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What is the lifestyle of a biglaw associate and partner in a large city? How much do the associates work, and if you have more seniority does that mean that you work less?

This topic has been extensively covered elsewhere; search for old threads and you'll get some good insight. The short answer is that associates work a lot of hours, but it's generally not a constant stream of 55 hour weeks; rather, the hours are unpredictable, and so associates may do two 70 hour weeks, followed by a 40 hour week, and then a 55 hour week, etc. This makes it difficult to make major plans. The workload doesn't decrease with seniority, and in fact, if you hope to make partner you may be expected to put in a lot of hours beyond the minimum. If you do make partner your billing rate jumps substantially, so naturally, the firm leaders will want you to bill even more since you're more profitable.

thanks. But then what is small law like?

jainyv wrote:thanks. But then what is small law like?

hard to stereotype small law. it is same hours usually (maybe more predictable hours), though you will probably will be driving home in a cheaper car to a cheaper house (though some small litigation boutiques can pay market or even above-market)

jainyv wrote:thanks. But then what is small law like?

Eating drive-thru burgers in your used Civic as you drive from courthouse to deposition to settlement conference, hoping the defendant's insurance company coughs up so you can pay your rent on time. Or, siting at home, hoping the guy from the previous sentence gets another case and can't handle all the work so he'll call you to do a deposition on a contract basis, and you won't have to sign up for food stamps.

Ofta3184 wrote:
hard to stereotype small law

Bullshit, I think I did an excellent job stereotyping.

Renzo wrote:

jainyv wrote:thanks. But then what is small law like?

Eating drive-thru burgers in your used Civic as you drive from courthouse to deposition to settlement conference, hoping the defendant's insurance company coughs up so you can pay your rent on time. Or, siting at home, hoping the guy from the previous sentence gets another case and can't handle all the work so he'll call you to do a deposition on a contract basis, and you won't have to sign up for food stamps.

you forget student loan, bro.