Lawyers: What's Your Typical Day? Forum

[Kupsi]

Anyone in immigration?

[Kupsi]

Hello, I am also interested in commercial lending/banking and secondary mortgage market (Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac)
thank you

[84651846190]

I was one of two young associates doing trial briefing for a major trial in another city. In 7 days, I slept 4 hours (2 x 2 hour naps). It was so bad that I had to get a hotel for one of those naps, and had to get a hotel room the day the trial ended, as I was not safe to drive. You definitely have to be able to function with no sleep at times.

Wait, you slept a total of four hours over seven days? I can function pretty well without sleep, but I couldn't hack that.

Yep - the first nap was after I sent a word salad email (still a running joke with the trial team), and was told to go take a nap. Second one was after opposing counsel rested and we made oral JMOLS (of course, they needed to be fully briefed just in case). Got to pass out for the second couple of hours before starting on a motion we knew we'd have to file before a certain witness. It was... terrible, but almost enjoyable at the same time (like getting hazed or something). Or, I still have stockholm syndrome.

you can drop dead from taht shit you know

That person is obviously in it for the GLORY of MAJESTY of the LAW.

[Johann]

I was one of two young associates doing trial briefing for a major trial in another city. In 7 days, I slept 4 hours (2 x 2 hour naps). It was so bad that I had to get a hotel for one of those naps, and had to get a hotel room the day the trial ended, as I was not safe to drive. You definitely have to be able to function with no sleep at times.

Wait, you slept a total of four hours over seven days? I can function pretty well without sleep, but I couldn't hack that.

Yep - the first nap was after I sent a word salad email (still a running joke with the trial team), and was told to go take a nap. Second one was after opposing counsel rested and we made oral JMOLS (of course, they needed to be fully briefed just in case). Got to pass out for the second couple of hours before starting on a motion we knew we'd have to file before a certain witness. It was... terrible, but almost enjoyable at the same time (like getting hazed or something). Or, I still have stockholm syndrome.

you can drop dead from taht shit you know

yeah what. your work product was probably shit too.

[El Pollito]

sounds like addy fiend

[BrokenMouse]

.

[zot1]

is biglaw really just doc review for most associates? my mentor told me she was at her biglaw firm for 6 years and did mostly doc review. She didn't develop any marketable skills and ended up leaving to a small firm before they canned her. She's now at a small firm learning the practice. I've heard similar stories from others as well.

Is this real life?

I've heard they sometimes make copies too.

[El Pollito]

is biglaw really just doc review for most associates? my mentor told me she was at her biglaw firm for 6 years and did mostly doc review. She didn't develop any marketable skills and ended up leaving to a small firm before they canned her. She's now at a small firm learning the practice. I've heard similar stories from others as well.

Is this real life?

if you suck

[BrokenMouse]

.

[zot1]

is biglaw really just doc review for most associates? my mentor told me she was at her biglaw firm for 6 years and did mostly doc review. She didn't develop any marketable skills and ended up leaving to a small firm before they canned her. She's now at a small firm learning the practice. I've heard similar stories from others as well.

Is this real life?

I've heard they sometimes make copies too.

how about opting to stfu instead of wasting the internet with "im intelligent look at my snarky comment" if you don't have anything helpful to add? Go do that with your parents. This is the internet. Be more srs.

It wasn't snarky. I have friends in BigLaw who have flat out told me that they have spent days making copies. The first time an associate told me I thought they were kidding, but then I asked others and got the same answer. I'm just providing the info given to me. If that's not what you do, how about you actually say that instead of giving me advice on what to post or not.

[zot1]

Never mind--that is definitely not what you do because you were OP. So much for trying to help answer your question.

[A. Nony Mouse]

I think there's quite a lot of info in the legal employment forum about how biglaw associates spend their time.

[twenty 8]

Whose typical week consists of travel?

In my case, travel as in a 2-4 hour car drive where you stay the night. This used to happen about once a month but now it is nearly every week. Only occasionally a trip outside the state.

