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One hears about the long hours, depression, and anxiety that many lawyers face, but I'm sure there are some fields that are happier than others. I would assume that this could also correlate with lifestyle, so what jobs with a JD have the best lifestyle(not factoring in money, but instead family time etc).

Not sure there is an answer to this.


The head partner at my mom's firm works 2-3 days a week, travels the country all the time, and drives and Aston Martin. If you put enough into it in your younger years it seems like down the road you can get some of that time back.

Leaving money aside (is that really possible?) the lawyers who seem the happiest to me, and the happiest I was when I was practicing, was criminal trial work. It just a whole lot of fun and you get courtroom experience right away. If you can get a state DA or PD job, the pay is not great but the hours aren't at all bad and you probably will get good benefits. A federal job is really pretty sweet but they are not easy to get, even in rural areas.

Sorry if this is a silly question (I'm new around here), but just how competitive are these federal positions. I've researched them a bit but can't find any stats. Thanks!

People who make the most money. It's really all there is to law. Money=happiness. Don't let anyone say otherwise.

Iapyx wrote:Sorry if this is a silly question (I'm new around here), but just how competitive are these federal positions. I've researched them a bit but can't find any stats. Thanks!

Federal prosecutors? Extremely competitive, as in one of the hardest jobs to get.


And TCR is Bird Law.

Happiest Field of Law?

Easy; whatever field you work in as a summer associate. SA'ing is the sweetest gig out there. Food, drink, and at some firms women. All with very low expectations with regards to work product.

For me, the happiest field of law is whichever field can land me a position on Google's legal team.

ResolutePear wrote:For me, the happiest field of law is whichever field can land me a position on Google's legal team.

May not be that way for much longer.

r6_philly wrote:

ResolutePear wrote:For me, the happiest field of law is whichever field can land me a position on Google's legal team.

May not be that way for much longer.

Then I'll join the masses of people who look at themselves as failed for being a lawyer.

I've heard tax law more than any other field as the happiest field of law. Makes sense--you can really dive into your work, serve either individuals or corporations, have predictable hours, and fight the good fight all at the same time.

colovia wrote:I've heard tax law more than any other field as the happiest field of law. Makes sense--you can really dive into your work, serve either individuals or corporations, have predictable hours, and fight the good fight all at the same time.

the good fight. lol

There's no answer to this. It's like asking what type of pie is objectively best.

FWIW, the lawyers I know how are happiest are people who have very competitive personalities, and enjoy the conflict/competition of litigation. But this doesn't mean that litigation makes people happy, or that litigators are happier on average than other practitioners.

Little fluffy kitten law, from what I've heard.




Wouldn't you want to represent this guy?

Renzo wrote:There's no answer to this. It's like asking what type of pie is objectively best.

FWIW, the lawyers I know how are happiest are people who have very competitive personalities, and enjoy the conflict/competition of litigation. But this doesn't mean that litigation makes people happy, or that litigators are happier on average than other practitioners.

Apple.

Kohinoor wrote:

Renzo wrote:There's no answer to this. It's like asking what type of pie is objectively best.

FWIW, the lawyers I know how are happiest are people who have very competitive personalities, and enjoy the conflict/competition of litigation. But this doesn't mean that litigation makes people happy, or that litigators are happier on average than other practitioners.

Apple.

Google trumps Apple, sir.

Though to be fair - if you wanted to be as evil as possible with the best possible swanky life... it'd be a RIAA or MPAA lawyer.

ResolutePear wrote: Google trumps Apple, sir.

Why? I like companies that actually turn profits with their properties.

Besides, there isn't some antitrust issues that may be looming over Apple soon I don't think.

ResolutePear wrote:

Kohinoor wrote:

Renzo wrote:There's no answer to this. It's like asking what type of pie is objectively best.

FWIW, the lawyers I know how are happiest are people who have very competitive personalities, and enjoy the conflict/competition of litigation. But this doesn't mean that litigation makes people happy, or that litigators are happier on average than other practitioners.

Apple.

Google trumps Apple, sir.

Though to be fair - if you wanted to be as evil as possible with the best possible swanky life... it'd be a RIAA or MPAA lawyer.

nou

If only there were a field of law that combines kittens and apple pie into one practice area. That would be the happiest field of law for sure.

Kohinoor wrote:

ResolutePear wrote:

Kohinoor wrote:

Renzo wrote:There's no answer to this. It's like asking what type of pie is objectively best.

FWIW, the lawyers I know how are happiest are people who have very competitive personalities, and enjoy the conflict/competition of litigation. But this doesn't mean that litigation makes people happy, or that litigators are happier on average than other practitioners.

Apple.

Google trumps Apple, sir.

Though to be fair - if you wanted to be as evil as possible with the best possible swanky life... it'd be a RIAA or MPAA lawyer.

nou

That looks like third base.

Probate, Estate Planning, etc. Seems a bit low stress, but repetitive.

Kohinoor wrote: Apple.

Fuck apple--that shit's for little old ladies. I'm on some chocolate macadamia coconut cream pie. Or some 5-Layer Raspberry Chocolate Pie. Hell, even a plain old raspberry rhubarb beats plain old apple.

Renzo wrote:

Kohinoor wrote: Apple.

Fuck apple--that shit's for little old ladies. I'm on some chocolate macadamia coconut cream pie. Or some 5-Layer Raspberry Chocolate Pie. Hell, even a plain old raspberry rhubarb beats plain old apple.

Orgasmic Cheesecake and Cannabis Brownies.

.

Having worked in firms of all sizes... I can tell you that happiness is tied more to the culture of your office than anything else.

I recently left a midlaw job for a small firm job. I am still in a major city, still service a good client base, still work a lot of hours (though not as many as I used to), and still make roughly the same money... But at the end of the day, when I leave work, I am happier than I used to be.

To be happy as a lawyer, you should be working in a practice area that interests you with people that you like and respect and who will like and respect you in return. This is not an easy thing to do, but it is possible. You just cannot be afraid to think outside the box and try somethine new/different.