Thinking about leaving corp transactional work for a personal injury firm, with the goal of starting my own PI firm after that. Anyone have any experience or advice?
Context: Started at V5 firm, M&A. Went in house with mid-market PE group. Money is pretty good, but very dissatisfied. Basically process forwarded emails all day. Little human interaction feel like I'll always be a servant.
Feel like I would be happier in something more entrepreneurial with human interaction, so PI?

like
Posting as :
works at
You are currently posting as works at

Curious to know how pursuing PI came to the fore for you given your stated background. Balancing the prospect of making large sums of money while helping others, are you looking for a purpose-driven career that provides a healthy income? If so, have you considered any purpose-driven entrepreneurial opportunities outside the practice of law?

I clerked for a federal judge, won a pair of national mock trial competitions and litigated my own car accident case to a trial in small claims court, so I have some litigation background.

For me, I think the real appeal is running my own business and not having to work for someone else. I’ve worked in private equity for my entire post-clerkship career, and they are a very demanding client base. Ive also watched them run businesses and thought, I could probably do that. I don’t have a clear path to running my first that outside of the law, so I’m looking at PI as it seems to be the most natural way for a lawyer to run a business.

like

That seems like a big jump. Is it interaction you want or do you want to try your hand at litigation? If the former there are other routes within your current wheel house that you can explore. Usually there’s an entire separate team at PE firms that are tasked with sourcing the deal (most of the time they aren’t lawyers). Those individuals travel to the targets, interact with the key business teams and are front line on the start of the negotiations. I’ve seen M&A lawyers pivot to that role.

I came in house with the hope of pivoting to this role and it hasn’t really worked. They have hired a former investment bank VP and a tech entrepreneur to pursue those roles. I function sort of like a one man law firm processing forwarded docs.

I just posted a reply above where I explain that I have a bit of a litigation background as well. I think for me the appeal is human interaction, feeling like I’m helping people and the chance to actually own and run a business of my own.

How old are you? Family and kids?

I expect you’re right about that which is why I wouldn’t plan on staying at a PI mill any longer than I had to.

Why PI in particular? What about criminal law, family, etc?

I’d be giving up a lot of money. A higher than average in house salary.

Following. I’m in the exact same spot as you and making the shift in February. We also share the same reasons.

I’m also focusing on Immigration together with PI and a few criminal issues (mostly related to immigration)

The feeling of freedom in running your own business and actually making an impact on people’s lives can’t be compared to any job-security provided by corporate-transactional law. The money is good but it is unbelievably boring.

Not giving up much money (currently making 80k/year). I have been an attorney for 1 year. (Working with transactional law for about 3 years). No litigation experience at all.

I’ll start with a friend of mine who already has a well established office in order to get experience. My main focus will be on immigration (I am an immigrant myself), and I’ll have support from more experienced attorneys in case a PI issue goes to trial...

Related Posts

Help the baby executives please! For the seasoned executives - Thinking back to your first executive role - what were the biggest mistakes you made and how did you recover?

Post Photo
likesmart

Hi Fishes, I am being offered C3B grade in TCS as Associate Consultant. Where does this role stand? Junior level, mid senior or senior? Any idea of the grade tree please share.

like

Management Informations systems degree where did you go to school was the experience good?

like

Has anyone else considered quitting consulting/corporate career to pursue ministry?

like

Hey folks, can someone explain to me the distinction between levels at Google GCP PSO? I’m in the process for a TAM role and the recruiter tells me L4 would be a better fit cause L5 has higher expectations from a technical standpoint! Is that true or is the seniority around managing additional projects/clients? Wondering if they’re down leveling. I have 8 years of Tech Consulting experience. Relatively new to cloud. Google

like

How do your agencies define the account planning/strategy role? Do you all focus mostly on campaign messaging/brand strategy? Or does anyone here do a lot of media strategy as well? What’s more common?

like

Hi! I am on a delicate situation in my career right know and I would like some advice.
I joined my current company 4 years ago as HR Generalist through Hays working part-time while studying my Masters and I was hired full-time in 2020 with a different title as HR support Specialist. 11 months after, my FTE reduced to 70%. My senior colleague by then working part-time requested becoming full-time again and promoted to Director. Would you leave in my situation if I dont have any offer yet?

