JD to Consulting - Who hires? Chances?

I am finishing up my second year at a top 14 law school and currently have around a 3.33 GPA. My undergrad degree is from Berkeley (Haas) with a 3.7 GPA.

Looking through the websites of the top consulting firms I can only confirm that Bain and McKinsey start J.D.s at a higher salary. Many of the other firms say they hire advanced degrees, but are silent as to whether they start off at a higher level. Are there any other firms that do?

Also, given my background, what are my chances at Bain/McKinsey? Does my law gpa kill me?

How to Get Into Consulting from Law School

While obtaining a JD is not the typical path into consulting, it’s not an impossible transition. As with any interview process you’ll need to:

As you learn about the consulting industry, you'll learn about the importance of mastering case interviews. Taking strategy courses at the B-school as part of your law degree electives can help you learn about these, as well as demonstrate your interest in the field. Speaking with alumni who may have made the transition from law school to consulting can also offer insight on the case interview process.

WSO community members also offer the following encouragement:

  • GPA doesn’t seem to matter as much to consulting firms, they focus more on how well-rounded you are, how well you do in the cases, etc.
  • Check out other “strategy” shops like Booz or ATK
  • Pay for advanced degrees seems to vary by firm

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I ran across bunch of JD students during my interviews with McK, mostly from what I remember from Penn, Georgetown and Harvard. In my first round group interview session, probably 50% were law students. During the recruitment process with BCG and Bain, I don't recall ever interacting with a law student. That doesn't mean they don't recruit them. My experience is just a data point.

 

Network from now until recruiting for the summer before you graduate. Apply. Kick ass on the cases. Get offer. If you want consulting experience before then, then you should look into boutique/smaller firms in the area and see what they say. Otherwise, try to get internships in other industries.

 

I am a JD from another non-top 6 law school going into MBB. I don't think chances from lower ranked law school is any more difficult than from HYS--i can't say as to the difference from MBAs. It seems pretty much that once you get an interview, it's all about your performance. At all three MBBs, JDs start off at the same level/salary as MBAs. Will be the same case as PhDs and MDs, but other masters degrees seem to start off at a senior pre-MBA level. FWIW, though, it does seem that Bain is a little less interested than the other two. But I also did absolutely zero networking outside the online applications, so maybe that might help. As for GPA--I had a much lower GPA and it didn't seem to bother them much. You might also look into other "strategy" firms such as Booz, ADL or ATK. Their process isn't as streamlined so you have to do a bit more reaching out, but the contacts seemed pretty willing to talk to me--just happened to get the offer from MBB before I had a chance to talk to them.

 

Thanks for all the replies. I go to a school w/ a top 5 MBA program, but why does the strength of the MBA program matter? Is it just b/c of access to some of their networking events?

gogrannygo:
As for GPA--I had a much lower GPA and it didn't seem to bother them much. You might also look into other "strategy" firms such as Booz, ADL or ATK. Their process isn't as streamlined so you have to do a bit more reaching out, but the contacts seemed pretty willing to talk to me--just happened to get the offer from MBB before I had a chance to talk to them.

I know for undergrad applicants people talk about cutoffs, but I guess law gpa doesn't matter as much? Do you know if those other firms start you off at the undergrad level salary or at some higher level? Thanks.

 
CupRamen:
Thanks for all the replies. I go to a school w/ a top 5 MBA program, but why does the strength of the MBA program matter? Is it just b/c of access to some of their networking events?

Sorry, I should have been clearer - that's exactly right. If McKinsey and BCG don't recruit at your school (and they don't actively recruit at many law schools) then you have to find a way to network in - the best way is to find out when the MBA presentations are, go to MBA networking events and get yourself some contacts at the firm in the offices you want to apply for. This isn't possible unless MBB recruits at the mba program of the university you attend.

 
Best Response
CupRamen:
Thanks for all the replies. I go to a school w/ a top 5 MBA program, but why does the strength of the MBA program matter? Is it just b/c of access to some of their networking events?
gogrannygo:
As for GPA--I had a much lower GPA and it didn't seem to bother them much. You might also look into other "strategy" firms such as Booz, ADL or ATK. Their process isn't as streamlined so you have to do a bit more reaching out, but the contacts seemed pretty willing to talk to me--just happened to get the offer from MBB before I had a chance to talk to them.

I know for undergrad applicants people talk about cutoffs, but I guess law gpa doesn't matter as much? Do you know if those other firms start you off at the undergrad level salary or at some higher level? Thanks.

Since you do go to a school with a top MBA program, you might consider taking a strategy class or two before you graduate, if they allow it. This will 1) better demonstrate your interest in the subject, and 2) give you additional contacts to leverage (both students, and a prof or two). I'm a non-MBA grad student at UChicago, and am taking 2 strategy classes from the Booth program as electives for my own degree, to supplement my odds of getting an interview / gig at MBB.

 

Law School needs to be Harvard, Columbia, or Yale. Otherwise, probably difficult to pull off consulting. IB is harder to predict since there is less formal recruiting at law schools.

 
bleedblue82:
best consultant I ever worked with at MBB graduated from a nothing jd/mba program. Total rockstar. I think he got an interview with a little bit of networking and legwork, but after that it was all cruising.

Could you explain what exactly made him so successful?

http://ayainsight.co/ Curating the best advice and making it actionable.
 

It's hard. This year in particular. I'm at a top 3 school and McKinsey took almost no one. In past years they took a handful, maybe 3 out of 12 that interviewed. That said, they seem to earnestly want law students, it's just that law students get lazy about interviews since law interviews are a joke, and then get caught off guard by all the cases and stuff.

 

This seems like an extremely stupid, time consuming, and expensive way to get into consulting. Why don't you just try to get a consulting job now and apply for an MBA later? Or if you still insist on staying in school, why not get a 1-year masters from LSE or something?

 

I was planning on doing this, but I think its a really bad idea. I've talked to numerous alums who have done it and lawyers who haven't and they all say the same thing.

If you don't want to be a lawyer and intend on having a law career, don't go to law school...period.

You can always change your mind and go later

 

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