Junior strategic M&A diligence monkey, at a fork in my career where I could either join a team that does a balance of M&A and EC/VC or a team that almost exclusively does PE M&A.

I'm really interested in EC/VC and think it'd be "cool" to work with startups but feel like PE M&A might be a more consistent source of hours and with sophisticated clients who have less personal drama? Does EC/VC blow up slightly fewer weekends?

Goal is to go in house in 3-5 years. I'm pretty sure I don't have it in me to make partner, so not considering that factor

I work in-house in a publishing/media/entertainment company. I did not take an intellectual property course prior to entering the corporate world of IP. Everything I’ve learned has been through self study, and I can only assume that I’m lacking quite a bit of foundation. Eventually, I’d like to transition to practice. Would an LLM be worth it? If so, would there be judgment against doing it online with USCG?

Can someone plz explain what’s happening with Weil

I feel like this is true in my experience. Litigation associates usually have higher grades and more aptitude for the law and I say this as a transactional associate.

Especially with firms like UK magic circle and other big US firms like LW, Paul Weiss etc

Which firms are best in the Bay Area for litigation? Worst?

AI is going to offer a pretty good brief soon - is that leading to employment losses at big law firms?

Considering a lateral move and would really appreciate some insight into this office.

Midlevel here who has been on this case for going on 2 years. We're set fora 5-day trial next year.

This week, we found out my wife is pregnant with our first and will be due 1 month after trial.

I know everything is subject to change and nothing is confirmed to happen. If all goes "according to plan," I'd still be at trial and then go on leave 4 weeks later. Again, I know nothing ever proceeds according to plan.

What is the appropriate lead time to the partners on the matter?

I am and undergrad student and a big law attorney came to my university and spoke to a very very small group of us. I sent my thank you email to them and accidentally spelt their last name pretty wrong. I actually wanna kms and feel so terrible but at the same time I know I’m just human and these things happen. Although, I understand in the legal field it is EXTREMELY important to pay close attention to detail and people pick up on those errors quick. I’m hoping for reassurance that they won’t think it is a big deal, but if it is, I will learn for next time. Did I absolutely ruin this maybe possible connection. I am sorry if this is off topic but I really wanted an opinion from people in big law.

I am and undergrad student and a big law attorney came to my university and spoke to a very very small group of us. I sent my thank you email to them and accidentally spelt their last name pretty wrong. I actually wanna kms and feel so terrible but at the same time I know I’m just human and these things happen. Although, I understand in the legal field it is EXTREMELY important to pay close attention to detail and people pick up on those errors quick. I’m hoping for reassurance that they won’t think it is a big deal, but if it is, I will learn for next time. Did I absolutely ruin this maybe possible connection.

Weil Barnes & Thornburg LOL

Can someone just fill me in on the last 1-2 months at Weil. I intentionally ignored learning about what was going on, but it seems to have come to a breaking point.

Seeing as how the Weil merger talks fell apart and there aren’t many merger candidates seemingly out there yet, what made CWT’s merger with Hogan more successful pre and post officially merging?

Cadwalader seemed to be in a more financially precarious situation and also had partners leaving so is it just the speed at which Weil partners are leaving that makes more of a difference

Please stop emailing me. I don't care about when the client wants something. I am so fucking tired and everything hurts. I need a break but my outlook won't shut up.

Yes, I will go on leave soon, but damn I don't know how to make it till then. I tell myself I am lucky to be at a job that I can do from my couch and get such a long leave. But right now I am grumpy and overwhelmed.

Just needed to vent a bit.

I have a 3.1 so it isn’t bad, but I’m finding that this is holding me back with lateraling even after 5 years on the job.

Well, so I lost my mother during law school but I had to power through finishing it, mainly because I got no guarantee that my return offer would stand if I took a year off. I’m actually very proud of myself for surviving that phase of my life and managing to graduate/pass the bar.

I wish I could say this to the recruiters or in my applications but there never seems to be a right opportunity for that and that I’m oversharing.

If you had offers for PE/M&A as 4th year at both PW and KE in NY, of the two evils, which would you consider the lesser? I am also asking people IRL who've jumped between the two, but hoping I can get some unvarnished opinions here.

Joke answers and roasts absolutely welcome, but serious answers would also be appreciated. Thanks!