, did you move to another big market like DC or LA? Also how many senior associates make partner?
Moved to a secondary market.

My best guess is that something like 25% of senior associates who are genuinely trying to make partner, and are genuinely up for consideration (and therefore well-liked) will eventually make it.

But your odds of actually lasting 5+ years doing this, and doing it well, and actually wanting to keep doing it, are lower than that.

aspiring0L

New
Posts: 74
Joined: Tue Sep 06, 2022 12:44 pm

Re: So you want to be a NY Corporate Associate?

Post by aspiring0L » Thu Sep 08, 2022 9:51 am

Monochromatic Oeuvre wrote:
Thu Sep 08, 2022 1:55 am
aspiring0L wrote:
Tue Sep 06, 2022 12:51 pm
Monochromatic Oeuvre wrote:
Tue Mar 22, 2022 12:00 am
flyinglow wrote:
Wed Feb 23, 2022 6:22 pm
Anybody who commented here 4-6 years back got an update by any chance?
Checking in upon rediscovering this thread. ITT I was a 3L ripping miserable associates maliciously recommending their firm to interviewees. Senior associate now--left NY due to predicted difficulty in ever buying a house there, still made lots of money, currently 6/10 on the burnout scale.

Actually, it turns out I used almost the exact same language about lawyers unethically removing action from agency in helping megacorps play bullshit games in another thread like, yesterday.

Needless to say, I stand by every word from six years ago.
This thread scares me so much. If I may ask, did you move to another big market like DC or LA? Also how many senior associates make partner?
Moved to a secondary market.

My best guess is that something like 25% of senior associates who are genuinely trying to make partner, and are genuinely up for consideration (and therefore well-liked) will eventually make it.

But your odds of actually lasting 5+ years doing this, and doing it well, and actually wanting to keep doing it, are lower than that.
Is this because of the hours the nature of the work or another factor

Get unlimited access to all forums and topics

Register now!

I'm pretty sure I told you it's FREE...


Excellent117

Bronze
Posts: 429
Joined: Fri Dec 23, 2011 4:44 pm

Re: So you want to be a NY Corporate Associate?

Post by Excellent117 » Thu Sep 08, 2022 10:11 am

aspiring0L wrote:
Wed Sep 07, 2022 11:28 pm
Excellent117 wrote:
Wed Sep 07, 2022 11:01 pm
Cynic wrote:
Mon Sep 05, 2022 5:48 pm
I too am wondering if anyone knows what happened to OP, or if anyone who was an early poster in this thread has any life/career updates of their own.
Soon-to-be 8th year associate who no longer practices in NY. No interest in partnership whatsoever despite very much being in line for it. If I somehow end up at that meeting/on that call, I promised myself that I will quit on the spot Crazy Ex-Girlfriend pilot style. I spend a good chunk of my free time trying to figure out what I want to do for a second career. I would never go to law school again in a million years.
Would you say bernietrump exaggerates or underplays the situation (some said the latter)?
I'd say they pretty much hit the nail on the head.

User avatar
Monochromatic Oeuvre

Gold
Posts: 2479
Joined: Fri May 10, 2013 9:40 pm

Re: So you want to be a NY Corporate Associate?

Post by Monochromatic Oeuvre » Thu Sep 08, 2022 10:28 am

aspiring0L wrote:
Thu Sep 08, 2022 9:51 am
Monochromatic Oeuvre wrote:
Thu Sep 08, 2022 1:55 am
aspiring0L wrote:
Tue Sep 06, 2022 12:51 pm
Monochromatic Oeuvre wrote:
Tue Mar 22, 2022 12:00 am
flyinglow wrote:
Wed Feb 23, 2022 6:22 pm
Anybody who commented here 4-6 years back got an update by any chance?
Checking in upon rediscovering this thread. ITT I was a 3L ripping miserable associates maliciously recommending their firm to interviewees. Senior associate now--left NY due to predicted difficulty in ever buying a house there, still made lots of money, currently 6/10 on the burnout scale.

