What is it like being a BigLaw lawyer? Forum

[roranoa]

(sorry if if wrong forum. Can't find one that fits)

I wonder how different a lawyers' life would be from regular corporations.(e.g. GE) For example, how much time do lawyers spend time chitchatting and politicking with colleagues at work? (cuz I'm not very good at that)

Also, I'm really curious about what really goes on in a law firm
and I can't find any websites other than the Anonymous Lawyer
blog. Are there any websites equivalent to Mergers & Inquisitions in the law practicing field?

[Mase]

Aston Martins and golf during the day. Bottles and models during the night. You should be able to find something in this forum. Otherwise call around, they will all confirm bottles and models.

[Big Shrimpin]

Aston Martins and golf during the day. Bottles and models during the night. You should be able to find something in this forum. Otherwise call around, they will all confirm bottles and models.

'bout sums it up.

[Rooney]

(sorry if if wrong forum. Can't find one that fits)

I wonder how different a lawyers' life would be from regular corporations.(e.g. GE) For example, how much time do lawyers spend time chitchatting and politicking with colleagues at work? (cuz I'm not very good at that)

Also, I'm really curious about what really goes on in a law firm
and I can't find any websites other than the Anonymous Lawyer
blog. Are there any websites equivalent to Mergers & Inquisitions in the law practicing field?

sorry, couldn't resist.

[roranoa]

Aston Martins and golf during the day. Bottles and models during the night. You should be able to find something in this forum. Otherwise call around, they will all confirm bottles and models.

I do understand my question might sound a bit immature but I'm really curious about this.

But thanks for the joke. Better than having no replies.

[Rooney]

Here you go: BigLaw Associate Taking Questions - http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 3&t=153888

[rose711]

I think you mean Mergers and Acquisitions or M&A.

I don't think lawyers in firms or corporations spend a lot of time chitchatting, due to lack of time - but they all have to keep their eyes on the politics/power structure of their work environment.

Is that really the most pressing question you have?

Maybe you should work as a paralegal for a year or two to get a good idea of what practicing law is all about. I think you will see that chitchat isn't on the list. If you mean is it important to be well-liked, then, of course, everyone needs to fit into their work place.

[Pricer]

I think you mean Mergers and Acquisitions or M&A.

I don't think lawyers in firms or corporations spend a lot of time chitchatting, due to lack of time - but they all have to keep their eyes on the politics/power structure of their work environment.

Is that really the most pressing question you have?

Maybe you should work as a paralegal for a year or two to get a good idea of what practicing law is all about. I think you will see that chitchat isn't on the list. If you mean is it important to be well-liked, then, of course, everyone needs to fit into their work place.

http://www.mergersandinquisitions.com/

[nOO law]

I think you mean Mergers and Acquisitions or M&A.

I don't think lawyers in firms or corporations spend a lot of time chitchatting, due to lack of time - but they all have to keep their eyes on the politics/power structure of their work environment.

Is that really the most pressing question you have?

Maybe you should work as a paralegal for a year or two to get a good idea of what practicing law is all about. I think you will see that chitchat isn't on the list. If you mean is it important to be well-liked, then, of course, everyone needs to fit into their work place.

Actually, I think the OP is referring to a website:

http://www.mergersandinquisitions.com/

ETA: damn, beat me to it.

[JPrezy87]

Aston Martins and golf during the day. Bottles and models during the night. You should be able to find something in this forum. Otherwise call around, they will all confirm bottles and models.

I can tell you don't work at a Big Law firm

[afc1910]

.

[lisjjen]

Aston Martins and golf during the day. Bottles and models during the night. You should be able to find something in this forum. Otherwise call around, they will all confirm bottles and models.

Dammit. OP posted this in another forum and I had the exact same answer and then he moved the thread over here.

[Patriot1208]

One take on being a BigLaw lawyer can be found here: http://thepeoplestherapist.com/
Although I'm sure there are happy less miserable attorneys out there working in so-called BigLaw. You should read his posts in conjunction with comments to each post.

I read that first post and all it did was convince me that the guys problem is his marriage, not his job.

Key point of this thread: don't get married and work in biglaw, do one or the other.

[lisjjen]

One take on being a BigLaw lawyer can be found here: http://thepeoplestherapist.com/
Although I'm sure there are happy less miserable attorneys out there working in so-called BigLaw. You should read his posts in conjunction with comments to each post.

I read that first post and all it did was convince me that the guys problem is his marriage, not his job.

Key point of this thread: don't get married and work in biglaw, do one or the other.

On a related note. Don't enjoy sunlight and work in biglaw. Do one or the other.

[Julio_El_Chavo]

This is what it's like taking your first deposition: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjtnRmy0H-U&NR=1

[Patriot1208]

One take on being a BigLaw lawyer can be found here: http://thepeoplestherapist.com/
Although I'm sure there are happy less miserable attorneys out there working in so-called BigLaw. You should read his posts in conjunction with comments to each post.

