Top Law Schools

Going to be a BK associate and have heard both corporate finance and advanced legal research are helpful classes for this practice area. However my school has both of theses courses offered at conflicting times. Which one is more helpful? As someone without a business background, I imagine corporate finance would have more long term utility.

Personally, between these two choices I'd be more focused on professor reviews, workload, and other quality-of-life factors than on potential career utility. Both sound helpful for different reasons and you're unlikely to regret not taking either since you'll get the real info in practice anyway.

If you, personally, feel like your finance background is a weak spot then dipping your toes might be a nice confidence builder.

The Lsat Airbender wrote:Personally, between these two choices I'd be more focused on professor reviews, workload, and other quality-of-life factors than on potential career utility. Both sound helpful for different reasons and you're unlikely to regret not taking either since you'll get the real info in practice anyway.

If you, personally, feel like your finance background is a weak spot then dipping your toes might be a nice confidence builder.

It's worth bearing in mind that a law school corporate finance class might be heavily stacked with folk who have worked in finance or have a B School background. If OP feels this is a strong area for them, then I agree with you and that either class would be good. If, however, they're newer to the area, the curve may be tough making it a better 3L class when OP hopefully has an offer in the bag.

albanach wrote:

The Lsat Airbender wrote:Personally, between these two choices I'd be more focused on professor reviews, workload, and other quality-of-life factors than on potential career utility. Both sound helpful for different reasons and you're unlikely to regret not taking either since you'll get the real info in practice anyway.

If you, personally, feel like your finance background is a weak spot then dipping your toes might be a nice confidence builder.

It's worth bearing in mind that a law school corporate finance class might be heavily stacked with folk who have worked in finance or have a B School background. If OP feels this is a strong area for them, then I agree with you and that either class would be good. If, however, they're newer to the area, the curve may be tough making it a better 3L class when OP hopefully has an offer in the bag.

it's an easy A range grade for anyone who tries, even if they have no background, because most people don't---they P/NP it and/or don't show up because they're corporate, have a BigLaw job, and grades don't matter

Advanced legal research is probably more useful. Corporate Finance largely discounting cash flows to present value. You aren't going to do that ever as a lawyer.

LBJ's Hair wrote: it's an easy A range grade for anyone who tries, even if they have no background, because most people don't---they P/NP it and/or don't show up because they're corporate, have a BigLaw job, and grades don't matter

Each to their own, but that doesn't reflect my experience. Perhaps more so because I had a professor who gave A+ grades, so the class naturally attracted gunners, but nonetheless I didn't feel there was much slacking going on.

Anonymous User wrote:Going to be a BK associate and have heard both corporate finance and advanced legal research are helpful classes for this practice area. However my school has both of theses courses offered at conflicting times. Which one is more helpful? As someone without a business background, I imagine corporate finance would have more long term utility.

I find corp fin knowledge to be very helpful as a bankruptcy attorney, you won’t be using it directly, but you’re always around it. Advanced legal research is more directly relevant and probably helpful, but I question just how necessary it is for day-to-day bankruptcy work—seems like major overkill.

I'd take the Advanced Legal Research, and if you want to learn about corpfin, spend some time doing some units on it on Khan Academy, or buy Tim Copland's Valuation book and workbook, and work through it on your own.