like

Any Financial Services consultants here? Interested in connecting and expanding your network?

like

In advanced stages with EYP and S& / PwC Deals Strat in Singapore from a T2 firm in the region and 4-5 YOE. Any insights on how the two firms are? (pay, prestige, progression, client base, project types, exit opps, WLB, etc). Curious on how they are perceived in the market.

like

What level do associate (eg. associate, business ops & strategy) roles typically fall under ?

like

Big4 FDD: are promotions as structured as audit? Aka, 3 years as senior then you make mgr.

like

Anyone here moved from TAS/Corp Strategy to Corp Dev? I’m a Manager in TAS and looking to switch to CD. Currently have an offer for Corporate Strategy but not sure if Corporate Strategy to CD transition will be possible. Any advice will be great!

like

When a job posting says 3-5 years of experience, does that mean a 3rd-5th year associate? Asking because there’s a bit of a discrepancy between the two, since if I graduated in May 2017, I’d be a third year associate this October, but only have two full years’ experience.

like

Hi Team,
I just joined 2 month back in
Walmart, but I’m not liking the project and job location.
I asked Hr to relocate or project change but they are not ok.

Then I started looking other opportunity and got an offer.
Should I go with the offer. Will it impact professional career?
Or Walmart will block me for future opportunities?

Please team suggest if anyone faced such situation.
Walmart Newco Amazon

like

Hello everyone,
I was considering going freelance as a Front End Developer and was wondering if anyone here had any luck with that and what platform you used?

like

I am joining wells Fargo what should be my next organization in next 2 years to target?

like

Is SAP Labs worth staying for long term? Already have 5 yoe here.
SAP share same price after 5 years.
Less salary as per market.

Any thoughts?

like

Dear Sir, I (M. Tamil Selvi), Structural Engineer having 9+ years of experience in Structural Design field (8 years under Few organization and 2 years as Free Lancer). I was forced to take a break in my career due to maternity. But with my great will and determination I started working as a Freelance Structural Engineer and I am doing my best in the same for the past 2 years. And now I have decided to resume my career again and hence looking for a good opportunity.

like

Hello, I’m current a Cyber Security Incident Responder but I’m a little unclear on what path to take in terms of certs/career path. What should I aim for? I current have a CompTia Security + cert and Splunk Enterprise Certified Admin. I’d also prefer the blue team or purple team.

like

Strategy at ghg? Anyone have any experience, pros/cons? Being recruited but not sure if it is worth pursuing...

like

More Posts

Hey Fellow Job Board Fish,
Your bowl leader here. I am looking to create a discussion panel / zoom event for this group and would love to hear your input. What topics would you like to discuss? What questions do you have? Who would you like to chat with (I.e. recruiters, creative leaders, etc.)? Let me know in the comments. Thanks!

like

Looking for data points: Anyone here successful as re-applicant to M7? How long did you wait before you reapplied?

like

With 9 years of technical experience in Pharmacovigilance , Drug safety , plsql , Argus safety system, regulatory experience. Looking for opportunities outside India .
Any leads will be helpful .

like

I'm the Three Eyed Raven, Jon Sand.

like

What’s advertising’s version of the EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony)?

like

Any of the NYC fish here go to 212 Hisae? I know it’s cheap and filled with college kids but I still love the place.

like

Anyone know Audit Senior Manager salaries in Salt Lake City? Glassdoor’s numbers seem outdated (more than 2 yrs old)

like

How’s everyone spending their well being subsidy?

like

How do counselling rounds for admissions in Indian Unis work? If you’re rejected first round and they say you’re automatically entered into second round is it because they keep reevaluating your rejection each round? Here they just reject you and it’s done whether that’s round 1 or round 50.

like

Has anyone interviewed with Pinterest for product mgr roles? I have an upcoming interview and need to prepare to be tested in knowledge of SQL and A/B testing. Even if you’ve prepared for similar assessments your advice would be helpful (please and thx)

like

Just got told I’ll be leading a workstream for my product. This is my first time, and even my manager says this will be a good role to build my management skills. The workstream doesn’t exist yet, nor does the manager have in mind what it should look like/how it should be built - all up to me. New responsibilities on a new team, how should I approach this and do it well?

