Is JD ->MBB -> PE possible
Hello question is above.
I am a T14 JD who managed to land an MBB post MBA role(associate/consultant) in a top non-NYC city(SF/Boston/Chicago). Fairly young, with no significant work experience yet, but would love to be able to switch over into PE in an investment role. (Though would go for ops if need be)
I would be understanding of taking the hit in seniority and recruiting into a associate position like someone a couple years out of undergrad with banking or MBB analyst experience.
Should I try to participate in on cycle recruiting next year/would I be able to, and what sort of narrative do you think would sell best?
Ultimately, I just realized I hated the law and tried to recruit into non legal professional service jobs. I got interviews/attention at all the MBB and landed a role at one, but no luck with banking save a flubbed Goldman interview. I am very willing to practice modeling to prevent that from happening again.
Undergrad was economics at a non target but decent university and I do have a fairly quantitative background before law school.
My $0.02 is it’s an uphill battle. The head hunters that run on-cycle aren’t going to consider you, funds will be skeptical you’re willing to take a step down in title/pay. Candidly, I’m not sure on-cycle actually exists as an option for you without some proactive outreach to position yourself to the head hunters
Would think it’s doable, but they recruit analysts for those roles, not associates. It’s the same thing as post-MBA bankers not getting shots at structured buyside recruiting
Would it make any difference that I am closer in age to a 22 y/o college grad than your typical 29-32 y/o post-MBA hire?
And ty. I assumed it would be uphill. But might as well give it a shot
Age is definitely a positive fact pattern. My guess is they largely look at the role and you’re theoretically a layer removed from being as in the weeds as the analyst (or w.e. consulting calls it)
Also FWIW, I think a jump to PE is very possible, it’s just about finding the right fund / recruiting process. There are lots of funds out there besides the big players who utilize on-cycle
I've not been in your shoes so take with grain of salt but I agree with the first comment that this is going to be uphill battle for you. I would think your best bet would be networking directly with a smaller MM - LMM fund and getting a shot that way. I'd especially look for other folks with non-traditional paths to PE and/or legal backgrounds. Best of luck!
I honestly think it's possible, just reach out to headhunters and see what kind of traction you get. You'll enter at associate level but I don't think it's impossible, just non-traditional. Obviously easier to break in from traditional background but from what you said I don't see why you wouldn't at least get intros with hhs which could lead to first round interviews or they'll tell you straight up it's not possible. Good luck
remain in the law path, you're not missing much in the finance side & you'll reach 100% guaranteed partner in biglaw because if you're interested in MBB/PE/IB you clearly have the business/financial accumen that other liberal+JD nerds lack. In other words, you'll experience a bigger success (primarily financial) in biglaw than MBB/PE with your background.
- a fellow ex-lawyer
Too late tbh.
Also, did not have a great biglaw offer on the table. If I had a V10 offer or something like that, perhaps it would've been more of a question, but I really didn't have any offer of that caliber to compare to. I was much better at the softer part of the interview processes and top biglaw firms were very grade sensitive while some MBBs didn't even ask.
no probs, I interned at BCG and it's still a great learning experience/professional experience
enjoy it
of the people entering biglaw, what distribution would you say fits the "liberal+JD nerds" vs. those with "business/financial accumen"?
Everything is an uphill battle, look how many analysts on this forum are complaining about getting no offers during on-cycle. The firm I work at doesn't typically hire consultants because it's not our hiring model, but there is an entire universe of PE firms that do view consultants as a major pipeline for hiring. Do they typically hire at a more junior level? Yes. But the reality is, now that you're at MBB, it won't immediately look completely outside the norms that you'd be considered for a PE role. Hiring for any role in an off-cycle way is inherently more of a slog, but you'll have time to build a skillset and build a network, and if you are taking strategic actions to move into PE, you'll be able to do it. Just be prepared that it might take your 2 or 3 years from the time you actually start looking. But the reason most people don't get things is that they give up, and there is no reason a T14 JD who was able to get an MBB offer should not be able to get looks for PE roles once they have built a bit of a skillset and knowledge base.
Ty for the vote of confidence. I’ll be sure to keep trying once the opportunity pops up.
Sure thing. Just to put it into further context and clarify that this is not a pie in the sky dream, I also went to a T14 law school, no MBA, managed to get a post-MBA Associate role at a BB, and then moved into PE at the Principal level when I was a Director level in banking. Post that profile on this forum and see if anyone will tell you that move is possible, and I'd feel pretty confident you wouldn't get a single hit.
My major piece of advice is to try to be a bit strategic if this is a goal of yours. Part of what I did was intentionally aim to cover PE clients while I was in banking so that I could develop relationships and get a better sense of how they thought. This helped significantly when I was interviewing, but was also more of a tactic that was relevant when I became more senior in banking (VP level). The specific tactics that will be more important for you will be different, but the mindset is the part that matters.
Good luck!
(currently at one of the Bs) Try to get staffed on DDs/ Post-acquisition cases as much as possible (i.e., PEG for Bain, PIPE for BCG, ? for McK), there is a steady flow from people into PE from there. Some good experience there will give you a chance to rebrand, no reason why you wouldn't be able to land something afterwards...
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