<p>what exactly does a corporate lawyer do? what is an average day like for a corporate lawyer? who are they employed by? salary?</p>
<p><a href="http://anonymouslawyer.blogspot.com/%5B/url%5D">http://anonymouslawyer.blogspot.com/</a></p>
<p>The "anonymouslawyer" blog is a fictional account by a law student.</p>
<p>The term "corporate lawyer" is used by some to refer to a law firm lawyer whose practice centers on mergers and acquisitions, SEC filings, stock registration, corporate governance, and the like.</p>
<p>They make what lawyers at big firms make (at the biggest law firms in the biggest cities, $120K in salary for a first-year associate, yearly increases until you hit maybe $180K for an 8th year associate who's lasted that long, with bonuses for billing a lot of hours). Partners sometimes make more than a million a year at these firms; the best paid make several times that. </p>
<p>The number of lawyers who start on that path is small. The number that remain on that path is smaller.</p>
<p>Others use the term "corporate lawyer" to refer to in-house attorneys at corporations. Most of these attorneys started at law firms, and went in-house for lifestyle reasons, though the hours worked by in-house and big firm attorneys have been converging over the last decade. Some do the type of "corporate" referred to above; some do intellectual property work, some negotiate contracts, and some focus on labor issues. The pay varies; new attorneys who go straight into corporations are paid substantially less than big firm associates. The corporations at the top of the pay scale pay senior attorneys about what mid-level associates make at big firms. The pay range for general counsels of public companies is probably comparable to the range for partners at big law firms.</p>
<p>it is fictional, but some professionals say that certain aspects are accurate depictions.</p>
<p>Certain aspects probably are, and maybe all of them are, among a large group of lawyers, but anyone who really has all of these attitudes wouldn't last long as an attorney anywhere unless (a) he has a twenty-million dollar practice or (b) he has a one-man office. </p>
<p>It's just someone's "bright" idea of what he or she thinks other people are thinking.</p>
<p>How does one get into this type of law, or any specific type of law in general. I guess I am kind of confused about that. Do you go through law school focusing your education to corporate law, or whichever applicable subject? Or once out of law school do you choose your specific path?</p>
<p>Both. (I'm sure that's not the answer you wanted... so read on.)</p>
<p>Most courses in law school aren't electives. You take what the school tells you to take. Outside of that, however, you can focus on certain types of law - just taking relevant courses. You could also go to a school which is a feeder for corporate law jobs. </p>
<p>Once in the real world, a background might be helpful; the courses you took might be helpful. Often, people will sort of fall into their specialties - one of the parents said that a partner dumps something on your lap, you do it well, and suddenly, that's your speciality in the firm. No rhyme or reason.</p>
<p>When I graduated from Law School 23 years ago I knew that I didn't want to practice criminal or tax law. I didn't think that I wanted to do personal injury or real estate. I thought that I would work for a firm doing commercial litigation. </p>
<p>My first job was doing small civil/commercial litigagion. At my second job the cases were a little more interesting and there were a few more dollars involved. One day I was "tossed" a divorce case to try, and I knew nothing about divorce law, but the case was interesting and I did well. </p>
<p>I then went on to work for a year in a matrimonial law firm and enjoyed it and learned from a pro. I later worked in a firm and ran their matrimonial practice. </p>
<p>I now have had my own firm for 9 years and my practice is 90% matrimonial. Did I have a clue that this is what I would be doing in law school, absolutely not.</p>
<p>What I like about mat law is that the cases can be so different. Yes, there are common threads in most of them but the clients and their situations are very interesting. I enjoy going to court, I enjoy the adversarial process, I have the respect of other mat lawyers and judges and most important is the fact that I am never bored with what I do. Yes there is always some drudgery and some repetition but in the end, I truly enjoy what I do. I like being able to counsel clients and help them get on with their lives.</p>