Law school instead of MBA for RX Banking

Current A1, thinking about staying in RX long term.

Clear path to MD since all jrs leave + firm prefers promoting internally

However, I really don’t want to get stuck in an “execution” MD role. Tbqh I have no real connections (nontarget UG) and when I think 10-20 years down the line, I’m worried I’m not really going to be able to bring in any deals.

I really don’t want to get an MBA, cannot stand MBA types ngl. Figured law school (only would go to HYS) would be a good way to meet lawyers/other ppl in RX space who down the line could become clients.

In an ideal world id just stay in IB, obviously the trade off is that I don’t get paid for 3 years + potential career delay - however, is it possible to come back as a “summer VP” and rejoin as a VP after law school?

6 Comments
 
Most Helpful

I usually just browse this site for entertainment, but I see a lot of my past self in this post. A few words of advice:

You’re an A1. You hit the desk literally two weeks ago. Keep your head down and focus on actually getting good at the job first.

I came from a non-target, started at one of these over-glorified RX shops (PJT, EVR, HL), went to a HF, and am now back in banking. I used to be in your exact shoes, stressing over how I was going to study for the LSAT, GMAT, or whatever alphabet-soup exams this forum hypes up (trust me, they aren't that important).

I skipped on-cycle recruiting for the exact reasons you're worried about. But I ended up giving the buyside a shot after working closely with a few funds, and one offered me a seat. That’s the beauty of RX - as an analyst, you actually get to work directly with deal partners at these shops. The network builds itself if you do good work.

Hope this gives you some perspective.

 

Associate 2 in IB - Gen

I usually just browse this site for entertainment, but I see a lot of my past self in this post. A few words of advice:

You’re an A1. You hit the desk literally two weeks ago. Keep your head down and focus on actually getting good at the job first.

I came from a non-target, started at one of these over-glorified RX shops (PJT, EVR, HL), went to a HF, and am now back in banking. I used to be in your exact shoes, stressing over how I was going to study for the LSAT, GMAT, or whatever alphabet-soup exams this forum hypes up (trust me, they aren't that important).

I skipped on-cycle recruiting for the exact reasons you're worried about. But I ended up giving the buyside a shot after working closely with a few funds, and one offered me a seat. That’s the beauty of RX - as an analyst, you actually get to work directly with deal partners at these shops. The network builds itself if you do good work.

Hope this gives you some perspective.

Out of curiosity, why did you leave buyside to go back to banking?

 

is it possible to come back as a “summer VP” and rejoin as a VP after law school?

😂😂 after a JD you may not even be able to get back as a summer intern

go to law school only if you want to be a lawyer (sucks), otherwise do what above comment said

incentives triumph ethics
 

Law student here, currently at HYS - left after a few years at MBB. DO NOT COME TO LAW SCHOOL UNLESS YOU WANT TO BE A LAWYER. Not even for HYS. It is not rational to sideline your career earnings for three years and likely go into debt when you already have a pretty good career lined up. The days of lawyers becoming bankers are long gone. Folks like Blankfein, Kevin Warsh, or Jay Powell, are the exception, not the norm. Think HLS had only one person in the class of 25 graduate and go to banking. 1 out of ~580 ppl. 

Right now, you have higher long-term earning potential; you will be worth so much more to businesses with your fin expertise than you would be with a JD. 

 

Analyst 1 in Consulting

Folks like Blankfein

to be frank even he had it hard (was rejected by GS), so he went to J Aron which was a huge downgrade for someone with Harvard UG/JD and biglaw tax. The rest was just luck.

incentives triumph ethics
 

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