LSAT Instructor -> T-14 -> BigLaw Associate Taking Questions Forum

[PwnLaw]

Sitting outside and enjoying the nice weather. If you've got questions, I'm happy to help.

[weejonbu]

Which came first? LSAT Instructor or BigLaw? If you were already in BigLaw, do you really need the $$$ for being an LSAT instructor?

[PwnLaw]

I was an LSAT instructor for the last two years of college, then I went to the T-14, then I joined my firm (which is where I'm currently at).

[johnstuartmill]

Was law school worth it?

[howcani111]

how do you like biglaw? Were you top 10% of your class? did you get a scholly b/c of your lsat?

[SuperCool23]

What law school did you attend? Is big law hard to balance and any advice for some one seeking big law? Also what kind of law do you practice

[PwnLaw]

Was law school worth it?

Yes. It was for me. I ended up in a ludicrously cool position with a tremendous amount of responsibility in a field I enjoy.

I would say ~30% of my friends enjoy it. 40% want out but find it tolerable. 30% absolutely hate it and consider law school one of their biggest mistakes in life.

I think it's very hard to know what group you're going to fall into until you've hit the law though. I will say this: if you have reservations about going into the law before law school you should hold off, because it takes a certain type of personality to enjoy practice.

[PwnLaw]

how do you like biglaw? Were you top 10% of your class? did you get a scholly b/c of your lsat?

I enjoy my job, but my job is very atypical compared to most associates. I work in an industry I particularly enjoy and have my own clients.

No, not top 10%.

Yes. My grades were pretty solid as well. I turned down higher ranked schools for the scholarship.

[PwnLaw]

What law school did you attend? Is big law hard to balance and any advice for some one seeking big law? Also what kind of law do you practice

University of Virginia.

There isn't "balance" in BigLaw. Your value is measured in time spent. Spending more time makes you more valuable. Trying to find "balance" is possible, but it isn't a recipe for long term success. I work in entertainment with a speciality in technology (particularly video games).

[ConMan345]

Was law school worth it?

Yes. It was for me. I ended up in a ludicrously cool position with a tremendous amount of responsibility in a field I enjoy.

I would say ~30% of my friends enjoy it. 40% want out but find it tolerable. 30% absolutely hate it and consider law school one of their biggest mistakes in life.

I think it's very hard to know what group you're going to fall into until you've hit the law though. I will say this: if you have reservations about going into the law before law school you should hold off, because it takes a certain type of personality to enjoy practice.

So what type of personality generally enjoys it? The classic competitive, type-A, analytical, enterprising type?

[PwnLaw]

By and large the partners in large firms are detail oriented, competitive and driven by prestige. They focus on being the absolute best lawyers they can be.

I fall into another group that is more focused on building networks of people and generating business. I've learned to be detail oriented, but it wasn't an ingrained trait as it was for other people. I would say my type doesn't appear much in law firms (I'm much more of an MBA type).

[thatsnotmyname]

This may be a stupid question but... What's the max amount of law school debt that you would say is manageable for a biglaw associate/how much debt would you say is worth it to attend a T10 school?

[let/them/eat/cake]

What law school did you attend? Is big law hard to balance and any advice for some one seeking big law? Also what kind of law do you practice

University of Virginia.

There isn't "balance" in BigLaw. Your value is measured in time spent. Spending more time makes you more valuable. Trying to find "balance" is possible, but it isn't a recipe for long term success. I work in entertainment with a speciality in technology (particularly video games).

i'm sure it's not as sweet as it sounds but damn it sounds sweet. and i don't even think I would personally be into it. but for someone who is, sweet gig.

[PwnLaw]

This may be a stupid question but... What's the max amount of law school debt that you would say is manageable for a biglaw associate/how much debt would you say is worth it to attend a T10 school?

Not a stupid question at all.

So much will depend on how long you anticipate being in BigLaw and your odds of getting it in the first place. That calculus is very much up in the air lately.

Let's say you are certaini you are going to make it to BigLaw, and you can make it there for at least 3 years. 150K would probably be my max. You can reasonably pay most of that down during that time (assuming you don't live extravagantly or have a family to take care of).

