Possible to not gain any real experience in biglaw? Forum

[PMan99]

On the litigation side, is the answer to do pro bono to the extent the firm lets you?

Pro bono can be a very useful tool to get depos, hearings, etc. that you wouldn't necessarily get on a paid case. Also, once you have a depo or two under your belt it's an easier sell to paying clients since they're not training a complete novice anymore.

[cron1834]

On the litigation side, is the answer to do pro bono to the extent the firm lets you?

Pro bono can be a very useful tool to get depos, hearings, etc. that you wouldn't necessarily get on a paid case. Also, once you have a depo or two under your belt it's an easier sell to paying clients since they're not training a complete novice anymore.

Thanks.

[Anonymous User]

One person above said if you want substantive experience do insurance defense. I'd say that's probably right. I am a T14 grad who failed into doing employment/public entity representation (think Countys) work. I took a depo within a year, wrote MSJs, argued motions to dismiss in court, and generally was allowed to take on responsibility and run.

I have had the exact same experience.

[Nebby]

Work at somewhere else if you want substantive experience early in your career

[Anonymous User]

You can find substantive experience within biglaw (using the term broadly), but it's hard. I'm a second year at a west coast startup firm (Fenwick, WSGR, etc), and have run venture capital and other non-M&A deals on my own. On the lit side, I think this would be analogous to working for a boutique of some sort or working within a specialty area of litigation within a biglaw firm. Think long and hard about what practice group you choose--in my opinion it has a much bigger impact on your overall career trajectory than the name of the firm.

[84651846190]

Work at somewhere else if you want substantive experience early in your career

In other words, don't do litigation at a giant biglaw firm that primarily takes on huge matters.

[Lacepiece23]

Work at somewhere else if you want substantive experience early in your career

In other words, don't do litigation at a giant biglaw firm that primary takes on huge matters.

I work in bigly in a secondary market. And, not surprisingly, do products liability, which is basically higher end id. I have gotten tons of experience and i love it so far. Got really lucky to fall into it tbh.