Actually, it turns out I used almost the exact same language about lawyers unethically removing action from agency in helping megacorps play bullshit games in another thread like, yesterday.

Needless to say, I stand by every word from six years ago.
This thread scares me so much. If I may ask, did you move to another big market like DC or LA? Also how many senior associates make partner?
Moved to a secondary market.

My best guess is that something like 25% of senior associates who are genuinely trying to make partner, and are genuinely up for consideration (and therefore well-liked) will eventually make it.

But your odds of actually lasting 5+ years doing this, and doing it well, and actually wanting to keep doing it, are lower than that.
Is this because of the hours the nature of the work or another factor
Both, and the nature of the people. The three most common complaints of the industry.

aspiring0L

New
Posts: 74
Joined: Tue Sep 06, 2022 12:44 pm

Re: So you want to be a NY Corporate Associate?

Post by aspiring0L » Thu Sep 08, 2022 12:49 pm

Excellent117 wrote:
Thu Sep 08, 2022 10:11 am
aspiring0L wrote:
Wed Sep 07, 2022 11:28 pm
Excellent117 wrote:
Wed Sep 07, 2022 11:01 pm
Cynic wrote:
Mon Sep 05, 2022 5:48 pm
I too am wondering if anyone knows what happened to OP, or if anyone who was an early poster in this thread has any life/career updates of their own.
Soon-to-be 8th year associate who no longer practices in NY. No interest in partnership whatsoever despite very much being in line for it. If I somehow end up at that meeting/on that call, I promised myself that I will quit on the spot Crazy Ex-Girlfriend pilot style. I spend a good chunk of my free time trying to figure out what I want to do for a second career. I would never go to law school again in a million years.
Would you say bernietrump exaggerates or underplays the situation (some said the latter)?
I'd say they pretty much hit the nail on the head.
The exit op part keeps me up at night.

aspiring0L

New
Posts: 74
Joined: Tue Sep 06, 2022 12:44 pm

Re: So you want to be a NY Corporate Associate?

Post by aspiring0L » Thu Sep 08, 2022 2:16 pm

Monochromatic Oeuvre wrote:
Thu Sep 08, 2022 10:28 am
aspiring0L wrote:
Thu Sep 08, 2022 9:51 am
Monochromatic Oeuvre wrote:
Thu Sep 08, 2022 1:55 am
aspiring0L wrote:
Tue Sep 06, 2022 12:51 pm
Monochromatic Oeuvre wrote:
Tue Mar 22, 2022 12:00 am
flyinglow wrote:
Wed Feb 23, 2022 6:22 pm
Anybody who commented here 4-6 years back got an update by any chance?
Checking in upon rediscovering this thread. ITT I was a 3L ripping miserable associates maliciously recommending their firm to interviewees. Senior associate now--left NY due to predicted difficulty in ever buying a house there, still made lots of money, currently 6/10 on the burnout scale.

Actually, it turns out I used almost the exact same language about lawyers unethically removing action from agency in helping megacorps play bullshit games in another thread like, yesterday.

Needless to say, I stand by every word from six years ago.
This thread scares me so much. If I may ask, did you move to another big market like DC or LA? Also how many senior associates make partner?
Moved to a secondary market.

My best guess is that something like 25% of senior associates who are genuinely trying to make partner, and are genuinely up for consideration (and therefore well-liked) will eventually make it.

But your odds of actually lasting 5+ years doing this, and doing it well, and actually wanting to keep doing it, are lower than that.
Is this because of the hours the nature of the work or another factor
Both, and the nature of the people. The three most common complaints of the industry.
For the 25% is this equity or non equity partner and does it vary based on whether it is V5 V20 V50 etc?

Your posting history seems very knowledgeable, if I may ask what is your end game for a legal career?

Communicate now with those who not only know what a legal education is, but can offer you worthy advice and commentary as you complete the three most educational, yet challenging years of your law related post graduate life.

Register now, it's still FREE!


Excellent117

Bronze
Posts: 429
Joined: Fri Dec 23, 2011 4:44 pm

Re: So you want to be a NY Corporate Associate?

