What is BIGLAW? Forum

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hungryhungryhippo

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What is BIGLAW?

Post by hungryhungryhippo » Thu Feb 11, 2010 12:30 pm

What qualifies a firm as "biglaw"?

Here's one source's "Top 250 Firms" (based on number of attorneys): http://www.ilrg.com/nlj250

Would all 250 qualify as "biglaw"? Or just the top 100?..50?...5? Or are there even more than this list of 250?

Thanks,
HHH

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annapavlova

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Re: What is BIGLAW?

Post by annapavlova » Thu Feb 11, 2010 12:31 pm

No-no on the double post, dear.

notanumber

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Re: What is BIGLAW?

Post by notanumber » Thu Feb 11, 2010 12:51 pm

Biglaw is defined by the size of the building occupied by a particular firm.

For example:
--ImageRemoved--
Biglaw

--ImageRemoved--
Midlaw

Image
Smalllaw (it's in the back, next to the Subway)

Any questions?

EDIT: I suppose I'll try and be a bit helpful too. Search reveals: http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... =2&t=31365
Last edited by notanumber on Thu Feb 11, 2010 12:54 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Tangerine Gleam

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Re: What is BIGLAW?

Post by Tangerine Gleam » Thu Feb 11, 2010 12:53 pm

Let's be nice, now.

I'd answer if I actually knew, HHH.

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Doritos

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Re: What is BIGLAW?

Post by Doritos » Thu Feb 11, 2010 12:56 pm

notanumber: I, like you, enjoy searching for fun pics to spice up my hilarious posts. I know it takes extra time and effort so I want to give you props on the entertaining entry.

hungryhippo: I think there are two camps...One that defines it by size, the other by salary. By and large the bigger the firm the bigger the salary (as far as I can tell) but there are smaller elite boutiques that pay top dolla.

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ruleser

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Re: What is BIGLAW?

Post by ruleser » Thu Feb 11, 2010 1:00 pm

I think this story answers your question: http://www.ketv.com/news/20197534/detail.html

jerzgrl630

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Re: What is BIGLAW?

Post by jerzgrl630 » Thu Feb 11, 2010 1:53 pm

ruleser wrote:I think this story answers your question: http://www.ketv.com/news/20197534/detail.html
Ummmmm that's tragic. A guy fails a performance test and then sues because he doesn't like why he failed it?

OP, I can honestly say that although I throw the term "Big Law" around frequently, I have no idea what it means. In my head I imagine it to be a firm that has a combination of the following:

- in a physically large building
- starting salary of $120K+
- large number of employees

:)

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reasonabledoubt

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Re: What is BIGLAW?

Post by reasonabledoubt » Thu Feb 11, 2010 1:59 pm

"Big Law" is a term used primarily by 0 and 1L's much in the same way undergraduate business school students refer to "The Fortune 500."

It's a very douchey term.

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ruleser

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Re: What is BIGLAW?

Post by ruleser » Thu Feb 11, 2010 2:36 pm

jerzgrl630 wrote:
ruleser wrote:I think this story answers your question: http://www.ketv.com/news/20197534/detail.html
Ummmmm that's tragic. A guy fails a performance test and then sues because he doesn't like why he failed it?

OP, I can honestly say that although I throw the term "Big Law" around frequently, I have no idea what it means. In my head I imagine it to be a firm that has a combination of the following:

- in a physically large building
- starting salary of $120K+
- large number of employees

:)
I was going for the pun: overweight cop=Big Law

Maybe lost in the depth of the article :)

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jmaan

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Re: What is BIGLAW?

Post by jmaan » Thu Feb 11, 2010 2:40 pm

Biglaw refers to the #of employees at a firm

scionb4

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Re: What is BIGLAW?

Post by scionb4 » Thu Feb 11, 2010 2:42 pm

"Biglaw" is a legendary and mythical creature that many believe exists in various concrete jungles throughout the world. Sightings of him such as this one . . .

Image

AHHH! :o

. . . clearly suggest that he is real.

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ravens20

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Re: What is BIGLAW?

Post by ravens20 » Thu Feb 11, 2010 2:46 pm

Doritos wrote:notanumber: I, like you, enjoy searching for fun pics to spice up my hilarious posts. I know it takes extra time and effort so I want to give you props on the entertaining entry.

hungryhippo: I think there are two camps...One that defines it by size, the other by salary. By and large the bigger the firm the bigger the salary (as far as I can tell) but there are smaller elite boutiques that pay top dolla.
awesome Avatar

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T14_Scholly

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Re: What is BIGLAW?

Post by T14_Scholly » Thu Feb 11, 2010 2:53 pm

Biglaw is where you go if you want to have any worth as a lawyer and as a person.

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scionb4

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Re: What is BIGLAW?

Post by scionb4 » Thu Feb 11, 2010 2:56 pm

T14_Scholly wrote:Biglaw is where you go if you want to have any worth as a lawyer and as a person.
Is this a serious comment?

