Why do so many Ivy League lawyers want to work in Finreg

[Anonymous]

I’ve worked in FinReg and have read a lot of related posts here on DCUM. I’m always amazed at how many well-educated lawyers want to work for FinReg. What’s with that? Given the brains and discipline required to get an Ivy League law degree, I would think more would want higher paying jobs in the private sector.

[Anonymous]

They learn the regs from rhe inside.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They learn the regs from rhe inside.

This.

[Anonymous]

And maybe they believe in public service? I’ve got an AB and a JD from Ivy League schools and I went straight into the federal government. Not FinReg, because that doesn’t interest me, but still. Just because I got “fancy” degrees doesn’t mean I’m only about $.

[Anonymous]

In private practice, they work 60-100 hours per week.

In the federal government, they work 0-40 hours per week.

It depends on what stage of life you're at or what you fundamentally want out of life.

Also, the practice of law, especially corporate law, doesn't require a very high IQ. If you look at the degrees earned by leaders in private practice, a lot of them went to bad schools.

[Anonymous]

It’s easy $. There’s no easier place to make 250k. After slogging from 9th grade thru biglaw to get to where I am, yeah I want to twiddle my thumbs for a quarter million. YMMV. -Double Ivy, at FinReg.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They learn the regs from rhe inside.

Then go back to private to work as head of government relations.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They learn the regs from rhe inside.

Then go back to private to work as head of government relations.

Yep, MD of compliance or general counsel. It's the same story for all the regulatory agencies. My FIL was always desperately seeking FDA attorneys.

[Anonymous]

A friend went to FinReg and then HHS focusing on privacy.

A few years after she went to a top firm and became a partner pretty quickly. Honestly, don’t think they would have gotten partner without the above. They left at the right time when firms needed people with the above experience. Went to an Ivy+ undergrad (don’t want to say it Ivy or + for privacy reasons) but a “meh” law school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:And maybe they believe in public service? I’ve got an AB and a JD from Ivy League schools and I went straight into the federal government. Not FinReg, because that doesn’t interest me, but still. Just because I got “fancy” degrees doesn’t mean I’m only about $.

This. My sibling went to a top ten law school, has dedicated her career to civil service. She's proud of doing good with her degree.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In private practice, they work 60-100 hours per week.

In the federal government, they work 0-40 hours per week.

It depends on what stage of life you're at or what you fundamentally want out of life.

Also, the practice of law, especially corporate law, doesn't require a very high IQ. If you look at the degrees earned by leaders in private practice, a lot of them went to bad schools.

It is not 0-40, more like 35-55, but still way better than private practice. Combination of interesting legal work plus work-life balance can't be beat.

[Anonymous]

I went to a top 3 law school and was not worried about money just wanted a job I loved. Found that at a gov agency for many, many years. Recently left.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In private practice, they work 60-100 hours per week.

In the federal government, they work 0-40 hours per week.

It depends on what stage of life you're at or what you fundamentally want out of life.

Also, the practice of law, especially corporate law, doesn't require a very high IQ. If you look at the degrees earned by leaders in private practice, a lot of them went to bad schools.

It is not 0-40, more like 35-55, but still way better than private practice. Combination of interesting legal work plus work-life balance can't be beat.

Is FinReg “interesting legal work”?

I am in the camp with the ones I know used it to quickly become partners in private practice because they know all the people, practices and regs for their private sector clients.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s easy $. There’s no easier place to make 250k. After slogging from 9th grade thru biglaw to get to where I am, yeah I want to twiddle my thumbs for a quarter million. YMMV. -Double Ivy, at FinReg.

How do you make $250 in a govt job? I thought attorneys were hired on the GS scale.

[Anonymous]

Finreg agencies have a higher pay scale. It’s the sweet life. Easy work given your expertise and great hours. I wish firms allowed you o only work 40 hour weeks