That said, I don't think I'd go to law school outside over the top 20 or so schools for any amount exceeding 50k total. Top 20 I think 100k is about the breaking point under these economic circumstances.

[PwnLaw]

i'm sure it's not as sweet as it sounds but damn it sounds sweet. and i don't even think I would personally be into it. but for someone who is, sweet gig.

Very lucky on my part (lots of hard work as well).

[solidsnake]

What market are you in? What is a typical day like for you?

[yosho]

How much do you keep up with current events / how much is it required of you as a lawyer? I love reading the news and would ideally spend at least 1-2 hours on it a day, but if you're under such pressure to put in billable hours - does reading a NYT count as 'billable', or is it something you've got to do outside of work and, if so, how do you squeeze it in? I always imagine big shot New Yorkers et al. to be well-read folks, but is that a myth given the intense workload?

[PwnLaw]

What market are you in? What is a typical day like for you?

California. Hop between North and South a fair amount.

Get in around 10:00 in the morning. Bill until about noon. 1-2 hour lunch (if I am doing biz-dev) or 20 minutes at my desk (if not). Work until about 7, go home and hang out with my lady. Start up work again around 11 and work until 2 or 3 in the morning.

Things can shift a fair amount from day to day, but that's the general idea. I'd say I average work related activities between 60-80 hours a week. Highest was around 120-130.

[PwnLaw]

How much do you keep up with current events / how much is it required of you as a lawyer? I love reading the news and would ideally spend at least 1-2 hours on it a day, but if you're under such pressure to put in billable hours - does reading a NYT count as 'billable', or is it something you've got to do outside of work and, if so, how do you squeeze it in? I always imagine big shot New Yorkers et al. to be well-read folks, but is that a myth given the intense workload?

Keeping up is purely extracirricular. Most associates do it as a passtime. I do it to keep on top of my particular industry so I'm never caught flat-footed during a conversation with an industry type. I'd say I read about an hour's worth of news a day. I'm a pretty quick reader.

Certainly not billable.

Most bigshots are informed because they're dealing with the players that the news is discussing, thought they certainly supplement with things like the WSJ, Baron's etc.

[solidsnake]

What market are you in? What is a typical day like for you?

California. Hop between North and South a fair amount.

Get in around 10:00 in the morning. Bill until about noon. 1-2 hour lunch (if I am doing biz-dev) or 20 minutes at my desk (if not). Work until about 7, go home and hang out with my lady. Start up work again around 11 and work until 2 or 3 in the morning.

Things can shift a fair amount from day to day, but that's the general idea. I'd say I average work related activities between 60-80 hours a week. Highest was around 120-130.

Thanks. LA, SF, or SV? Not trying to out you; I just want to get an idea of various work cultures in each market so I can figure out where I should be bidding in two months, or at least make a more informed decision.

On that note, do you recommend focusing all OCI bids on one market or spreading bids across a few cities, as a hedge?

[PwnLaw]

I'm pretty outable at this point.

My answer was truthful. I spend most of my time up SV/SF, but I bounce down to LA with enough frequency to claim both locations.

I suggest your apply to every single place you would like to practice at each firm you'd consider practicing at. If you are limited, then I might carpent bomb the market you're most interested in, but only if your school's reputation carries to that market.

[vexion]

I work in entertainment with a speciality in technology (particularly video games).

How do I get into video game law? That sounds like a blast. Do you work for a firm with one of the major publishers as a client or something?

[solidsnake]

Thanks again.

I'm pretty outable at this point.

Sent PM.

[PwnLaw]

I work in entertainment with a speciality in technology (particularly video games).

How do I get into video game law? That sounds like a blast. Do you work for a firm with one of the major publishers as a client or something?

It's a small but growing field. My firm reps most of the studios and the large publishers. I rep a few movie studios that do game stuff and a number of developers and social game start-ups.

You can PM me if you're interested in more info.

[PwnLaw]

Thanks again.

I'm pretty outable at this point.

That being said, what year are you?

And if you are comfortable with answering, what firm?

Edited out.