D. H2Oman

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Re: What is BIGLAW?

Post by D. H2Oman » Thu Feb 11, 2010 3:11 pm

T14_Scholly wrote:Biglaw is where you go if you want to have any worth as a lawyer and as a person.

+1

jerzgrl630

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Re: What is BIGLAW?

Post by jerzgrl630 » Thu Feb 11, 2010 3:11 pm

ruleser wrote:
jerzgrl630 wrote:
ruleser wrote:I think this story answers your question: http://www.ketv.com/news/20197534/detail.html
Ummmmm that's tragic. A guy fails a performance test and then sues because he doesn't like why he failed it?

OP, I can honestly say that although I throw the term "Big Law" around frequently, I have no idea what it means. In my head I imagine it to be a firm that has a combination of the following:

- in a physically large building
- starting salary of $120K+
- large number of employees

:)
I was going for the pun: overweight cop=Big Law

Maybe lost in the depth of the article :)
ummmmm yeah i got it. i figured i could get the joke AND comment on the ridiculousness of the article.

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98234872348

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Re: What is BIGLAW?

Post by 98234872348 » Thu Feb 11, 2010 3:15 pm

T14_Scholly wrote:Biglaw is where you go if you want to have any worth as a lawyer and as a person.
Hi flame. :roll:

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scionb4

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Re: What is BIGLAW?

Post by scionb4 » Thu Feb 11, 2010 3:18 pm

D. H2Oman wrote:
T14_Scholly wrote:Biglaw is where you go if you want to have any worth as a lawyer and as a person.

+1
Well, I guess the both of you, with your particular brand of values, can look forward to your numerous divorces and alimony payments!

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kittenmittons

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Re: What is BIGLAW?

Post by kittenmittons » Thu Feb 11, 2010 3:19 pm

scionb4 wrote:
D. H2Oman wrote:
T14_Scholly wrote:Biglaw is where you go if you want to have any worth as a lawyer and as a person.

+1
Well, I guess the both of you, with your particular brand of values, can look forward to your numerous divorces and alimony payments!
To be fair, that's all anyone can hope for.

hth

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98234872348

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Re: What is BIGLAW?

Post by 98234872348 » Thu Feb 11, 2010 3:24 pm

kittenmittons wrote:To be fair, that's all anyone can hope for.

hth
Pessimism win.

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reasonable_man

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Re: What is BIGLAW?

Post by reasonable_man » Thu Feb 11, 2010 3:26 pm

Image

If Your law office looks like the above picture, its safe to say you do not work in biglaw.

Generally speaking, biglaw is a firm with more than about 200 lawyers, with more than one major office that pays the "market rate," i.e. the highest that anyone can reasonably expect to earn in a particular jurisdiction. In NY, if your starting salary is not 160K, exclusive of bonus, you do not work in biglaw.

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T14_Scholly

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Re: What is BIGLAW?

Post by T14_Scholly » Thu Feb 11, 2010 4:33 pm

reasonable_man wrote:Image

If Your law office looks like the above picture, its safe to say you do not work in biglaw.

Generally speaking, biglaw is a firm with more than about 200 lawyers, with more than one major office that pays the "market rate," i.e. the highest that anyone can reasonably expect to earn in a particular jurisdiction. In NY, if your starting salary is not 160K, exclusive of bonus, you do not work in biglaw.
Did you pull that definition out of your @$$?

skiingimpy

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Re: What is BIGLAW?

Post by skiingimpy » Thu Feb 11, 2010 4:47 pm

I don't post here a lot, and since I actually started law school, I don't lurk as much, either, but it always baffles me when people have the idiocy to make personal attacks and try to shoot RM down. Maybe try spending a little time figuring out who you're talking to and consider that maybe he knows about this. Whereas you are the one pulling something out of your ass.

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reasonable_man

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Re: What is BIGLAW?

Post by reasonable_man » Thu Feb 11, 2010 4:50 pm

T14_Scholly wrote:
reasonable_man wrote:Image

If Your law office looks like the above picture, its safe to say you do not work in biglaw.

Generally speaking, biglaw is a firm with more than about 200 lawyers, with more than one major office that pays the "market rate," i.e. the highest that anyone can reasonably expect to earn in a particular jurisdiction. In NY, if your starting salary is not 160K, exclusive of bonus, you do not work in biglaw.
Did you pull that definition out of your @$$?
No. I pulled it from my 6 years of experience working in mid-sized law firms in NYC (2 of which as an attorney). Please explain to me how my definition is defective. I would LOVE to hear this...

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los blancos

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Re: What is BIGLAW?

Post by los blancos » Thu Feb 11, 2010 4:54 pm

scionb4 wrote:
T14_Scholly wrote:Biglaw is where you go if you want to have any worth as a lawyer and as a person.
Is this a serious comment?
No, it's a jealous one.

Seriously? What are you waiting for?

Now there's a charge.
Just kidding ... it's still FREE!


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