Post by Excellent117 » Thu Sep 08, 2022 2:47 pm

aspiring0L wrote:
Thu Sep 08, 2022 12:49 pm

The exit op part keeps me up at night.
It's quite accurate. Anyone who tells you that "you can do anything with a law degree" has absolutely no clue what they're talking about. You can practice law with a law degree. It is not useful or viable for pretty much any other line of work. If you want to do something else, you will need an entirely different degree and set of work experience.

And even within your legal career, you're very much stuck where you end up after your initial 2-3 years of practicing.

aspiring0L

New
Posts: 74
Joined: Tue Sep 06, 2022 12:44 pm

Re: So you want to be a NY Corporate Associate?

Post by aspiring0L » Thu Sep 08, 2022 2:53 pm

Excellent117 wrote:
Thu Sep 08, 2022 2:47 pm
aspiring0L wrote:
Thu Sep 08, 2022 12:49 pm

The exit op part keeps me up at night.
It's quite accurate. Anyone who tells you that "you can do anything with a law degree" has absolutely no clue what they're talking about. You can practice law with a law degree. It is not useful or viable for pretty much any other line of work. If you want to do something else, you will need an entirely different degree and set of work experience.

And even within your legal career, you're very much stuck where you end up after your initial 2-3 years of practicing.
From your experience, how many people left law to go into decent front office roles (IB, consulting, F500 business development, FAANG etc.) as opposed to in-house work?

Excellent117

Bronze
Posts: 429
Joined: Fri Dec 23, 2011 4:44 pm

Re: So you want to be a NY Corporate Associate?

Post by Excellent117 » Thu Sep 08, 2022 3:12 pm

aspiring0L wrote:
Thu Sep 08, 2022 2:53 pm
Excellent117 wrote:
Thu Sep 08, 2022 2:47 pm
aspiring0L wrote:
Thu Sep 08, 2022 12:49 pm

The exit op part keeps me up at night.
It's quite accurate. Anyone who tells you that "you can do anything with a law degree" has absolutely no clue what they're talking about. You can practice law with a law degree. It is not useful or viable for pretty much any other line of work. If you want to do something else, you will need an entirely different degree and set of work experience.

And even within your legal career, you're very much stuck where you end up after your initial 2-3 years of practicing.
From your experience, how many people left law to go into decent front office roles (IB, consulting, F500 business development, FAANG etc.) as opposed to in-house work?
A very, very small percentage and almost always as a result of a familial or undergrad friend connection. If those kinds of roles are your endgame, there are much better ways to get there than first going to law school and practicing as a corporate attorney in biglaw.

aspiring0L

New
Posts: 74
Joined: Tue Sep 06, 2022 12:44 pm

Re: So you want to be a NY Corporate Associate?

Post by aspiring0L » Thu Sep 08, 2022 3:23 pm

Excellent117 wrote:
Thu Sep 08, 2022 3:12 pm
aspiring0L wrote:
Thu Sep 08, 2022 2:53 pm
Excellent117 wrote:
Thu Sep 08, 2022 2:47 pm
aspiring0L wrote:
Thu Sep 08, 2022 12:49 pm

The exit op part keeps me up at night.
It's quite accurate. Anyone who tells you that "you can do anything with a law degree" has absolutely no clue what they're talking about. You can practice law with a law degree. It is not useful or viable for pretty much any other line of work. If you want to do something else, you will need an entirely different degree and set of work experience.

And even within your legal career, you're very much stuck where you end up after your initial 2-3 years of practicing.
From your experience, how many people left law to go into decent front office roles (IB, consulting, F500 business development, FAANG etc.) as opposed to in-house work?
A very, very small percentage and almost always as a result of a familial or undergrad friend connection. If those kinds of roles are your endgame, there are much better ways to get there than first going to law school and practicing as a corporate attorney in biglaw.
Thanks for all your input, that’s pretty tough. Did you try to leave law or what? What’s your general path?

Seriously? What are you waiting for?

Now there's a charge.
Just kidding ... it's still FREE!


Post Reply

Return to “Ask a Law Student / Graduate”