Northwestern Law Grad Can't find a job... Forum

[Matthies]

ugh why am i having such link trouble!

http://lawprofessors.typepad.com/legal_ ... avath.html

http://www.abajournal.com/magazine/arti ... ath_model/

http://dealbook.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/ ... iates-pay/

[miamiman]

Matthies,

we have our disagreements -- and Id like to think we maintain them with civility -- but I tend to agree with disco on this one. Your comments and advice in the area of networking are dead-on but I don't think we're seeing a major paradigm shift as it relates to Biglaw. Firms have cut back considerably (just as they hired overzealously in the build-up) but I do think given what I've read on ATL (i.e. salary true-ups, positive signs leading into OCI, etc.) suggest that the horrors we saw this past year were more the symptoms of a bad economy than the signs of a sea change.

I might be wrong and I will admit as much if your forecasts prove more predictive. Until then, I'm placing my faith in the Cravath model.

[Matthies]

Matthies,

we have our disagreements -- and Id like to think we maintain them with civility -- but I tend to agree with disco on this one. Your comments and advice in the area of networking are dead-on but I don't think we're seeing a major paradigm shift as it relates to Biglaw. Firms have cut back considerably (just as they hired overzealously in the build-up) but I do think given what I've read on ATL (i.e. salary true-ups, positive signs leading into OCI, etc.) suggest that the horrors we saw this past year were more the symptoms of a bad economy than the signs of a sea change.

I might be wrong and I will admit as much if your forecasts prove more predictive. Until then, I'm placing my faith in the Cravath model.

You all might be right, I've been wrong once or twice in my life I think. But for the love of god people please at least read the ABA journal, or American lawyer or waht ever local rag you city gets for real legal news and save ATL for its Perez Hilton effect.

[OperaSoprano]

The real answer is definitely between the two extremes. You have to keep in mind that for some people being a lawyer (not a big lawyer, not a corporate lawyer, not a big fed lawyer - just a lawyer) is a well thought out dream that IBR makes possible.

I have to weigh in, because IBR is so important to me. I have various ideas about how I will repay my loans, but without the safety net of IBR, I could not have gone to law school at all. Given my numbers, a school willing to give me a full ride (or close to it) would have come with too large a risk of unemployment. (Not marginal biglaw placement; no legal job at all.) I may not need IBR (crazier things have happened), but I could not have made this leap without it. If I do need it, I won't regret using it. This has been the adventure of a lifetime, and so it continues.

[webbylu87]

I have to weigh in, because IBR is so important to me. I have various ideas about how I will repay my loans, but without the safety net of IBR, I could not have gone to law school at all. Given my numbers, a school willing to give me a full ride (or close to it) would have come with too large a risk of unemployment. (Not marginal biglaw placement; no legal job at all.) I may not need IBR (crazier things have happened), but I could not have made this leap without it. If I do need it, I won't regret using it. This has been the adventure of a lifetime, and so it continues.

+1

This is exactly the boat I'm in. IBR isn't perfect but I've made my peace with the idea of making $50k/year or less. My initial point was that for those who don't have a biglaw or bust mentality (although if it happens, it happens), IBR can free up a lot of opportunities which don't offer the same financial incentive.

[slider]

This thread is scaring me to death. (0L about to take the plunge)

[miamiman]

the extent to which this should scare you hinges on three things:

1. the school you'll be attending
2. the amount of debt you'll be taking on
3. your career goals

[motiontodismiss]

Matthies: I have a lot of respect for you, but I've seen no indication of the death of the Cravath model. Plenty of grumbling, but a lot of firms have been rolling back their roll backs, etc... firms seem excited to get back to business, and I feel like you could find doomsayers about the cravath model from every downturn (even if this one has been bigger than most) over the last several decades.

I could be proven wrong, and I'm not calling you full of shit or anything, but I don't see the tea leaves the way you see them.

If the Cravath model hasn't gone away through 5+ recessions, I don't think it's going away now.

[sarahd]

The real answer is definitely between the two extremes. You have to keep in mind that for some people being a lawyer (not a big lawyer, not a corporate lawyer, not a big fed lawyer - just a lawyer) is a well thought out dream that IBR makes possible.

I have to weigh in, because IBR is so important to me. I have various ideas about how I will repay my loans, but without the safety net of IBR, I could not have gone to law school at all. Given my numbers, a school willing to give me a full ride (or close to it) would have come with too large a risk of unemployment. (Not marginal biglaw placement; no legal job at all.) I may not need IBR (crazier things have happened), but I could not have made this leap without it. If I do need it, I won't regret using it. This has been the adventure of a lifetime, and so it continues.

...

[slider]

the extent to which this should scare you hinges on three things:

1. the school you'll be attending
2. the amount of debt you'll be taking on
3. your career goals

1. T10
2. Sticker
3. Biglaw

Thoughts?

[jnorsky]

the extent to which this should scare you hinges on three things:

1. the school you'll be attending
2. the amount of debt you'll be taking on
3. your career goals

1. T10
2. Sticker
3. Biglaw

Thoughts?

Right on, im pretty scared as well

[miamiman]

the extent to which this should scare you hinges on three things:

1. the school you'll be attending
2. the amount of debt you'll be taking on
3. your career goals

1. T10
2. Sticker
3. Biglaw

Thoughts?

I like your odds. A 50% crack at BigLaw (or conceivably stronger as the market hopefully heals) is still a solid crack at BigLaw.

[slider]

I like your odds. A 50% crack at BigLaw (or conceivably stronger as the market hopefully heals) is still a solid crack at BigLaw.

Sounds decent.
I like your odds better

[09042014]

1)NU
2)sticker
3)Patent Law, I'm an EE

My hubris will be my downfall.

[Mattalones]

the extent to which this should scare you hinges on three things:

1. the school you'll be attending
2. the amount of debt you'll be taking on
3. your career goals

1. Top 20 or Top 14 (Still weighing things out)
2. Sticker (either way)
3. BigLaw for a while, Govt. for a much longer

[miamiman]

1)NU
2)sticker
3)Patent Law, I'm an EE

My hubris will be my downfall.

DF, GTFO. I've told you now at least 3 times you are biglaw SECURE. You're shaking my faith in you.

[eldizknee]

.

[miamiman]

Im not playing Zoltan, boys and girls. Call your local career services for Forecast Fridays.

[stratocophic]

Im not playing Zoltan, boys and girls. Call your local career services for Forecast Fridays.

Booooo. "Chance me 4 teh Biglaws plz" with 8 different hypos was going to be the next big thing. 40% of posts on the main page would have been begging for affirmation in the form of "Biglaw SECURE."

[D. H2Oman]

Im not playing Zoltan, boys and girls. Call your local career services for Forecast Fridays.

I'll take over folks, go ahead ask away.

[D. H2Oman]

1. T-22
2. Half tuition scholly
3. JD-required JOB

Fucked?

Did you just say T-22?!? Pwned for being a douche.

[SamSeaborn2016]

Im not playing Zoltan, boys and girls. Call your local career services for Forecast Fridays.

Zoltan? The bad guy from G.I.Joe?


edit: Nevermind. I'm an idiot. I was thinking Zartan.

[miamiman]

Im not playing Zoltan, boys and girls. Call your local career services for Forecast Fridays.

I'll take over folks, go ahead ask away.

I'd say "you're in good hands" but that's self-evident since it's D. H20man taking the reigns here.

[eldizknee]

.

[09042014]

1)NU
2)sticker
3)Patent Law, I'm an EE

My hubris will be my downfall.

DF, GTFO. I've told you now at least 3 times you are biglaw SECURE. You're shaking my faith in you.

The problem is I believe it.