I read that first post and all it did was convince me that the guys problem is his marriage, not his job.

Key point of this thread: don't get married and work in biglaw, do one or the other.

On a related note. Don't enjoy sunlight and work in biglaw. Do one or the other.

sarcasm, you missed it.

[RVP11]

Most stories about the misery of BigLaw come out of NYC. That should tell you something.

[roranoa]

Most stories about the misery of BigLaw come out of NYC. That should tell you something.

Many of the replies have very cynical perspectives of BigLaw. Is there somewhere (a website) where I can find more balanced perspectives of the life of a BigLaw lawyer?(This was my original question)

[lisjjen]

One take on being a BigLaw lawyer can be found here: http://thepeoplestherapist.com/
Although I'm sure there are happy less miserable attorneys out there working in so-called BigLaw. You should read his posts in conjunction with comments to each post.

I read that first post and all it did was convince me that the guys problem is his marriage, not his job.

Key point of this thread: don't get married and work in biglaw, do one or the other.

On a related note. Don't enjoy sunlight and work in biglaw. Do one or the other.

sarcasm, you missed it.

On a related note. Collaborative sarcasm. You missed it.

[Jessep]

I'm a big law corporate lawyer and love it. I can't imagine doing anything else right now. Lots of responsibility, challenging work, great people willing to teach, and a fair amount of independence.

[Stanford4Me]

Most stories about the misery of BigLaw come out of NYC. That should tell you something.

Many of the replies have very cynical perspectives of BigLaw. Is there somewhere (a website) where I can find more balanced perspectives of the life of a BigLaw lawyer?(This was my original question)

No, because the only people who talk about Biglaw are the people who hate it. There are plenty of threads here with current associates answering questions. Follow the link that was posted above for one of them.

[Julio_El_Chavo]

It doesn't really make sense to me why people try to convince themselves that biglaw isn't the worst situation you could be in as a lawyer. Think about it: only 5-10% of people in biglaw actually become partners. Therefore, either a whole bunch of people who LIKE biglaw are getting dumped by their firms after 7-10 years, OR people are leaving before they could become partner because the hours are awful, the stress is incredible, etc. Biglaw pays more than pretty much every other kind of legal job and yet people are still leaving in droves to do other things. At some point you have to be rational and ask yourself why this is.

[BeenDidThat]

It doesn't really make sense to me why people try to convince themselves that biglaw isn't the worst situation you could be in as a lawyer. Think about it: only 5-10% of people in biglaw actually become partners. Therefore, either a whole bunch of people who LIKE biglaw are getting dumped by their firms after 7-10 5-7 years, OR people are leaving before they could become partner because the hours are awful, the stress is incredible, etc. Biglaw pays more than pretty much every other kind of legal job and yet people are still leaving in droves to do other things. At some point you have to be rational and ask yourself why this is.

And BigLaw the worst situation you could be in as a lawyer? Yeah, 160k for 60 hr avg. work weeks sounds way worse than unemployment, contracting to do doc review, making 30k while working for clients that think they deserve justice and lawyers should be free, making 60k for 60 hr avg. work weeks, or any of those other posh positions I'm forgetting about right now.

[motownsaint]

It doesn't really make sense to me why people try to convince themselves that biglaw isn't the worst situation you could be in as a lawyer. Think about it: only 5-10% of people in biglaw actually become partners. Therefore, either a whole bunch of people who LIKE biglaw are getting dumped by their firms after 7-10 years, OR people are leaving before they could become partner because the hours are awful, the stress is incredible, etc. Biglaw pays more than pretty much every other kind of legal job and yet people are still leaving in droves to do other things. At some point you have to be rational and ask yourself why this is.

Hey, don't forget your LSAT lessons just yet.

There's a big leap between knowing that the number of people in biglaw who become partners is 5-10% and the spurious conclusion that people are leaving before they could do so because their life sucks.

I'm also not sure why facing the up-or-out seniority system can be seen as a "worst situation," even if you do fail to make partner. While not ideal, it doesn't take an appreciable amount of imagination to come up with worse situations and options.

[Stanford4Me]

It doesn't really make sense to me why people try to convince themselves that biglaw isn't the worst situation you could be in as a lawyer. Think about it: only 5-10% of people in biglaw actually become partners. Therefore, either a whole bunch of people who LIKE biglaw are getting dumped by their firms after 7-10 years, OR people are leaving before they could become partner because the hours are awful, the stress is incredible, etc. Biglaw pays more than pretty much every other kind of legal job and yet people are still leaving in droves to do other things. At some point you have to be rational and ask yourself why this is.

Hey, don't forget your LSAT lessons just yet.

There's a big leap between knowing that the number of people in biglaw who become partners is 5-10% and the spurious conclusion that people are leaving before they could do so because their life sucks.

I'm also not sure why facing the up-or-out seniority system can be seen as a "worst situation," even if you do fail to make partner. While not ideal, it doesn't take an appreciable amount of imagination to come up with worse situations and options.

I doubt he even has that level of imagination.