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What is the point of being a derivatives or hedge fund lawyer?

At that stage of the game you already have the financial acu...
Motley copper temple
  03/05/10
Math skills+understanding basic finance =/= trading success....
wonderful becky
  03/05/10
cr. every faggot with an e-trade account and a candlestick c...
french spectacular idea he suggested range
  03/05/10
LOL
Mint Exhilarant Mad-dog Skullcap Immigrant
  03/07/10
There's a lot of luck involved, too. In fact, stock-picking...
gaped disturbing antidepressant drug ape
  03/07/10
lol you're naive.
Sapphire fear-inspiring people who are hurt
  03/07/10
orly? please summarize why this is so.
gaped disturbing antidepressant drug ape
  03/07/10
there's a reason why the top guys are always on top year in ...
Sapphire fear-inspiring people who are hurt
  03/07/10
there is a reason. it's called "insider information.&q...
Exciting Useless National Security Agency
  03/07/10
Or at a certain point, you become a market setter and other ...
Mind-boggling Sinister Corner
  03/07/10
This is an embarrassingly inadequate answer. The fact is, t...
gaped disturbing antidepressant drug ape
  03/07/10
yea, ok.
Sapphire fear-inspiring people who are hurt
  03/07/10
lolpwned
gaped disturbing antidepressant drug ape
  03/07/10
not at all.
Sapphire fear-inspiring people who are hurt
  03/07/10
You don't know shit about finance and it shows. You have no...
gaped disturbing antidepressant drug ape
  03/07/10
sure. let me know when you're done having your heart attack.
Sapphire fear-inspiring people who are hurt
  03/07/10
you sound like an angry retard.
Mint Exhilarant Mad-dog Skullcap Immigrant
  03/07/10
tbf, he's a junior in college who's going to be one of the &...
Exciting Useless National Security Agency
  03/07/10
yes, junior in college in 2006.
Sapphire fear-inspiring people who are hurt
  03/07/10
Yeah, that reason is called survivorship bias. http://en....
Duck-like generalized bond garrison
  03/07/10
lehman brothers and bear stearns are full of top guys. cons...
Concupiscible Blathering Dopamine
  03/07/10
I knew one lawyer from sullivan cromwell who later worked at...
Carmine Slimy Stead
  03/05/10
Aren't you a teacher?
bateful costumed crackhouse dragon
  03/07/10
he was a derivatives trader
Charcoal Offensive Toaster Corn Cake
  03/07/10
Really?
bateful costumed crackhouse dragon
  03/07/10
nice flame.
irate bistre mental disorder
  03/07/10
Date: March 5th, 2010 9:07 PM Author: bothered("Colleg...
Lascivious Peach Sneaky Criminal
  03/07/10
lol wtf
Multi-colored Lay Goal In Life
  03/07/10
tyft, he's been outted as flame (like I always thought he wa...
swollen clear telephone roommate
  03/07/10
sensitive to risk = having no confidence in your abilities t...
Sapphire fear-inspiring people who are hurt
  03/07/10
...
white self-absorbed locale
  03/07/10
It's really more about ones track record although status pla...
Hairraiser Pozpig Feces
  03/05/10
Why would knowing how to structure a derivatives contract co...
Beady-eyed big-titted legend
  03/07/10
Maybe not trading stocks/derivatives but at least working in...
Motley copper temple
  03/07/10
Why would an M&A lawyer know anything about generating v...
Mind-boggling Sinister Corner
  03/07/10
the answer is that banking is very connections-based and req...
Confused Background Story Elastic Band
  03/07/10
You have absolutely no idea about anything and are probably ...
Beady-eyed big-titted legend
  03/07/10
my dad has almost no math skills and beats the market almost...
Sapphire fear-inspiring people who are hurt
  03/07/10
wow, your pops "beats the market almost every year"...
gaped disturbing antidepressant drug ape
  03/07/10
i don't know what he does, but i know he had 37% returns las...
Sapphire fear-inspiring people who are hurt
  03/07/10
what should i read to learn about finance, finance master ma...
Comical orchestra pit
  03/07/10
lol
Exciting Useless National Security Agency
  03/07/10
not that simple
Amber Haunting Electric Furnace Market
  03/07/10
Lawyers were particularly common on structured finance desks...
Mind-boggling Sinister Corner
  03/07/10
shut up you fucking moron.
Mint Exhilarant Mad-dog Skullcap Immigrant
  03/07/10
WTF?
Mind-boggling Sinister Corner
  03/07/10
you're a dumb fucking retard. how many ways would you like m...
Mint Exhilarant Mad-dog Skullcap Immigrant
  03/07/10
I disagree.
Mind-boggling Sinister Corner
  03/07/10
There are quite a few lawyers who ended up doing M&A or ...
Aphrodisiac stain mad cow disease
  03/07/10


