Can I realistically get into a top HF?
I graduated with an LLB from Oxbridge, and currently, I'm working at a top-tier law firm (think Sullivan/Kirkland/Skadden). I'm interested in becoming an investment analyst in a hedge fund as I want to leave the corporate world altogether (no more deals and proxy fights plz).
My biggest concern is that I see a lot of positions listed with requirements to have a Math or Engineering degree, advanced skills in Python, and so on. But seems exaggerated.
I'm planning to pass all 3 levels of the CFA and pursue an MBA. Would that be enough to recruit for a top HF? Or do I really need to be some type of math wizard to get into Point72, Eliott, Two Sigma, etc.?
Cheers.
No quant background is needed. But you'll need a top 3 MBA and top internships.
I’m an ex-lawyer working as an analyst at a big fund - it’s definitely doable.
You are going to need to figure out what type of HF you want to join and whether you want to use your legal skill set or not. For example Elliott, deals and proxy fights are not something you leave behind going there.
Elliot is a monster, read what they've done to Argentina and oh my god, lol.
In a similar situation - may I pm you?
In a similar situation - may I pm you?
In a similar situation - may I pm you?
In a similar situation - may I pm you?
London based, I'm joining Citadel/Point72 out of undergrad for L/S and have pretty eh maths skills and can't really code. I study something irrelevant to finance too.
Also each hedge fund you listed is entirely different and look for different backgrounds. Their strategies aren't even close to each other tbh. Seems like you should go do some research on what type of investing you really want to do. Right now it just seems like you want to work at a hedge fund for the sake of it.
MBA probs overkill, MFin or MFA should be alright, but there's not alot of spots out there to join out of school. The fund i'm going to has the largest intake out of school and its still less than 8 people in London.
Did you go to a target or semi-target undergrad school in the UK?
Target
Don’t.
why
Distressed
watch paul enright podcast
Speaking as someone who has done it (law to top HF) from exactly where you stand today, realistic chances are very slim and this road is basically shut to you unless you put in an absolute ton of time and effort (btw CFA is a 900 hours waste of time and will not really help you - also speaking as someone who has done all 3 levels of the damn thing)
D. E. Shaw is one of the big HFs who do not care about background or even finance knowledge. Under their fundamental research team, there is a very interesting team called litigation investing which may align with your expertise. Definitely worth a try!
Source: I interviewed with the shop (fundamental) and my interviewer is on litigation investing (Harvard JD)
They take a bunch of ex-lawyers in all their fundamental teams as well. Their credit team and equity teams both have 3+ on each of them.
I am in a similar situation. Ex structured finance lawyer at top 10 MBA program. I am trying to enter the credit space given my background and it's an uphill battle (my internship was in the corporate finance dept. of a listed asset-heavy company). Maybe by the end of the MBA things start changing but it has not been easy so far. Any advice or tips are welcome
Obviously doable
the most viable (albeit not the fastest) route from your position is to go to a top MBA program in the US and recruit for a top RX IB group then onto a distressed HF (other strategies will also be possible)
if you have meaningful RX legal experience then you could possibly lateral straight into a top RX IB group but this is going to be challenging if you're not already based in the US / require sponsorship
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