Quote:
Originally Posted by Unregistered
Student in graduating class of JC please answer my Qs
1. If I go to any other lower tier school (eg USyd, QMUL, Nottingham etc) BUT get masters from a good uni, will firms still regard me lower?
2. My back up plan is to be a banker. How does practicing law compare, in terms of hours & pay? I understand both are stressful jobs, especially if I'm doing investment banking.
3. What's the best route to being financially successful as a lawyer? Go in-house? Go into legal banking (excuse my poor jargon)? Stay with the firm long enough until I become a partner?
4. ALSO I'm having trouble just keeping up with titles as I've yet to familiarise myself with some of these things. What's the ladder order? Associate, secondee, Senior Associate, Partner, Legal Director, Legal Counsel, Senior Legal Counsel...
5. What sort of firm is it best to work for? Local (probably not right?), British, American, European excluding British etc
6. What is typical starting pay
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You need to learn to crawl before trying to walk. Some of these questions are too premature for a student just graduating from JC. There's nothing wrong with dreaming big but at this stage, you need to think about practical steps as opposed to distant possibilities.
My answers:
1. Your first degree generally matters much more than a masters degree because it is your first degree (the LLB or JD) that qualifies you to become a lawyer. Unless you get into a particularly well-respected program at an elite institution, a masters degree probably isn't going to add all that much value. It's also too early to be considering whether you'll be able to get into a good LLM program - it's like asking a kid fresh out of kindegarten which JC they'd like to attend. It's just not practical to think about getting into an elite institution for a masters degree without knowing how you'll fare in your LLB.
2. If money is your main or only reason for wanting to be a lawyer, choose banking.
3. Ask this again after you've graduated. If money is the main thing that drives you, choose banking.
4. There is no standard set of titles that every firm uses. Titles may vary depending on how a law practice is set up, which country you're practicing in, and your area of specialisation.
5. Ask this again after you've graduated.
6. Starting salaries change over time. We don't know what starting salaries will be like 4 to 6 years from now. Asking about what starting salaries are now just doesn't make sense.
Dream big. But be humble and practical in your approach. Whatever your goal is, you're not going to get there by day dreaming.