Poast new message in this thread



Reply Favorite

Date: March 5th, 2010 8:52 PM
Author: Motley copper temple

At that stage of the game you already have the financial acument and brains to actually trade in the stocks yourself or create your own hedge fund. Most of your run of the mill second-fourth tier students are admittedly not quick/smart enough,. But if you are a T14 lawyer in a finance-related law practice (derivatives, bonds, securities...) you probably have the same math/finance ability as the banker/MBA types.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1242340&forum_id=2#14309401)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 5th, 2010 9:07 PM
Author: wonderful becky

Math skills+understanding basic finance =/= trading success. It's incredibly difficult to beat the market, which is why most of the money goes to a few top traders on Wall Street even though thousands have the knowledge and intelligence to do basically the same thing. Some people just have a little extra, whether it be vision or gut ability to read the mood of the market.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1242340&forum_id=2#14309513)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 5th, 2010 9:15 PM
Author: french spectacular idea he suggested range

cr. every faggot with an e-trade account and a candlestick chart thinks he can beat the market

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1242340&forum_id=2#14309578)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 7th, 2010 5:06 PM
Author: Mint Exhilarant Mad-dog Skullcap Immigrant

LOL

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1242340&forum_id=2#14323808)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 7th, 2010 12:09 PM
Author: gaped disturbing antidepressant drug ape

There's a lot of luck involved, too. In fact, stock-picking and trading are one of the most luck-based trades around.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1242340&forum_id=2#14320734)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 7th, 2010 12:10 PM
Author: Sapphire fear-inspiring people who are hurt

lol you're naive.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1242340&forum_id=2#14320738)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 7th, 2010 12:12 PM
Author: gaped disturbing antidepressant drug ape

orly? please summarize why this is so.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1242340&forum_id=2#14320748)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 7th, 2010 12:14 PM
Author: Sapphire fear-inspiring people who are hurt

there's a reason why the top guys are always on top year in and year out. they don't just keep "getting lucky" year after year after year, etc. i'm not saying there isn't some element of luck involved, but it's probably more like 10-20% luck and 80-90% skill/talent.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1242340&forum_id=2#14320757)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 7th, 2010 12:15 PM
Author: Exciting Useless National Security Agency

there is a reason. it's called "insider information." for joe schmoe on the street, it's luck.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1242340&forum_id=2#14320767)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 7th, 2010 5:20 PM
Author: Mind-boggling Sinister Corner

Or at a certain point, you become a market setter and other traders follow your trades.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1242340&forum_id=2#14323963)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 7th, 2010 12:16 PM
Author: gaped disturbing antidepressant drug ape

This is an embarrassingly inadequate answer. The fact is, top guys are often not top year after year. If you weren't completely ignorant, you'd know that true performance not serially correlated for the vast majority of investors and that many people who "beat" the market are often simply taking on different betas than their benchmarks or leveraging them to the hilt.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1242340&forum_id=2#14320771)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 7th, 2010 12:17 PM
Author: Sapphire fear-inspiring people who are hurt

yea, ok.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1242340&forum_id=2#14320775)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 7th, 2010 12:18 PM
Author: gaped disturbing antidepressant drug ape

lolpwned

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1242340&forum_id=2#14320778)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 7th, 2010 12:19 PM
Author: Sapphire fear-inspiring people who are hurt

not at all.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1242340&forum_id=2#14320789)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 7th, 2010 12:22 PM
Author: gaped disturbing antidepressant drug ape

