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Posted on 1/11/11 at 7:14 pm to Tiger4
As a corporate attorney, you need to know how to read financial statements and the general effect of a transaction on financial statement. A business degree helps show that you theoretically know how to read financial statements. Law firms that do corporate law like to see a business background, although one is not necessary. Some law schools offer the JD/MBA combo. If you do well at law school, I don't know that the combo will do much for you other than act as a tie-breaker if you and a non-business major are vying for the same gig.
As far as when you look to go in-house, I don't think your undergraduate degree will be much of an issue. By that time, you should have learned how to read financial statements. If you haven't, the company probably won't hire you. As prior posters have said, in-house positions tend to be offered to those with whom the company has worked closely, i.e. their outside counsel. A business degree alone won't help you build the relationship needed to go in-house.
Oh, and a business degree will give you a fall-back plan if you get sick of law school or practicing. A poli-sci degree will only give you something to wipe your arse with.
ETA: If you want to be a CFO, a CPA is a good credential to have. However, you won't see many corporate attorneys with a CPA in major cities. If anything, they are CFAs. CPAs are generally for your "less sophisticated" markets, like Louisiana.
As far as when you look to go in-house, I don't think your undergraduate degree will be much of an issue. By that time, you should have learned how to read financial statements. If you haven't, the company probably won't hire you. As prior posters have said, in-house positions tend to be offered to those with whom the company has worked closely, i.e. their outside counsel. A business degree alone won't help you build the relationship needed to go in-house.
Oh, and a business degree will give you a fall-back plan if you get sick of law school or practicing. A poli-sci degree will only give you something to wipe your arse with.
ETA: If you want to be a CFO, a CPA is a good credential to have. However, you won't see many corporate attorneys with a CPA in major cities. If anything, they are CFAs. CPAs are generally for your "less sophisticated" markets, like Louisiana.
This post was edited on 1/11/11 at 7:19 pm
Posted on 1/11/11 at 7:28 pm to barry
quote:Good luck with that GPA, tho. It's a rare person who does well in both law & engineering.
Engineering + law degree = bank.
Posted on 1/11/11 at 7:38 pm to Tigah in the ATL
The effect on you gpa aside, an engineering degree really only helps you for practicing in the field of Intellectual Property. You better know you like prosecuting patents or litigating infringement cases if you choose that route. It's not for everyone.
Posted on 1/11/11 at 9:59 pm to BrandNew
quote:
an engineering degree really only helps you for practicing in the field of Intellectual Property.
Construction law, products liability, fire litigation, etc.
an engineering degree will help in several areas of law.
I know lawyers that got their first job out of law school because of their engineering degree... jobs that have nothing to do with IP.
Posted on 1/11/11 at 10:43 pm to TortiousTiger
My comment was in reference to the engineering and law degree being "bank." A background in enigineering can be "helpful" in some areas just as a business degree can be, but neither will let you charge a premium rate. An engineer in the IP filed can bill at a higher rate than an engineer doing construction litigation or asbestos cases.
Posted on 1/11/11 at 11:28 pm to TortiousTiger
I'm working on a debt offering as we speak (just got home) and I cannot fricking imagine being on the attorneys' side of this cluster frick. Thank god I didn't go to law school. 
Posted on 1/12/11 at 2:26 am to BrandNew
quote:
An engineer in the IP filed can bill at a higher rate than an engineer doing construction litigation or asbestos cases.
As a quasi IP attorney, I can say that this is true, although only with regard to IP litigation (prosecution is pretty much commoditized). The demand curve for quality patent litigators is pretty much vertical.
Posted on 1/12/11 at 5:42 am to sneakytiger
Yeah corporate attorneys are known to pull a lot of all nighters. Debt offerings, equity offerings and mergers can push their monthly billables up to the 300-hour mark. Lots of proof easing of documents for the corporate associates. Very sexy work.
Posted on 1/12/11 at 7:58 am to BrandNew
Why do you want to be a lawyer? If it's driven by money, please be aware that there are a number of professions that make comparable money with much less personal sacrifice.
If you have lawyers as close friends or family, I'd speak to them about their experience as practitioners.
Please be aware that only about 10% of graduating law students from "state schools" are going to have the Big Law opportunities that feed the big corporate counsel positions you're talking about.
If you have lawyers as close friends or family, I'd speak to them about their experience as practitioners.
Please be aware that only about 10% of graduating law students from "state schools" are going to have the Big Law opportunities that feed the big corporate counsel positions you're talking about.
Posted on 1/12/11 at 12:54 pm to jglass3lsu
quote:
Why do you want to be a lawyer?
The OP probably thinks it would be sexy to be a corporate associate at Baker Botts, pulling all nighters looking for typos in offering memoranda or doing due diligence for a billion dollar merger. She can get a nanny to raise the kid she will never see except on Sundays. The life every law school student dreams about.
Posted on 1/12/11 at 2:17 pm to BrandNew
quote:It could be all of those things or I just want to put my self in position to have a stable job. If I had asked about being a defense attorney you would say I watch too much law and order.
The OP probably thinks it would be sexy to be a corporate associate at Baker Botts, pulling all nighters looking for typos in offering memoranda or doing due diligence for a billion dollar merger. She can get a nanny to raise the kid she will never see except on Sundays. The life every law school student dreams about.
Do you practice law, if so what type if any specifically? What did you get your BA in?
Posted on 1/12/11 at 2:43 pm to Tiger4
Actually I was just making an inside joke with jglass, assuming he is who I think he is.
Seriously though, working in corporate law at a big law firm requires a high level of personal sacrifice. There are attorneys who only see their kids on Sundays because of the hours.
Seriously though, working in corporate law at a big law firm requires a high level of personal sacrifice. There are attorneys who only see their kids on Sundays because of the hours.
Posted on 1/12/11 at 3:21 pm to BrandNew
Well thanks for the advice.Posted on 1/13/11 at 7:53 am to Tiger4
quote:
Actually I was just making an inside joke with jglass, assuming he is who I think he is.
He is who you think he is! Who are you?
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