like

How to get a job on client side?

like

Who else is not liking the idea of commuting by ZS Bus?

like

What's the current market value of a Data Engineer with 3 YOE in service based companies?

like

Trying to make friends in Toronto. I live in downtown Toronto and work remotely. Not sure where to start or go to meet people. Any suggestions ? Does anyone else who’s moved to Toronto and didn’t go to school here or grow up here find it hard to make friends? Asking for a friend 👀

likeuplifting

M, SMs, Dir, Principal, Partners, in each of your long term engagements with client, how do you strive for being relevant to them? Also what attribute do you want your client to remember abt you?

like

Who here is working with GDELT data? Anyone using it outside of the Big Query environment?

If anyone in the US is looking for a job in the field of civil/construction/environmental engineering doing a wide variety of work in real estate land development shoot me a DM. Remote and Hybrid options.

like

Anyone have the invite to the EY FAAS bowl? Going to be interning with them next summer and would love to know more about the group.

like

Is an exec mba from a tier 1 school worth it if I already have a full time mba from a lower ranked school.

Additional Posts in Corporate Transactional Law

My firm is doing a big BD push. What are some of your favorite ways to develop business?

like

Do all NY PLLCs (nursing practitioner company) have to register with NYSED or any board?

like

I'm pretty early in my career and already feeling burnt out. I love what I do, and I'm happy to be here, but I don't honestly know if I can keep up. Does anyone have advice or has been through this?

like

Can we please talk about how infuriating Cayman compliance is? Going back and forth between a party and Cayman AML/KYC administrators is enough to make me quit the law and become a pirate. 😵‍💫

likefunny

Seniors and mid levels: on the M&A sell side, when you’re initially negotiating the definitive agreement and the data room is just being populated (nowhere near putting together schedules), what tasks do you usually assign to a junior to keep things moving (~year 1-3)? Thanks!

like

As a new hire, how long did it take you to get a full plate of work? Meaning at least 7.5 billable hours per day.

like

What is a normal pay cut to go in house? For reference, I am a 5th year corporate associate making approx 250k base salary. I was just offered 180k base salary. Is it unreasonable to expect to be around my current rate which is “market” for my city? I don’t care about bonus or equity but know that companies place more value on those - my lifestyle/current expenses (this is short term - working on a big Reno) a higher salary so I’m trying to decide if it’s feasible right now or if I should wait.

like

How do you stay on top of multiple transactions/deals/tasks? For instance, do you have an excel with your open tasks (probably a gantt chart)? Or do you use an app to stay on top of your to do? Sometimes I feel my little handwritten to do list becomes useless and I lose track of the big picture of my transactions.

like

Tips for becoming more independent as you progress from junior to midlevel? I am starting to be put into the position of just having to handle things including drafting and could use some advice from others.

like

Anybody work within the ABS space? I just received an offer for a CMBS Origination Associate Banking role, and was wondering what the hours are like. Thank you!

like

Does anyone here focus on acquisition financings in both PE and Real Estate? I enjoy the partners in this group and the work, but was curious to see if anyone thought this would be a bad practice to learn because of exit opportunities/ business development? Lower Middle Market corporate focused firm in the Midwest

like

Currently hiring in NYC. Want your life back? No billables? Turn off your work computer and phone at 5 pm and the weekends? Work on sophisticated transactional matters? It is possible. If you have at least 4 years transactional experience, dm for more details. Comp is up to $135k.

likefunny

I can’t stand the ID litigation work I’ve been doing the past 2 years. Just got an offer for a transactional position at a mid-sized firm with less billable requirements and substantial pay increase. However I still am somewhat uneasy about the transition. Any advice??

like

Default tax status for llc and corp?

funny

Can anyone speak to corporate work at Lewis Brisbois? In the big law bowl, it looks like LBBS takes a hit because it’s mostly insurance defense (litigation). What is the firm’s rep with corporate work? What kind of work is it?

like