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I have an adjunct professor for my legal writing class who works at a huge law firm in a major city. He doesn't exactly say he "hates" his job but he'll often be so tired and will tell us about how he's only gotten one or two hours of sleep or that he spent the night at the office. This happens on a consistent basis. I know he's making big money and whatnot but you can't help but feel bad for the guy sometimes, it seems like complete hell, not having any life - he's always SO tired. Is work at a firm, no matter where, really like this? Is it worth the money? Totally serious question because I have a good shot at working at a big one my 2L year through a solid connection but I don't want to lay down a pathway towards a miserable life - and yes I actually do enjoy law school. (most of the time).

It's got busy periods but it's not like what he describes all the time.

It's not nearly as bad as some make it seem. Sure there are the occasional 70-80 hr weeks, but it definitely is not like that all the time. The work can occasionally be dry, but it's like that at every job at some point. Most of the time you're working on interesting matters.

Anonymous User wrote:I have an adjunct professor for my legal writing class who works at a huge law firm in a major city. He doesn't exactly say he "hates" his job but he'll often be so tired and will tell us about how he's only gotten one or two hours of sleep or that he spent the night at the office. This happens on a consistent basis. I know he's making big money and whatnot but you can't help but feel bad for the guy sometimes, it seems like complete hell, not having any life - he's always SO tired. Is work at a firm, no matter where, really like this? Is it worth the money? Totally serious question because I have a good shot at working at a big one my 2L year through a solid connection but I don't want to lay down a pathway towards a miserable life - and yes I actually do enjoy law school. (most of the time).

If he is that tired why the hell he is teaching? Not enough money at his principal job?

My guess is he works at a mill. Probably a large firm that is top heavy in terms of revenue distribution, and quite a few staff/associates that work for peanuts. We had a similar adjunct at our school. Feelsbadman, gotta have some pity as he was prob in your shoes not too long ago.

Simple answer: no, all lawyers at large law firms do not hate their jobs. Biglaw firms vary greatly from one firm to the next. Some have a relatively good work/life balance.

I would estimate that about 5% of the people who enter biglaw like it and thrive in it.

Probably another 20% don't like it but can at least tolerate it long term.

Everyone else hates it. If you suspect that you will hate biglaw, chances are 100% you will hate biglaw.

http://thepeoplestherapist.com/
It has so many stories similar to the one you described.

izha wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:I have an adjunct professor for my legal writing class who works at a huge law firm in a major city. He doesn't exactly say he "hates" his job but he'll often be so tired and will tell us about how he's only gotten one or two hours of sleep or that he spent the night at the office. This happens on a consistent basis. I know he's making big money and whatnot but you can't help but feel bad for the guy sometimes, it seems like complete hell, not having any life - he's always SO tired. Is work at a firm, no matter where, really like this? Is it worth the money? Totally serious question because I have a good shot at working at a big one my 2L year through a solid connection but I don't want to lay down a pathway towards a miserable life - and yes I actually do enjoy law school. (most of the time).

If he is that tired why the hell he is teaching? Not enough money at his principal job?

Maybe he hates his biglaw job, and wants to go to academia. This way he is slowly making the switch?

No. What a foolish question.

Poll: Most in US don't like their jobs

It's not law that sucks, it's work that sucks.

IAFG wrote:Poll: Most in US don't like their jobs

It's not law that sucks, it's work that sucks.

Insert played out "there's a support group for people who hate their jobs; it's called the bar and it meets after work" joke.

I actually really enjoyed my time in biglaw. But then I really enjoy being a lawyer.

anon168 wrote:I actually really enjoyed my time in biglaw. But then I really enjoy being a lawyer.

(SCOTUS clerk)

I like my job.

It pays well. People respect me professionally, and the matters I work on are big and interesting (even if sometimes the tasks I do on those matters aren't). I have a nice office, and all the amenities a person could hope for in the workplace. Plus, I like enough of my coworkers to make the work day not awful.

There are long hours and difficult personalities. But I had to deal with that when I made less than 1/3 of what I make now, and I had to take out my own garbage at the end of the day.

Renzo wrote:I like my job.

It pays well. People respect me professionally, and the matters I work on are big and interesting (even if sometimes the tasks I do on those matters aren't). I have a nice office, and all the amenities a person could hope for in the workplace. Plus, I like enough of my coworkers to make the work day not awful.

There are long hours and difficult personalities. But I had to deal with that when I made less than 1/3 of what I make now, and I had to take out my own garbage at the end of the day.

This comes very close to my attitude.

I know people who work two jobs just to get by, there are people working stupid hours (though maybe less unpredictable hours) for a fraction of the pay even in the same firm, etc.

There's also always some amount of stress / hazing that comes from being the new guy, whether it's new-guy litigator or new-guy barista. I think the long schooling / debt / stupid licensing exam makes it feel much worse to lots of newfish lawyers though.