[JustHawkin]

Interested if anyone can speak to what an investigations practice entails?

[El Pollito]

Interested if anyone can speak to what an investigations practice entails?

doc review

[Mola Ram]

Interested if anyone can speak to what an investigations practice entails?

doc review

Junior levels

Doc review for content (responsive or not), privilege review (privileged or not with privilege tracker/logs), potentially summaries for interview hot topics or interview outlines and miscellaneous summaries and other grunt work.

Mid levels and Senior levels

Junior level stuff as needed, managing junior level stuff. Managing other non-associate attys (e.g. attys hired on contract basis) to review docs or do first level review. More summaries and analysis to report up the chain to partners. Research law and write memos if required for legal part of investigation report. Maybe draft, definitely cite-check and proofread investigation report. Senior levels may include more strategy and summary/analysis with the partners.

80-90% of Partner level

Doing interviews, drafting and editing investigation report. Managing the shit that comes up largely at Mid and Senior levels below. Providing summaries of summaries and the blocking and tackling to ensure that the top 10%-20% of the partners know what is going on. Much more strategy and analysis than below.

10%-20% of Partner level

Some of the partners stuff below as needed or required (very significant interviews may be performed by this cohort). Managing the entire process below and communicating with client/third parties. Dealing with the expectations regarding final work product and the (likely massive) bill. Whomever engaged the client collecting a shipload of cash.

Basically, it is a pyramid of summaries until you have the final report, which summarizes and analyzes what happened.

[englawyer]

Interested if anyone can speak to what an investigations practice entails?

doc review

Junior levels

Doc review for content (responsive or not), privilege review (privileged or not with privilege tracker/logs), potentially summaries for interview hot topics or interview outlines and miscellaneous summaries and other grunt work.

Mid levels and Senior levels

Junior level stuff as needed, managing junior level stuff. Managing other non-associate attys (e.g. attys hired on contract basis) to review docs or do first level review. More summaries and analysis to report up the chain to partners. Research law and write memos if required for legal part of investigation report. Maybe draft, definitely cite-check and proofread investigation report. Senior levels may include more strategy and summary/analysis with the partners.

80-90% of Partner level

Doing interviews, drafting and editing investigation report. Managing the shit that comes up largely at Mid and Senior levels below. Providing summaries of summaries and the blocking and tackling to ensure that the top 10%-20% of the partners know what is going on. Much more strategy and analysis than below.

10%-20% of Partner level

Some of the partners stuff below as needed or required (very significant interviews may be performed by this cohort). Managing the entire process below and communicating with client/third parties. Dealing with the expectations regarding final work product and the (likely massive) bill. Whomever engaged the client collecting a shipload of cash.

Basically, it is a pyramid of summaries until you have the final report, which summarizes and analyzes what happened.

Curious as a litigator: Why would an investigation need to track privilege? Usually just internal review right?

[JustHawkin]

Thanks for the insight. What do exit options look like out of investigations?

[Glasseyes]

Can anyone chime in with a typical day for a privacy attorney?

And while we're here, how about a communications / FCC-type regulatory practice?

(This thread rules.)

[84651846190]

Interested if anyone can speak to what an investigations practice entails?

doc review

Junior levels

Doc review for content (responsive or not), privilege review (privileged or not with privilege tracker/logs), potentially summaries for interview hot topics or interview outlines and miscellaneous summaries and other grunt work.

Mid levels and Senior levels

Junior level stuff as needed, managing junior level stuff. Managing other non-associate attys (e.g. attys hired on contract basis) to review docs or do first level review. More summaries and analysis to report up the chain to partners. Research law and write memos if required for legal part of investigation report. Maybe draft, definitely cite-check and proofread investigation report. Senior levels may include more strategy and summary/analysis with the partners.

