Summer Associate’s Difficult Decision: Corporate or Litigation?
A soon-to-be summer associate struggling with a decision over practice areas has written a career columnist for advice.
The dilemma, presented to the Careerist: Does corporate law or litigation offer better opportunities?
The Careerist checked in with two recruiters for advice. Matt Schwartz of Garrison & Sisson saw better in-house opportunities for those who pursue corporate law. “Corporate probably increases your in-house marketability five- to tenfold,” he said. “Most, if not all, major litigation is farmed out to outside counsel.” Corporate lawyers also get more responsibility earlier in their careers, and they have a slight advantage in the partnership sweepstakes. He cautioned, though, that corporate lawyers may be the first to be laid off in a recession.
Recruiter Avis Caravello said the summer associate should choose the area he or she will most enjoy—and then should start working on rainmaking skills.
