This forum has a tendency to lump in non-finance careers into overly generalized buckets (e.g., lawyers work as much as bankers but get paid less (I know very few lawyers in Big Law who work as much as their counterparts in banking), or go into tech sales and you'll make $500k while working 40 hours a week (I know no tech sales guys living this lifestyle).

The answer to this question will vary a ton depending on the type of law or accounting you're engaged in. Being a partner at a corporate law vs. commercial real estate law vs. commercial litigation firm, and being a partner specializing in audit vs. tax vs. transaction advisory will result in vastly different lifestyles, compensation, exit options, "prestige", etc.

If you're asking if it would be "better" to be a law partner or accounting partner if both were to specialize in transactional services (e.g., a corporate/securities law partner vs. a transactional advisory accountant), then I agree with the poster above me in that the lawyer will have more "prestige", more interesting work (arguable depending on what your personal preferences are), higher pay, and better exit opps.

 

Transaction advisory covers a lot of stuff... while Financial Due Diligence is more "accounting", Lead M&A Advisory/Corporate Finance is MM IB, Valuation guys do a lot of modelling, Strategy guys do the market entrance/market research stuff, and there's also Restructuring teams (which I heard they suck).

I'd rather work as for a M&A/valuation team at a Big 4 than as a lawyer specializing in M&A.

 
GuyLafleur:
I know very few lawyers in Big Law who work as much as their counterparts in banking

yeah but I've heard its crazy hours at WLRK

"If you always put limits on everything you do, physical or anything else, it will spread into your work and into your life. There are no limits. There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there, you must go beyond them." - Bruce Lee
 

What are exit ops for both of these positions? Partner at bigger firms? Start their own firm? C-Suite at F500? PE/VC/HF high level support?

Don't beat yourself up on this, Eric. Some people like taking the long way home. Who the fuck knows?
 

There's a reason top government officials end up being law partners rather than accounting partners, and it's not because they are particularly bad at math.

Quant (ˈkwänt) n: An expert, someone who knows more and more about less and less until they know everything about nothing.
 
Most Helpful

The exit opportunities from top law firms are generally very good at the partner level, and even the senior associate level for almost-partner quality associates.

-Go from one white shoe firm to another that pays more based on revenue generated.

-Pass through the revolving door to government, frequently to work on high-profile and important public interest work squarely within your domain of expertise. You can always come back to your home firm afterwards, which will more often that not keep your seat warm while gone.

-Depending on the type of work, leave the law firm to start a fund, join a fund, make some carry (this happens a lot at higher levels - all the "deal guys" that strike out on their own need structuring/execution pros, and frequently at that level of the game the need to crunch models is not at all the most important thing anymore).

-Bankruptcy lawyers frequently leave to work in Rx

-M&A Lawyers leave to work in M&A/Corpdev

-Retire. Most law firms keep their retired former partners on a comfortable salary and give you an office to come and go from as you please. They get to tap you for expertise in a low-intensity way when needed, you get to make income and be professionally engaged in your old age on your terms. It's a win-win.

The list goes on. I can't speak much for accountants, only to say that the few I met left to become lawyers due to better pay and more interesting work.

Array
 

Voluptatem autem aut aliquid sunt. Omnis et nemo nam assumenda corporis illum. Delectus natus dolor est pariatur architecto. Laudantium sequi aut saepe officia omnis corporis.

Doloremque qui vel dolorum est sed eos recusandae. Architecto accusamus quasi molestias adipisci vel et. Amet vitae incidunt perferendis sunt doloribus quis ea.

Eveniet iste consectetur molestiae in soluta. Et ullam delectus ut aut odio autem. Tenetur corrupti fugit repellendus et consectetur sapiente quae iste. Quidem excepturi aut nihil in. Nihil iste modi voluptates ea ullam.

Laborum aliquid voluptatem minima neque repellendus. Autem et non ut cumque qui voluptates. Est quis vero autem dolor praesentium.

Career Advancement Opportunities

April 2024 Investment Banking

  • Jefferies & Company 02 99.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 19 98.8%
  • Harris Williams & Co. New 98.3%
  • Lazard Freres 02 97.7%
  • JPMorgan Chase 03 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

April 2024 Investment Banking

  • Harris Williams & Co. 18 99.4%
  • JPMorgan Chase 10 98.8%
  • Lazard Freres 05 98.3%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.7%
  • William Blair 03 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

April 2024 Investment Banking

  • Lazard Freres 01 99.4%
  • Jefferies & Company 02 98.8%
  • Goldman Sachs 17 98.3%
  • Moelis & Company 07 97.7%
  • JPMorgan Chase 05 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

April 2024 Investment Banking

  • Director/MD (5) $648
  • Vice President (19) $385
  • Associates (87) $260
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (14) $181
  • Intern/Summer Associate (33) $170
  • 2nd Year Analyst (66) $168
  • 1st Year Analyst (205) $159
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (146) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
3
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
99.0
4
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
5
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
6
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
7
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
8
kanon's picture
kanon
98.9
9
Linda Abraham's picture
Linda Abraham
98.8
10
numi's picture
numi
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”