Biglaw lawyer taking questions Forum

[ToTransferOrNot]

Do you know any people in the bankruptcy group at your firm? If so, does it seem like things are slowing down, and what do the exit options seem to be for bankruptcy folks?

[Anonymous User]

Do you know any people in the bankruptcy group at your firm? If so, does it seem like things are slowing down, and what do the exit options seem to be for bankruptcy folks?

I can answer about my firm: BK is always busy. It was absolutely crazy last year and the year before. Things have definitely slowed down, but it's still very, very busy.

It doesn't take a law firm insider to know this either. Just look at the number of bankruptcy filings last year and their asset values and compare them to the year before.

[rocon7383]

How obnoxious is tracking your activity in 6 minute increments? That's one of the things about biglaw that is most off-putting to me. I probably need to get over it.

Could you explain what this means? I'm oblivious.

[homestyle28]

Not to be overly simple, but are you happy?

[jchoggan]

How obnoxious is tracking your activity in 6 minute increments? That's one of the things about biglaw that is most off-putting to me. I probably need to get over it.

Could you explain what this means? I'm oblivious.

You track billable hours in 6-minute increments... it's how your firm gets paid (typically), and one of the primary ways you get evaluated. From what I understand, it is rather obnoxious, but you get used to it pretty quickly... just part of the grind.

[Stanislaw Carter]

You track billable hours in 6-minute increments... it's how your firm gets paid (typically), and how you get evaluated. From what I understand, it is rather obnoxious, but you get used to it pretty quickly... just part of the grind.

Not every firm does those increments.

[rocon7383]

Not to be overly simple, but are you happy?

+1, but building off of it, would you say working in biglaw has had an overall negative or positive impact on your social life/friendships/relationships? Obviously, I don't expect you to get into specifics but appreciate any insight you may offer.

[japes]

Would longish hair on a guy be a negative in an interview? Assume it's around shoulder-length and well-groomed, and cutting it could have a negative impact on confidence in the interview.

[homestyle28]

Would longish hair on a guy be a negative in an interview? Assume it's around shoulder-length and well-groomed, and cutting it could have a negative impact on confidence in the interview.

Samson, esq.?

[nixxers]

Sorry if this is a stupid question, but how do 1L's apply for summer positions with your firm? i.e. is the information your firm's website or...?


thanks so much for taking the time to do this, I've been following it since the beginning and it's been very helpful.

[japes]

Would longish hair on a guy be a negative in an interview? Assume it's around shoulder-length and well-groomed, and cutting it could have a negative impact on confidence in the interview.

Samson, esq.?

I've had it that way since probably middle school and am very uncomfortable with the idea of cutting it short for a variety of personal reasons. I'm wondering if I can get by with cutting my hair for interviews or if I should just get used to it being short.

[bmontminy]

In your experience, if a 1L has average grades first semester, but killer grades the second semester, will firms note this difference to an extent it may make a difference? Or is it strictly looking at the overall GPA?

[clintonius]

You track billable hours in 6-minute increments... it's how your firm gets paid (typically), and how you get evaluated. From what I understand, it is rather obnoxious, but you get used to it pretty quickly... just part of the grind.

Not every firm does those increments.

It's often up to the client you're doing the work for. The firm I was at (as an admin) set its default to 15-minute increments, but if the client requires 6-minute increments you have to switch to that.

[Anonymous User]

Do you find that there is any age discrimination? In other words, when your firm is looking to hire new attorneys, is there an implicit preference for those in their mid 20s as opposed to those in their late 20s or older?

Thank you.

[vamedic03]

Do you find that there is any age discrimination? In other words, when your firm is looking to hire new attorneys, is there an implicit preference for those in their mid 20s as opposed to those in their late 20s or older?

Thank you.

As a 30 y.o. 2L, I can tell you that I certainly never faced any 'age discrimination' and, in general, had more success than my peers without work experience.

And, there's no reason a rational employer, if looking at 2 otherwise equally qualified candidates would choose the candidate without work experience just so the are younger.

[Stanislaw Carter]

You track billable hours in 6-minute increments... it's how your firm gets paid (typically), and how you get evaluated. From what I understand, it is rather obnoxious, but you get used to it pretty quickly... just part of the grind.

Not every firm does those increments.

It's often up to the client you're doing the work for. The firm I was at (as an admin) set its default to 15-minute increments, but if the client requires 6-minute increments you have to switch to that.

Again, it just depends on the firm. Some firms just have the clout to insist that they bill in 15-minute increments, whether clients like it or not.

Some practices, however, are prone to having finer increments.

[Kohinoor]

You track billable hours in 6-minute increments... it's how your firm gets paid (typically), and how you get evaluated. From what I understand, it is rather obnoxious, but you get used to it pretty quickly... just part of the grind.

Not every firm does those increments.

It's often up to the client you're doing the work for. The firm I was at (as an admin) set its default to 15-minute increments, but if the client requires 6-minute increments you have to switch to that.

Bankruptcy had rules requiring 6 minute increments. Most of our other departments went by 10s.

::edit::

SDNY specific. YMMV.

[TatteredDignity]

So, if you work on the same thing for a couple of hours, it's not too much of a pain to enter the activity into whatever system right? Or does it suck no matter what.

[Kohinoor]

So, if you work on the same thing for a couple of hours, it's not too much of a pain to enter the activity into whatever system right? Or does it suck no matter what.

As a practical matter, partners will pester you not to have a particularly long time block with one entry. So if you spent 12 hours marking up a merger agreement, you might get flak for "Reviewed Merger Agreement (12.00)". It usually goes down better if you have a few entries with detailed descriptions or at least many little entries.

[3rdYrLitigator]

Would your firm hire a person that went to a terrible school, but did a Fed COA clerkship? If so, would you guys interview clerks that didn't summer there in the Fall?

Most likely and yes.

[3rdYrLitigator]

How obnoxious is tracking your activity in 6 minute increments? That's one of the things about biglaw that is most off-putting to me. I probably need to get over it.

It's generally a pain in the ass.

[3rdYrLitigator]

Hello. Just wanted to start by saying thanks because this is great.

I think questions about work experience were asked before, but I wanted to ask how bad it looks if during my year off, I worked somewhere for about 5 months after graduation, quit, and then had a big time gap until law school started? Well I quit my job about a month and a half ago for personal reasons and I can't find a job and it looks like I might have to be unemployed until August.

I don't think it's a big deal, just be prepared to answer what you were doing.

[3rdYrLitigator]

How far down the "rankings" does your firm go for OCI?

OCI lists are available through NALP, I don't want to give out exact school rankings, but not that far.

[3rdYrLitigator]

Do you know any people in the bankruptcy group at your firm? If so, does it seem like things are slowing down, and what do the exit options seem to be for bankruptcy folks?

Sorry, don't really have much interaction with them, I think they're generally busy, but have no idea about exit options.

[3rdYrLitigator]

Not to be overly simple, but are you happy?

Overall, I'd say I'm content. But there are times that I really hate Biglaw life.