80-90% of Partner level

Doing interviews, drafting and editing investigation report. Managing the shit that comes up largely at Mid and Senior levels below. Providing summaries of summaries and the blocking and tackling to ensure that the top 10%-20% of the partners know what is going on. Much more strategy and analysis than below.

10%-20% of Partner level

Some of the partners stuff below as needed or required (very significant interviews may be performed by this cohort). Managing the entire process below and communicating with client/third parties. Dealing with the expectations regarding final work product and the (likely massive) bill. Whomever engaged the client collecting a shipload of cash.

Basically, it is a pyramid of summaries until you have the final report, which summarizes and analyzes what happened.

Curious as a litigator: Why would an investigation need to track privilege? Usually just internal review right?

Disclosing documents to a government agency waives privilege. Dat be malpractice, yo. Also, you may not want to give away the smoking gun evidence of your client's liability if it is legitimately privileged.

[Anonymous User]

thanks to everyone doing this. just read the EC/VC post from last year. is EC/VC any less unpredictable/demanding than other corp areas like M&A? or is it basically the same fire drill type stuff

[Anonymous User]

Me: associate at a small shitlaw litigation shop in a secondary market.

Primary practice areas: construction negligence, labor/employment.

M-F:

7-730 wake up > morning routine > breakfast

815-830 leave for work

830-845 arrive at office

845-930 drink coffee, mingle with coworkers

930-1130 return emails, voicemails, light billing (draft discovery, reviewing discovery, drafting correspondence and pleadings), group chat, browse internet

1145-115 lunch at home or out with coworkers

130-4 see 930-1130

4-5 zone out, read internet, make list for next day

5 leave office

5-7 gym and/or happy hour

7 home.

Usually in court one of two mornings a week, have a trial (as a team) 1-4 times a month. Usually 3-4 days worth of depositions a month.

Cant imagine working 60+ hours a week. It sounds awful.

[Danger Zone]

Me: associate at a small shitlaw litigation shop in a secondary market.

Primary practice areas: construction negligence, labor/employment.

M-F:

7-730 wake up > morning routine > breakfast

815-830 leave for work

830-845 arrive at office

845-930 drink coffee, mingle with coworkers

930-1130 return emails, voicemails, light billing (draft discovery, reviewing discovery, drafting correspondence and pleadings), group chat, browse internet

1145-115 lunch at home or out with coworkers

130-4 see 930-1130

4-5 zone out, read internet, make list for next day

5 leave office

5-7 gym and/or happy hour

7 home.

Usually in court one of two mornings a week, have a trial (as a team) 1-4 times a month. Usually 3-4 days worth of depositions a month.

Cant imagine working 60+ hours a week. It sounds awful.

How many hours do you bill? Looks like it can't be more than 5 a day.

[Anonymous User]

Average a little over seven a day. Sometimes more, sometimes less.

Though, it really doesn't matter. billables are important but work product is the primary emphasis. That's just the way it works with our practice areas and clients.

[smallfirmassociate]

Me: associate at a small shitlaw litigation shop in a secondary market.

Primary practice areas: construction negligence, labor/employment.

M-F:

7-730 wake up > morning routine > breakfast

815-830 leave for work

830-845 arrive at office

845-930 drink coffee, mingle with coworkers

930-1130 return emails, voicemails, light billing (draft discovery, reviewing discovery, drafting correspondence and pleadings), group chat, browse internet

1145-115 lunch at home or out with coworkers

130-4 see 930-1130

4-5 zone out, read internet, make list for next day

5 leave office

5-7 gym and/or happy hour

7 home.

Usually in court one of two mornings a week, have a trial (as a team) 1-4 times a month. Usually 3-4 days worth of depositions a month.

Cant imagine working 60+ hours a week. It sounds awful.

How many hours do you bill? Looks like it can't be more than 5 a day.

I'm not that anon, but he did say he has several trials per month and several depositions per month as well. That day above didn't include being in court, extensive trial work, or depositions, so maybe he posted more like an "off" day than a "typical" day.