I went to a very non-target (USNWR unranked) and absolutely love finance work. I enjoy grinding in Excel and could sell a steak to a vegetarian. I have come to the conclusion that my only shot at being involved in high level deals is law or an MBA after three years of my current job, which entails business analytics/FP&A/legal at a startup which, while extremely enjoyable, is not financially rewarding. I have a very high LSAT score and have applied to top law schools and, while I think I would enjoy big law (long hours and brutal monotony included) I know I eventually want to get back into Finance—whether it’s in PE at some level or M&A advisory.
I’d like to do JD over MBA, but how does that actually play out for people? Do BigLaw associates, particularly M&A or securities, with technical skills and experience have a shot at PE exits?
Dude - stop. You can go from undergrad, unless you’re a senior - then you’re running out of time. Just get your technicals down cold before you start making calls.
source: non-target at EB
I appreciate it, but I don’t think so… I had a lot of coffee chats with ‘friend-of friend-of friends’ at BBs and EBs who told me I had a snowball’s chance in hell. I know non-target to IB/PE, etc is possible, but not in my position. FWIW I have graduated as well
I wouldn't recommend it. I know couple people that went from big law to PE but they all did 5+ years in law first and every case was an exit to a specialist fund leveraging that expertise
Good advice! Thanks
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How much work experience do you have? If you have 2-3+ years, you’ve got a decent shot at solid JD/MBA programs (Northwestern, Penn, Columbia) with solid scholarship $$ if your LSAT score is high enough. That’s probably the most straightforward path to a solid IBD gig at this point. The ship will have sailed for PE/HF though.
the alternative is to try to network your way into banking analyst programs directly. The market is super hot so if your experience is solid you’ve got a good shot.
Solid advice. Thoughts on JD/MSF or similar? Maybe CFA designation down the line would give the flexibility for a nice lateral of some kind
Do you want to work in PE or IB? Very different answer depending which one you want to do.
If IB you definitely don’t need to go to law school. You can definitely network/cold call your way into an IB job especially in today’s market where banks are desperate for bodies and M&A activity is at all time highs.
PE is almost impossible to get into post-grad without prior PE experience. Prior PE experience is almost impossible to get without doing 2 years of banking or consulting at a MBB. I have seen some more opportunistic funds, distressed for control PE funds hire some M&A attorneys from the a top 5 big law firm bc the legal skill set is much more important for those strategies.
So if you want a post-MBA PE job the law strategy may be your best bet without prior PE experience. If you’re young enough and willing to enter a banking analyst program then you could also go that route. Either way will probably take you 5 years before you’re in a post-MBA PE role.
Super helpful! Tysm
Attorneys being hired at those shops as investment professionals are largely not M&A attorneys. Mostly restructuring, with a small number of finance attorneys.
Its also harder to lateral from a biglaw RX seat than lateralling from an RX IBD associate / VP seat, skillsets overlap less.
I would not recommend going to law school with the idea that you are going to be an investment professional unless you are going to a T6 school, and likely through a JD / MBA program.
Good advice. Thanks and cheers
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