2 answers
Kiera
Student
Salt Point, New York
1
Question
Updated
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What does your day look like as a corporate lawyer? How do you acquire bonuses at your firm,How do you find a firm right out of college.
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2 answers
Terri R
Professor
27
Answers
Saint Petersburg, Florida
Updated
Terri’s Answer
Corporate law is a broad area, and lawyers in corporate law may do many different things. Many corporate lawyers work with complex transactions in traditional law firms, where days are usually filled with meetings with clients and other lawyers, drafting and reviewing documents, managing email and written communications, etc. Some corporate lawyers are litigating on behalf of corporations, and their days can include the same types of meetings and managing communications, but they are more focused on preparing for litigation, which can include discovery (such as depositions of witnesses), drafting of pleadings for the court, negotiating with opposing counsel, and eventually being in court. And within these types of practice, you can have lawyers who focus on a specific area of law that is most applicable to corporations, such as securities law (involving corporations that trade stock), intellectual property (patents, trademarks, and copyrights), mergers & acquisitions of companies, employment law, bankruptcy law, tax law, and countless other area! And some corporate lawyers work directly for a company as in-house counsel. Depending on the size of the in-house legal department the in-house lawyer might focus on just a few areas of law, or might have to deal with all different types of law, but only for the company that is the lawyer’s employer.
There are a number of ways to find a job as a lawyer. Law schools have career placement offices that help students find jobs. This can include having employers come to campus to interview students, but career placement offices also help students strategize how to conduct a job search, how to network within the legal community, and how to best present themselves to future employers through a well-crafted resume and cover letter and in the interview process. They can also help advise students about the different types of law practice and which type might be most suitable for a student’s particular goals. You can also extern with different types of lawyers in law school or during summers in order to gain experience and a better understanding of that type of practice of law.
There are a number of ways to find a job as a lawyer. Law schools have career placement offices that help students find jobs. This can include having employers come to campus to interview students, but career placement offices also help students strategize how to conduct a job search, how to network within the legal community, and how to best present themselves to future employers through a well-crafted resume and cover letter and in the interview process. They can also help advise students about the different types of law practice and which type might be most suitable for a student’s particular goals. You can also extern with different types of lawyers in law school or during summers in order to gain experience and a better understanding of that type of practice of law.
Kevin F
Lawyer
1
Answer
Los Angeles, California
Updated
Kevin’s Answer
Your day is likely driven by what you're working on. Sometimes it can be a last-minute fire drill, or it can be a bit more organized/predictable.
Bonuses are typically given out to everyone. The more senior you are (e.g., partner), the more likely you'll get a higher bonus based on the amount of deals/$$ you bring into the firm.
How do you find a firm after college? First, you need to graduate law school. Second, you don't find the firm.. it will find you if you're at a top law school. Very difficult to become a corporate lawyer if you're not top of your class and at a reputable law school. There are exceptions, but few and far between.
Then, if you are at the top/good law school and the firms go to your law school for "OCI" (on-campus interviews) during the summer following your first year (big law usually only goes to T14 law schools (Google it), or regionally recognized schools in a populated metropolitan area), you submit your resume and they interview you. If they like you, you get an offer to become a summer associate the following summer. If you do well that summer, they give you a full-time offer starting the next Fall (generally required that you pass the Bar as well within a certain amount of time). From there, you made it.
Goodluck.
Bonuses are typically given out to everyone. The more senior you are (e.g., partner), the more likely you'll get a higher bonus based on the amount of deals/$$ you bring into the firm.
How do you find a firm after college? First, you need to graduate law school. Second, you don't find the firm.. it will find you if you're at a top law school. Very difficult to become a corporate lawyer if you're not top of your class and at a reputable law school. There are exceptions, but few and far between.
Then, if you are at the top/good law school and the firms go to your law school for "OCI" (on-campus interviews) during the summer following your first year (big law usually only goes to T14 law schools (Google it), or regionally recognized schools in a populated metropolitan area), you submit your resume and they interview you. If they like you, you get an offer to become a summer associate the following summer. If you do well that summer, they give you a full-time offer starting the next Fall (generally required that you pass the Bar as well within a certain amount of time). From there, you made it.
Goodluck.