08' TTT Grad at Small Boutique NYC Firm Taking Questions... Forum

[reasonable_man]

Will answer most questions. I've been involved in hiring at my current firm and my prior firm (NYC with 75 to 100 lawyers). Fire away.

[gdane]

What kind of work do you do?

[reasonable_man]

What kind of work do you do?

A mix. Mostly litigation and some intelectual property. Litigation is split evenly between run of the mill insurance work and a niche federal court practice. Also some employment discrimination and construction related cases.

[gdane]

How is your tuition repayment going? Do you have significant loans? If so, do you have a general plan for how you're going to pay them off?

[reasonable_man]

How is your tuition repayment going? Do you have significant loans? If so, do you have a general plan for how you're going to pay them off?

Loans suck, but my TTT was less pricey than others. I pay about 2k a month and will be paying that for a long time. My compensation is good and my wife has no debt and a great job which really helps obviously. Others have it way worse.

[reasonable_man]

I should also note that my career is in a significantly better place than many grads from my LS. So no one should assume that my responses are indicative of any other similarly situated grads. I know very few that did much better and a great number that did far worse.

[cinephile]

How did you get your current job? I mean both how did you find the position (networking?) and what made your the most attractive candidate (is it still grades/law review that counts for small firms)?

[MapsMapsMaps]

Hours worked, income received, and quality of life?

[reasonable_man]

How did you get your current job? I mean both how did you find the position (networking?) and what made your the most attractive candidate (is it still grades/law review that counts for small firms)?

I've often wondered lol. When I interviewed the firm had a ton of applicants including an ex-Manhattan ADA and a few HYS grads. My grades were only top 30% in LS so that didnt help much. What I had was a ton of hands on litigation experience post LS at a firm known to be competent and good at training young associates. I also had a lot of interning \ work experience during LS and good legal experience during college as a part time legal assistant at a quasi-big law firm. I also interview very well and fit in well with the partners at the firm. They needed a young lawyer that could jump right in and start handling smaller cases (and could work on a team for some bigger cases).

[cinephile]

^ Thanks for that. So it seems like work experience is key.

[reasonable_man]

Hours worked, income received, and quality of life?

Very nice office in NYC. Awesome view from my office. Full staff at my disposal. I work monday to Friday. Usually 8am to about 630 or so unless I'm in court. Only work weekends in emergencies or during big trials or appeals (maybe two to three times per year). Bosses are extremely nice and partnership opportunity is there - but will take a number of years and nothing is ever certain. Work from home when I want to. Stress is low.

Salary is good. 100k and full benefits paid with no contribution from me. Yearly raises of at least 5 to 10% and bonuses of at least 10 to 15% at year end.

[keg411]

No questions, but just wanted to check in and say 'sup reasonable_man? .

[reasonable_man]

^ Thanks for that. So it seems like work experience is key.

Yes and no. Some firms care very much about LS and grades even for laterals. A while back 2 JR partners wanted to bring me into a prominent mid sized litigation shop but they were shot down by the MP because of my academic record. Top30 at a TTT was just not cutting it at that firm. Worked out for the better, but it stung a bit.

[reasonable_man]

No questions, but just wanted to check in and say 'sup reasonable_man? .

Sup brah? Just sharing the life experience wealth. Working hard, etc. How is it goin on your end ?

[Myself]

.

[reasonable_man]

How is your tuition repayment going? Do you have significant loans? If so, do you have a general plan for how you're going to pay them off?

Loans suck, but my TTT was less pricey than others. I pay about 2k a month and will be paying that for a long time. My compensation is good and my wife has no debt and a great job which really helps obviously. Others have it way worse.

2K per month???

Is this typical in private practice?

Its actually probably closer to $1750 - not that that matters. I'm not really sure what others are paying, but that's what I'm doing and what is livable for me.

[ph14]

Money/hours?

[reasonable_man]

Money/hours?

100k and full benefits paid with no contribution from me. Yearly raises of at least 5 to 10% and bonuses of at least 10 to 15% at year end.


Typically work 8 to 6:30, Monday to Friday. I don't usually work weekends (only in very limited circumstances). If I'm in Court (which is often), its usually shorter.

[ph14]

Money/hours?

100k and full benefits paid with no contribution from me. Yearly raises of at least 5 to 10% and bonuses of at least 10 to 15% at year end.


Typically work 8 to 6:30, Monday to Friday. I don't usually work weekends (only in very limited circumstances). If I'm in Court (which is often), its usually shorter.

That sounds like a pretty solid gig.

[desertlaw]

So mid-law exists apparently. Nice.

[reasonable_man]

Money/hours?

100k and full benefits paid with no contribution from me. Yearly raises of at least 5 to 10% and bonuses of at least 10 to 15% at year end.


Typically work 8 to 6:30, Monday to Friday. I don't usually work weekends (only in very limited circumstances). If I'm in Court (which is often), its usually shorter.

That sounds like a pretty solid gig.

It really is. As I said above: Very nice office in NYC. Awesome view from my personal office. Full staff at my disposal. I work monday to Friday. Usually 8am to about 630 or so unless I'm in court. Only work weekends in emergencies or during big trials or appeals (maybe two to three times per year). Bosses are extremely nice and partnership opportunity is there - but will take a number of years and nothing is ever certain. Work from home when I want to. Stress is low.

[reasonable_man]

So mid-law exists apparently. Nice.

Small law actually. Less than 15 lawyers.

[patienunderstanding]

Thanks for taking time to answer our questions
Are you originally from NY? Did you go to LS in NY?

[reasonable_man]

Thanks for taking time to answer our questions
Are you originally from NY? Did you go to LS in NY?

No problem. I am from NY. I attended LS in New England. I worked during LS (during the semester) at a small firm near my LS and over the summers for the mid-sized firm that hired me right out of school.

[Mick Haller]

Thanks R_M for taking questions. I am a long time fan of yours.

How does your firm do its hiring? OCI only? What advice do you have for people who graduate unemployed to get jobs at small firms like yours? If your response is "networking," can you give some specifics from your own experience as to effective networking techniques?

Thanks again