Stable/predictable hours in transactional? Forum

[RoshiLaw]

Hello all,
I am looking for some help figuring out what big law practice areas would suit me best. Here are the things I value, ordered most important to least important.

1)Predictable/stable hours (I am fine working lots of hours, and even weekends, but I want to be able to have a consistent sleep schedule and plan ahead of time for things)
2)Does not involve much legal research and writing (I realize this somewhat conflicts with the first criteria)
3)Location: Texas market would be my top choice

I have heard that Capital Markets, PE, and Funds Formation may somewhat fit this bill. Can anyone shed any insight here? I've had trouble finding out too much concrete information on what the lifestyle is like in each of these areas. I'd really appreciate any thoughts (positive or otherwise) that people have on this.

Thank you all so much!

*I am a 1L at a T10 school, if that is relevant

[Anonymous User]

More so stable/predictable hours in transactional practices DO exist, but they are hard to find. You definitely will NOT want to work in M&A or PE. Perhaps some subsets of finance practices. Read Big Law Confidential for more details on how day-to-day practices can differ (litigation v. corporate v. specialist), and some of the "better" or "worse" ones in this regard. Capital markets can be reasonable at times, but crazy leading up to/around the time of SEC filing deadlines and quarter/year-ends. Fund formation practices are often consistently busy, but can be more reasonable at times, other than right before you are closing investors into a fund.

[Anonymous User]

Hello all,
I am looking for some help figuring out what big law practice areas would suit me best. Here are the things I value, ordered most important to least important.

1)Predictable/stable hours (I am fine working lots of hours, and even weekends, but I want to be able to have a consistent sleep schedule and plan ahead of time for things)
2)Does not involve much legal research and writing (I realize this somewhat conflicts with the first criteria)
3)Location: Texas market would be my top choice

I have heard that Capital Markets, PE, and Funds Formation may somewhat fit this bill. Can anyone shed any insight here? I've had trouble finding out too much concrete information on what the lifestyle is like in each of these areas. I'd really appreciate any thoughts (positive or otherwise) that people have on this.

Thank you all so much!

*I am a 1L at a T10 school, if that is relevant

It seems like transactional law may be the best fit for you. With practice areas like capital markets, private equity, and funds formation, there is less legal research and writing involved than in other areas. The hours are more predictable since most of the work here is based on client requests rather than court deadlines.

[Anonymous User]

More so stable/predictable hours in transactional practices DO exist, but they are hard to find. You definitely will NOT want to work in M&A or PE. Perhaps some subsets of finance practices. Read Big Law Confidential for more details on how day-to-day practices can differ (litigation v. corporate v. specialist), and some of the "better" or "worse" ones in this regard. Capital markets can be reasonable at times, but crazy leading up to/around the time of SEC filing deadlines and quarter/year-ends. Fund formation practices are often consistently busy, but can be more reasonable at times, other than right before you are closing investors into a fund.

My experience with PE has been relatively stable. Long hours, but you know when it is going to be busy and fairly rarely find myself working on the weekends unless it was something I put off during the week. (junior in PE).

[Anonymous User]

Hello all,
I am looking for some help figuring out what big law practice areas would suit me best. Here are the things I value, ordered most important to least important.

1)Predictable/stable hours (I am fine working lots of hours, and even weekends, but I want to be able to have a consistent sleep schedule and plan ahead of time for things)
2)Does not involve much legal research and writing (I realize this somewhat conflicts with the first criteria)
3)Location: Texas market would be my top choice

I have heard that Capital Markets, PE, and Funds Formation may somewhat fit this bill. Can anyone shed any insight here? I've had trouble finding out too much concrete information on what the lifestyle is like in each of these areas. I'd really appreciate any thoughts (positive or otherwise) that people have on this.

Thank you all so much!

*I am a 1L at a T10 school, if that is relevant

It seems like transactional law may be the best fit for you. With practice areas like capital markets, private equity, and funds formation, there is less legal research and writing involved than in other areas. The hours are more predictable since most of the work here is based on client requests rather than court deadlines.

Aren't clients notorious for wanting things on short notice compared to courts?

[NoLongerALurker]

Hello all,
I am looking for some help figuring out what big law practice areas would suit me best. Here are the things I value, ordered most important to least important.

1)Predictable/stable hours (I am fine working lots of hours, and even weekends, but I want to be able to have a consistent sleep schedule and plan ahead of time for things)
2)Does not involve much legal research and writing (I realize this somewhat conflicts with the first criteria)
3)Location: Texas market would be my top choice

I have heard that Capital Markets, PE, and Funds Formation may somewhat fit this bill. Can anyone shed any insight here? I've had trouble finding out too much concrete information on what the lifestyle is like in each of these areas. I'd really appreciate any thoughts (positive or otherwise) that people have on this.

Thank you all so much!

*I am a 1L at a T10 school, if that is relevant

It seems like transactional law may be the best fit for you. With practice areas like capital markets, private equity, and funds formation, there is less legal research and writing involved than in other areas. The hours are more predictable since most of the work here is based on client requests rather than court deadlines.

Aren't clients notorious for wanting things on short notice compared to courts?

Seconded. That sentence almost had me do a spit take