Seems like it's common to go back and forth. Over the years it seemed like people would start at Biglaw (pay off debt), start a family (SEC while kids are younger), back to Biglaw (pay off house, college, etc), back to SEC for upper level positions and enjoy empty nesting for a while and then back to Biglaw.

Not a bad plan.

Anonymous wrote:It is very difficult to get a job at the SEC working in the Office of Enforcement. It is considered very prestigious. I know a bunch of people who went on to other very prestigious jobs after working at the SEC. Your husband will get better experience at the SEC than at a big law firm. He'll also have more of a life.

+1

Enforcement advertises any open positions on USAJOBS. There aren't any open slots (at least in DC) at the moment.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP here. How do you apply for a job in the Enforcement division? DH wants to leave big law and go to the SEC for a few years but he can't find any info on their website about openings in Enforcement.

To OPs original question, he has always heard that going to the SEC for a few years can help you make partner--I.e., makes you ore valuable. I used to practice as well, though as a BD regulatory lawyer, and we were always looking to hire people with SEC experience. Helped to have people who knew what really was going on from the SEC's POV.

If you don't know people in Enforcement, forget it.

He knows people in Enforcement and knows how to use USA Jobs (I said the same thing to him as a PP--"learn to use USAJobs!!"), but he wanted to see if he could look at openings online before discussing a job with his friends in Enforcement. He's up for partner this year and doesn't want it getting out that he's thinking about leaving before he has a chance to really research it and make an informed decision. He didn't see anything on USAJobs, and Enforcement is the only division that doesn't provide info on its website on how to apply for a job (most provide an email address, instructions, etc).

Anonymous wrote:It is very difficult to get a job at the SEC working in the Office of Enforcement. It is considered very prestigious. I know a bunch of people who went on to other very prestigious jobs after working at the SEC. Your husband will get better experience at the SEC than at a big law firm. He'll also have more of a life.

It's not an Office, it's a Division.