BIGLAW + 6 months in = very unhappy - any advice? Forum

[Anonymous User]

Facts:
- 26 years old
- Finance degree + JD from t25
- No debt due to scholarships
- Work in secondary Midwest market doing M&A law
- Been here since May/September 2014 depending on when you put down month since you were hired.
- Single

I started at a NLJP250 firm in a secondary market in September. I worked for 2 years before law school on various political campaigns (paid gigs) and had a blast. I chose a t25 on a fat scholarship because I was afraid of what actually is currently happening (hate Biglaw).

I am already sick of the work, atmosphere, and lifestyle of what this job offers. I am working in the transactional side of law and have hated it since day one. The work is boring and I find myself hating every waking moment of my life minus the few hours I make myself workout in the evenings. I have developed no particular bond with any partners in the firm and my anxiety has been increasing everyday. I already find myself slacking/not giving a fuck about billables. Most of my work is either painfully boring or non-billable extensive research.

Everyday I find myself struggling to roll out of bed and have already been told by numerous partners in the firm how much they hate practicing and how they wish they would have done something else with their lives. That, on top of the lack of training, constant ridicule on assignments, and lack of personal relationship with anyone in the office has made me feel like my life is a living hell.

However, I am so new to the legal game that I am unsure what to do. As we all know, 6-9 months is not nearly enough time to get me any 'great' exit options. Also, I'm not sure if things will get better or worse.

Anyone have any idea how to play this situation out? I don't want to be a 'quitter' but really am disappointed with my experience thus far.

[fats provolone]

welcome

[Cogburn87]

Yeah, that sounds about right

[mvp99]

why does big law have to be hell on earth

[84651846190]

you cop dat Coif, lil breh?

[ymmv]

No debt

GTFO of there.

[Anonymous User]

No coif.

Seriously, no debt. I saved my money from my two years working and saved all my summer associate money and took the big scholarship. Parents helped with CoL when needed.

[ymmv]

I don't think you understood me. No debt = why stay biglaw one second longer than you have to?

[Anonymous User]

Fair point. Like most, the prestige and money sucked me in. I have to crash now, have to be in early tomorrow but I will answer any questions/welcome advice or coping mechanisms from users.

[NinerFan]

I don't think you understood me. No debt = why stay biglaw one second longer than you have to?

To be fair, I know numerous people who don't have debt either because they didn't have any to begin with or because they paid it off with their years in biglaw. It's not so easy to leave a steady paycheck and benefits though. If you don't have much savings and/or have a family, what are you supposed to do unless you have something lined up? If you hate law, it's not easy to leave the profession entirely and start anew.

[Johann]

If you think you may like another practice group more - ask to switch. Other than that suck it up until some exit options open up or save up and open your own firm. Almost everyone hates biglaw and some switch groups, some stick it out for inhouse, some open own firm, and some stay with it hoping tomorrow doesn't suck as bad as today.

[Anonymous User]

The billables is the worst. I don't think I will come close to reaching my minimum. How can you when partners keep feeding you non billable work.

[silenttimer]

Why whould research be nonbillable? Are you researching for the deals you are involved with?

[gulcregret]

Get to a year and start looking for another job. You are not stuck in Biglaw so why be so depressed about it? BTW, I did government work as an attorney and am now at Biglaw and Biglaw is better. I worked similar hours in my gov role and was not compensated for it. Same types of people at both places, passive aggressive, incompetent, generally detached.

Most adults do not like their jobs.

http://blogs.wsj.com/atwork/2014/06/18/ ... isfaction/

[Julius]

Get to a year and start looking for another job. You are not stuck in Biglaw so why be so depressed about it? BTW, I did government work as an attorney and am now at Biglaw and Biglaw is better. I worked similar hours in my gov role and was not compensated for it. Same types of people at both places, passive aggressive, incompetent, generally detached.

Most adults do not like their jobs.

http://blogs.wsj.com/atwork/2014/06/18/ ... isfaction/

According to your link, most people making $125,000+ enjoy their jobs.

About 64% of people earning more than $125,000 say they’re satisfied with their jobs, while just 24.4% with incomes under $15,000 said the same. In the middle ranks—those earning between $35,000 and $75,000—the figure hovers around 45%.

Compared to other jobs with similar compensation, biglaw is objectively terrible.

[fats provolone]

I AM THE 36%

[smallfirmassociate]

I know a girl who does M&A at Faegre in Minneapolis. It sounds like the worst job ever. I'd rather go back to blue collar jobs in the summer heat. I'd rather scoop shit out of barns or something. I'd rather work at a fucking call center.

You might work with her.

Anyway, everything you said is par for the course. You probably knew this all going in to taking the job, but you took it anyway. Now you can stick it out for some dough or you can leave. Sounds like you want to leave, so leave. I know we like to analyze everything to death, but your happiness doesn't have to be made out to be more complicated than it is.

[84651846190]

No coif.

Seriously, no debt. I saved my money from my two years working and saved all my summer associate money and took the big scholarship. Parents helped with CoL when needed.

No coif from a T25 = no mobility until you have substantive experience (which may not be for another five years or more).

Sorry.

[gulcregret]

According to your link, most people making $125,000+ enjoy their jobs.

About 64% of people earning more than $125,000 say they’re satisfied with their jobs, while just 24.4% with incomes under $15,000 said the same. In the middle ranks—those earning between $35,000 and $75,000—the figure hovers around 45%.

Compared to other jobs with similar compensation, biglaw is objectively terrible.

Most people who make over $125,000 have been at their jobs for more than one year, probably, and are not 25 year-olds who are fresh out of school. These people are satisfied with their jobs because they have been at them for a while and have moved up the ladder. Once you accept that working sucks no matter what and you have to pay the bills, support a family, etc. you deal with the BS. When I was 25 I probably would've hated my life as a biglaw attorney but at 30 something I am "satisfied" as well.

[fats provolone]

also 30, still in the 36%, sorry

[Julius]

working sucks no matter what.

64% of people ... say they’re satisfied with their jobs

[Desert Fox]

u guys wanna make a suicide cult?

[Actus Reus]

No coif.

Seriously, no debt. I saved my money from my two years working and saved all my summer associate money and took the big scholarship. Parents helped with CoL when needed.

No coif from a T25 = no mobility until you have substantive experience (which may not be for another five years or more).

Sorry.

We wonder why pre-law kids are so neurotic. I thank you Big Law Associate V20, I thank you.

[First Offense]

I'm starting to think it's not Biglaw that's terrible, but rather just that lawyers are terrible.

[fats provolone]

I'm starting to think it's not Biglaw that's terrible, but rather just that lawyers are terrible.

what's the difference