You don't know shit about finance and it shows. You have no intelligible response.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1242340&forum_id=2#14320805)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 7th, 2010 12:24 PM
Author: Sapphire fear-inspiring people who are hurt

sure. let me know when you're done having your heart attack.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1242340&forum_id=2#14320811)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 7th, 2010 5:07 PM
Author: Mint Exhilarant Mad-dog Skullcap Immigrant

you sound like an angry retard.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1242340&forum_id=2#14323812)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 7th, 2010 12:18 PM
Author: Exciting Useless National Security Agency

tbf, he's a junior in college who's going to be one of the "top guys" one day. not like his pot smoking roommates who go around "having sex" and thinking the market is about luck.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1242340&forum_id=2#14320781)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 7th, 2010 12:20 PM
Author: Sapphire fear-inspiring people who are hurt

yes, junior in college in 2006.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1242340&forum_id=2#14320793)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 7th, 2010 2:37 PM
Author: Duck-like generalized bond garrison

Yeah, that reason is called survivorship bias.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Survivorship_bias

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1242340&forum_id=2#14322194)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 7th, 2010 2:43 PM
Author: Concupiscible Blathering Dopamine

lehman brothers and bear stearns are full of top guys. consistently beat the market.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1242340&forum_id=2#14322249)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 5th, 2010 9:07 PM
Author: Carmine Slimy Stead

I knew one lawyer from sullivan cromwell who later worked at my firm, and then went on to run a desk at MS.

they usually don't. they're sensitive to risk

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1242340&forum_id=2#14309517)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 7th, 2010 11:45 AM
Author: bateful costumed crackhouse dragon

Aren't you a teacher?

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1242340&forum_id=2#14320625)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 7th, 2010 12:09 PM
Author: Charcoal Offensive Toaster Corn Cake

he was a derivatives trader

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1242340&forum_id=2#14320732)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 7th, 2010 12:20 PM
Author: bateful costumed crackhouse dragon

Really?

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1242340&forum_id=2#14320794)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 7th, 2010 4:51 PM
Author: irate bistre mental disorder

nice flame.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1242340&forum_id=2#14323620)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 7th, 2010 11:53 AM
Author: Lascivious Peach Sneaky Criminal

Date: March 5th, 2010 9:07 PM

Author: bothered("College is for *PUSSIES*@!" - Rory)

I knew one lawyer from sullivan cromwell who later worked at my firm, and then went on to run a desk at MS.

they usually don't. they're sensitive to risk

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=#)

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1242340&forum_id=2#14320645)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 7th, 2010 12:08 PM
Author: Multi-colored Lay Goal In Life

lol wtf

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1242340&forum_id=2#14320724)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 7th, 2010 5:09 PM
Author: swollen clear telephone roommate

tyft, he's been outted as flame (like I always thought he was)

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1242340&forum_id=2#14323832)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 7th, 2010 12:06 PM
Author: Sapphire fear-inspiring people who are hurt

sensitive to risk = having no confidence in your abilities to succeed.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1242340&forum_id=2#14320715)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 7th, 2010 5:10 PM
Author: white self-absorbed locale



(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1242340&forum_id=2#14323852)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 5th, 2010 9:15 PM
Author: Hairraiser Pozpig Feces

It's really more about ones track record although status plays a tremendous role (connections, friends, family, married into, old money vs new money, etc.)

Take this for example. You've just been promoted and are now being given a test account of fifty million dollars; your job description is to generate a larger yield then the bs yields you've been getting with PIMCO.

Your boss is on your ass because the stock holders are upset the firm isn't investing the cash and it is UP TO YOU to fix that. Now suppose you succeed in increasing the yield your boss might open the spigot and give you larger access to the cookie jar

Now what would you do?

A.) Invest the money with John Paulson (or someone like him)

or

B.) Give the money to some guy 'starting a fund' who is NOT a mover/shaker.



(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1242340&forum_id=2#14309574)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 7th, 2010 11:42 AM
Author: Beady-eyed big-titted legend

Why would knowing how to structure a derivatives contract correlate to being able to trade stocks or derivatives? Does that mean that all M&A lawyers would be good private equity magnates, or that all criminal defense lawyers would be good murderers?

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1242340&forum_id=2#14320621)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 7th, 2010 12:05 PM
Author: Motley copper temple

Maybe not trading stocks/derivatives but at least working in investment banking. The T14 lawyer working in biglaw doing M&A has probably mastered the area enough to working in banking in the same field. Its sort of like a real estate lawyer who does litigation and closings. He likely knows enough to be an investor.

