I landed a job with a 'magic circle' law firm but still went all out to get an internship at a US bank. It was the best use of my last summer in college — here's why.

• Adrian Teh secured a occupation connection pinch a apical UK rule patient successful August 2023, 2 years earlier graduating.
• But alternatively of taking a break, Teh interned astatine a US slope during his past summertime off.
• He secured a return connection and is now opting for a profession successful finance banking instead.

This as-told-to effort is based connected a speech pinch Adrian Teh, 24, a double-degree student successful rule and business astatine Singapore Management University. The pursuing has been edited for magnitude and clarity. Business Insider has verified his acquisition and employment history.

Before I entered university, I wanted to beryllium a lawyer.

I didn't negociate to get into immoderate rule schools successful Singapore because I didn't do good capable for my A Level examinations. Instead, I decided to spell to business school, wherever I developed an liking successful finance.

However, I was fixed nan chance to return a 2nd grade successful rule aft doing good successful my freshman year. I took up nan offer, and that's really I ended up doing 2 degrees arsenic an undergraduate.

Looking back, it was a blessing successful disguise that I didn't get into rule schoolhouse earlier. I wouldn't person discovered finance — which I'm much willing successful now.

Landing a occupation from a "magic circle" rule patient and an internship pinch a apical US bank

In August 2023, I received a training statement connection from 1 of nan UK's apical 5 rule firms, besides known arsenic a "magic circle" firm.

For astir people, that would person spelled nan extremity of one's occupation hunt.

But that wasn't nan lawsuit for maine — I was besides successful nan moving for a summertime internship pinch a US bulge bracket bank. I secured that finance banking internship arsenic well.

While I could person chosen not to walk my past summertime break successful assemblage interning, doing thing conscionable didn't make consciousness to me.

I had ne'er worked successful a ample finance bank, and I thought interning location would let maine to summation exposure. Plus, I figured that moreover if I did extremity up practicing law, I could still use what I learned astir finance banking to my early work.

And I figured it wouldn't wounded to build up my web since firm lawyers activity intimately pinch bankers connected deals.

Giving up rule for banking instead

Spending my summertime interning gave maine a amended consciousness of what I wanted to do.

During my internship, I learned that bankers are yet person to nan action erstwhile mergers and acquisitions deals return place.

Bankers are fundamentally nan ones moving nan transaction for nan clients. They thrust nan full process while coordinating betwixt commercialized owed diligence providers, consultants, and lawyers.

Seeing this up adjacent made maine recognize I didn't want to beryllium pigeonholed into reviewing word sheets aliases contracts.

Separately, I thought nan skills 1 tin summation from being an finance banker were much transferable. That was a premier profession information for me. I wanted to support my options unfastened — truthful that if I ever decided to return connected a firm aliases guidance domiciled down nan road, I'd person immoderate thought of really things work.

In comparison, I thought moving successful a rule patient offered comparatively less exit opportunities. If I pursued that path, I could either expect to enactment successful a rule patient for nan remainder of my profession aliases yet modulation to moving arsenic an in-house counsel.

So erstwhile nan slope gave maine a return connection to subordinate them full-time successful 2025, I accepted.

Both nan banking and ineligible fields salary well. I deliberation nan semipermanent earning imaginable I mightiness person arsenic a lawyer is conscionable as, if not more, lucrative than what I'd get arsenic an finance banker.

That said, pursuing finance doesn't mean that my clip astatine rule schoolhouse has gone to waste.

While interning, I noticed that nan managing board are usually well-versed successful nan ineligible aspects of a woody arsenic well. Sometimes, they would moreover propose and activity pinch lawyers connected contractual terms.

Looking back, I'm gladsome I did nan internship because it gave maine clarity for nan roadworthy ahead. For now, I'm going afloat steam into nan world of finance.