Penn Law and Wharton students traveled to NYC to learn more about the investment industry.
A group of 16 Penn Law and Wharton students recently traveled to New York City to meet with several prominent private equity firms and hedge funds and learn more about careers in the investment industry.
A group of 16 Penn Law and Wharton students recently traveled to New York City to meet with several prominent private equity firms and hedge funds and learn more about careers in the investment industry. The trek was organized by the JD/MBA Student Association, and sought to give students an opportunity to learn more about the different roles within investment firms, and the opportunities available to law school graduates within the investment industry.
Students visited with the general counsels, in-house attorneys, and investment professionals at three firms: JLL Partners, The Blackstone Group, and Eton Park Capital Management. At each visit, students had an opportunity to speak with prominent Penn Law and Wharton alumni and learn more about their firms’ investment philosophy and organizational structure. Alumni speakers participating in the event included Paul Levy (L’72), Bob Friedman (L’67), and Marcy Engel (L’83).
Trek Captains Josh Bergman (L’14) and Todd Mortensen (L’12, WG’12) said that the students attending the trek were impressed with each of the firms’ presentations, and learned a great deal about the range of opportunities available to students with legal training within an investment firm. Josh Bergman commented, “I had a great time on the trip. I learned a lot about different things that law school graduates can do in the investment world from some of the most prominent and successful professionals imaginable. It was inspiring, informative, and I am grateful that I was able to go on the trip and would recommend it to anyone who is thinking about a career in business at any point in their career.”
The investment firms were equally impressed with the preparation and curiosity of the Penn Law and Wharton students attending the trek. A professional at one firm said after the trek, “We all enjoyed it and were very impressed by the level of interest and engagement.”
Todd Mortensen was impressed by the breadth of opportunities within the investment industry for professionals with legal training, saying “It was really neat to hear from each of the professionals we met with about how they are able to draw upon their experience practicing law, whether it’s buying a business in the middle of a restructuring process as a private equity professional, working on taking a company public as a general counsel, or evaluating the likelihood of a deal closing as a merger arbitrage specialist at a hedge fund.”
About the JD/MBA Student Association:
The JD/MBA Student Association is the official campus organization dedicated to serving students who are committed to the integrated study of law & business. The Association promotes its mission through a series of workshops, career treks, guest speakers, and social events. Students have the opportunity to listen to some of the leading practitioners in law & business discuss current topics in banking, law, investing, real estate, and public policy. Students are also able to visit many of the leading firms who work on the most complex, cutting-edge, and high-profile business transactions in the market today.Learn more at: www.wgaworld.org/clubs-subpage.html?catid=12&_category=professional-clubs&id=219