The answer might be that the lawyers don't have confidence in their abilities or are overly risk averse.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1242340&forum_id=2#14320711)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 7th, 2010 4:45 PM
Author: Mind-boggling Sinister Corner

Why would an M&A lawyer know anything about generating value out of an acquisition? What would he know about marketing or operational synergies or streamlining? There's a lot more to an acquisition than developing a tax-efficient structure and valuing off past performance.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1242340&forum_id=2#14323544)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 7th, 2010 4:52 PM
Author: Confused Background Story Elastic Band

the answer is that banking is very connections-based and requires certain paths to entry, for example attending an elite u-grad -> analyst or top mba -> associate.

it is possible to lateral as a lawyer->banker but its more through hustling/networking rather than an established job posting asking for a lawyer.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1242340&forum_id=2#14323634)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 7th, 2010 6:02 PM
Author: Beady-eyed big-titted legend

You have absolutely no idea about anything and are probably flame. Seriously? Doing closings makes you a good real estate investor? Come on.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1242340&forum_id=2#14324373)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 7th, 2010 11:52 AM
Author: Sapphire fear-inspiring people who are hurt

my dad has almost no math skills and beats the market almost every year.

they aren't necessary.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1242340&forum_id=2#14320644)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 7th, 2010 12:22 PM
Author: gaped disturbing antidepressant drug ape

wow, your pops "beats the market almost every year"?

guess what? almost any idiot who mixed in bonds, international stocks and us stocks in a portfolio beat the S&P 500 on a risk-adjusted basis. and this result was absolutely expected because of the mathematics of returns that are not perfectly correlated. the question is, did your dad beat the market taking into account all the risk factors he took on?

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1242340&forum_id=2#14320803)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 7th, 2010 12:23 PM
Author: Sapphire fear-inspiring people who are hurt

i don't know what he does, but i know he had 37% returns last year on his personal portfolio. however, hes been in the investment management industry for over 25 years.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1242340&forum_id=2#14320810)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 7th, 2010 4:59 PM
Author: Comical orchestra pit

what should i read to learn about finance, finance master man?

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1242340&forum_id=2#14323736)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 7th, 2010 12:09 PM
Author: Exciting Useless National Security Agency

lol

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1242340&forum_id=2#14320728)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 7th, 2010 1:00 PM
Author: Amber Haunting Electric Furnace Market
Subject: not that simple

Creating a DCF model isn't exactly a feat of mathematical ingenuity. I think you're overestimating the math prowess of bankers.

There is only so much alpha to go around. If anyone claims to consistently beat the market, I'd be cautious. Simply being smart and understanding a thing or two about finance does not translate into easy returns.

A lot of well-known financiers are former-lawyers. It's not like getting a law degree forecloses a successful career in finance. But I'm not sure how much it necessarily helps, either. It's more about the individual.



(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1242340&forum_id=2#14321071)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 7th, 2010 4:48 PM
Author: Mind-boggling Sinister Corner

Lawyers were particularly common on structured finance desks because the deals were so formula and documentation driven and they deals are essentially passive investors so you don't need much "business" experience.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1242340&forum_id=2#14323579)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 7th, 2010 5:09 PM
Author: Mint Exhilarant Mad-dog Skullcap Immigrant

shut up you fucking moron.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1242340&forum_id=2#14323835)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 7th, 2010 5:18 PM
Author: Mind-boggling Sinister Corner

WTF?

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1242340&forum_id=2#14323942)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 7th, 2010 5:23 PM
Author: Mint Exhilarant Mad-dog Skullcap Immigrant

you're a dumb fucking retard. how many ways would you like me to say it?

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1242340&forum_id=2#14323998)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 7th, 2010 5:25 PM
Author: Mind-boggling Sinister Corner

I disagree.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1242340&forum_id=2#14324022)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 7th, 2010 5:02 PM
Author: Aphrodisiac stain mad cow disease

There are quite a few lawyers who ended up doing M&A or whatever at banks and some in principal investing as well. I think it's probably harder to make that leap these days than it was in the old days.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1242340&forum_id=2#14323766)