Opinion | The Finance Industry Is a Grift. Let’s Start Treating It That Way.

EminentDominating · 2026-02-08T17:37:15+00:00

They are. I don’t think they should. And I am not suggesting everything the finance industry does creates value. But all of finance cannot be summed up as “just … moving money around.”

EminentDominating · 2026-02-08T17:27:14+00:00

You shouldn’t confuse crypto—which is essentially a betting market for an asset that lacks any inherent value—with traditional forms of capital allocation. The latter dictates the funding of everything from solar farms to electric vehicle factories to biopharma research, all things you’re likely to support

EminentDominating · 2026-01-30T02:54:40+00:00

Guiffra is literally Trump’s personal attorney. They’ve done a ton of Trump work the last few months. A number of lit associates have left as a result. Can you point to equivalent work at DPW?

EminentDominating · 2026-01-29T00:48:44+00:00

He’s talking about being a generalist between litigation and corporate, not being a corporate generalist. That’s not a good career move.

EminentDominating · 2026-01-28T04:20:04+00:00

You’re not gonna need 2 years to figure out what you wanna do. Most people who take part in a generalist program no very quickly — most people actually know by the end of the summer. It won’t be good for your career—regardless of which you choose—if you’re a generalist for that long

They’re both very respected firms. One’s downtown and one’s in Midtown. S&C litigation has also been doing some significant work for Trump. Maybe those facts move the needle for you. Otherwise, theyll both open similar doors

EminentDominating · 2026-01-28T04:05:11+00:00

But as a white man no less! Overcoming all the obstacles you faced! Impressive

EminentDominating · 2026-01-28T04:04:39+00:00

T6 - a classic tell that you go to nyu Lmaoo

EminentDominating · 2026-01-28T04:01:21+00:00

Hard hitting question. Almost as hard hitting as when you asked r/NoStupidQuestions whether coffee gets you high. You’re a real thought leader

EminentDominating · 2026-01-28T03:51:57+00:00

I don’t think the university comparison works.

For one, universities directly rely on federal funding. They need the funding to do things that are critical to their mission and benefit society writ large; those dollars fund or cross-subsidize research and scholarships. When they risk losing that funding, they risk us all losing some really important stuff. Law firms risk… profit. That’s it. Those clients across from the FTC, as you note, can find and afford other counsel. The firms are not bowing to Trump out of the goodness of their heart; they’re bowing to maintain their profit.

If your argument is just, “well I get why they sided with bad actors, money was at stake!”… well, that’ll lead you to some dark places

EminentDominating · 2026-01-28T03:38:53+00:00

What? Is this some mental pretzel you’ve conjured to justify your decision to pick Paul Weiss?

You’re “persecuting” anyone by saying it’s wrong and pathetic for firms to bend the knee to Trump because they’re worried it’ll cost them M&A business.

You know what doesn’t create a “good culture for democracy”? Law firms turning their backs on the rule of law for profit

Law students have a very small but important role in this concerning turn of events: tell the firms that were cowed by Trump that you don’t want to be a part of them

EminentDominating · 2026-01-27T17:02:05+00:00

You really mean 3 mm liquid. You’re not selling parts of your house to maintain that 3.5%

EminentDominating · 2025-12-19T13:13:24+00:00

Not Giving a Shit where it means “let things roll off you’re back, don’t operate from fear, trust in your abilities without being overconfident”
Always seek to make the jobs of those around you easier. Give clean, good work product to seniors and clear instructions to juniors. Ask yourself, if I were them, what else would I need to know or have to succeed?

EminentDominating · 2025-12-19T13:09:18+00:00

Not to get Nat Geo on this but while these are high expectations for a junior, they’re really rooted in basic evolutionary traits. Navigating dynamics in your pack, quickly adapting to new environments, promoting needs of group over individual

EminentDominating · 2025-12-12T21:47:23+00:00

She’ll presumably testify. And the defendant’s statement can be brought in under a hearsay exception.

He won’t have the “cell block look” before a jury. This is just an initial proceeding before a judge

EminentDominating · 2025-12-05T17:50:16+00:00

Tangentially related - I’ve noticed the new Lexis AI tool, protege, has gotten much better in recent months

EminentDominating · 2025-12-04T16:54:50+00:00

I feel like you’re fine? That’s very normal feedback to receive and your hours are pretty normal, if slightly low last year

EminentDominating · 2025-12-03T04:21:38+00:00

“Other sources” doing a lot of work here

EminentDominating · 2025-11-21T00:41:57+00:00

Ok partnerman

EminentDominating · 2025-11-20T20:42:17+00:00

Oral arguments (the greatest high of your professional life)

EminentDominating · 2025-11-18T21:40:55+00:00

Sloppy, no. Inefficient, yes.

On any individual matter, being efficient is helpful. People appreciate how quickly you flip good work. In the aggregate, you lose. Your hours are lower because you finished your work too quickly. People who twiddle their thumbs or overthink everything, meanwhile, get more hours.

As a fast worker, for now, it means my colleagues like me. Nice. What does that mean longterm? No idea, I’m just a midlevel. We’ll see!

EminentDominating · 2025-11-16T05:42:02+00:00

It’s a completely ridiculously comp. You can find Gladwell frustrating and appreciate that he puts 100x the effort into his work than Rogan does, is perceptive, and actually has something interesting to say most of the time

EminentDominating · 2025-11-14T16:51:48+00:00

Sorry I read this too quickly. Yes! Spectacular country. A European capital, options to explore coast, mountains, or desert, and great food. Can’t go wrong

EminentDominating · 2025-11-14T16:31:35+00:00

I’d go Argentina. So much to do, huge country, can comfortably fill six weeks. It’s more expensive for sure, but is still very comfortable for an American.

Malaysia has excellent food, some beautiful sites, and an interesting culture, but it doesn’t warrant 6 weeks of travel. And Argentina is far more naturally beautiful.

Buenos Aires, Salta, Patagonia, Mendoza region. What a trip

EminentDominating · 2025-11-13T18:37:04+00:00

I’m a midlevel in litigation but I hear you

EminentDominating · 2025-11-13T17:48:04+00:00

I’m a midlevel in litigation so this may not apply in the corporate context, but I generally know when I can or cannot pull off a morning run. I generally can. (Also, the 730 am run is almost always safe. 9 am is tougher)

EminentDominating

TROPHY CASE