1 year in, want to leave biglaw - tips? Forum

[Anonymous User]

V20, T6, shitty grades. 1 year in, and I really dislike the job. looking back, I had no real idea what I was getting into despite being active on these forums and spending 3 years striving for prestige. you don't really know what life is like in biglaw until you live it, and let me tell you: it sucks.

anyone know anyone who left/have any experience with leaving biglaw after only 1 year? I could probably stick it out until year 2-3 but want to get out ASAP.

also taking questions on why biglaw sucks and is not worth it.

[frankc]

Vent, bro. Why does it suck so much?

How's the cafeteria?

[RELIC]

Are you transactional or lit?

How many hours did you bill this year?

[Anonymous User]

Aside from the sucky biglaw lifestyle, why does the work itself suck?

[cidergirl]

Any interest in consulting? I know that consulting firms recruit at T6 schools, maybe you could spin your experience and land a consulting job? Define "shitty grades"? Not sure if your grades would matter for consulting.

[Anonymous User]

Out the firm, if there is a V20 that sucks then our OCI season 2Ls need to hear about it!

[84651846190]

If you can stick it out until the end of your second year, it would certainly help your exit options. It's tough trying to leave after your first year with shitty grades, even from a T6.

[cidergirl]

If you can stick it out until the end of your second year, it would certainly help your exit options. It's tough trying to leave after your first year with shitty grades, even from a T6.

I think it depends on what this person wants to do. For non-law jobs, I bet it doesn't make much difference.

[84651846190]

If you can stick it out until the end of your second year, it would certainly help your exit options. It's tough trying to leave after your first year with shitty grades, even from a T6.

I think it depends on what this person wants to do. For non-law jobs, I bet it doesn't make much difference.

True, but if OP wants to continue practicing law it's better to at least have a rudimentary skill set before looking for a new job. Most first years don't have that.

[LittleMM]

Small law one year in looking to leave for big law here.

Do you want to stay in law? I'm using a headhunter in combination with referrals from other attorneys plus independent search. You may be much happier at a boutique firm depending on market (in mine, they pay the same and the hours are 9-7 M-F only). One year may be too soon for in house.

For leaving the law, I'm not sure. Are you wed to your financial lifestyle?

[p1arnold]

Are you getting calls from recruiters yet?

[Anonymous User]

Biglaw 3rd year here.

I didn't start getting recruiter calls for non-Biglaw jobs until about 6 moths ago. I think recruiters are mostly worthless middlemen, but the calls may give some indication of where the market is. You may have more luck trying to lateral to another Biglaw firm.

If you want out, might as well start looking now. Lateraling can take a long time.

[Anonymous User]

V20, T6, shitty grades. 1 year in, and I really dislike the job. looking back, I had no real idea what I was getting into despite being active on these forums and spending 3 years striving for prestige. you don't really know what life is like in biglaw until you live it, and let me tell you: it sucks.

anyone know anyone who left/have any experience with leaving biglaw after only 1 year? I could probably stick it out until year 2-3 but want to get out ASAP.

also taking questions on why biglaw sucks and is not worth it.

OP I do not have any advice but just want to say I am in your position and agree with you 100%. To answer someone's questions I also get daily calls from recruiters, but as much as I hate biglaw, its not nearly how much my friends hate it. Also fine taking questions on how much it sucks.

I'll preface by saying I am already at a "lifestyle" firm and its brutal, things like maintaining friends (oh those things) is a huge challenge but I manage to do so. Also, I will also say if you are single please do not consider biglaw. The last few women I have dated all dumped me after I couldn't keep date time commitment and normal human being could keep (i.e. drinks at 9:30pm on a weekday, Sunday brunch, etc.) At least the people at my firm are pretty nice in general, and I do not get screamed at like friends at other firms. Overall I'd say biglaw sucks on the scale as a solid 9/10. If you were to ask my friends, their responses would probably vary from 9.5/10-10/10. I know at least 6 people in biglaw from law school and do not know one person that does not passionately hate it and is actively planning their exit.

[NYstate]

V20, T6, shitty grades. 1 year in, and I really dislike the job. looking back, I had no real idea what I was getting into despite being active on these forums and spending 3 years striving for prestige. you don't really know what life is like in biglaw until you live it, and let me tell you: it sucks.

anyone know anyone who left/have any experience with leaving biglaw after only 1 year? I could probably stick it out until year 2-3 but want to get out ASAP.

also taking questions on why biglaw sucks and is not worth it.

Yeah. The lifestyle is terrible but people want prestige and money. Do you have debt?
If you want to stay in law you need more experience. But going to another biglaw firm won't help you.

I don't know how to find other jobs.

[NYstate]

Out the firm, if there is a V20 that sucks then our OCI season 2Ls need to hear about it!

Do you honestly believe that biglaw is that much different from firm to firm?

[legends159]

Out the firm, if there is a V20 that sucks then our OCI season 2Ls need to hear about it!

Do you honestly believe that biglaw is that much different from firm to firm?

Yes. Culture matters for job satisfaction even if the end result is you work the same type of unpredictable long hours. Humans are not robots. If you work with jackasses you will have less job satisfaction than if you work with people who try to teach you and treat you like a teammate.

OP - if you want to leave law, you should spend the next 3-6 months prepping case studies and interview for management consulting firms.

[NYstate]

Out the firm, if there is a V20 that sucks then our OCI season 2Ls need to hear about it!

Do you honestly believe that biglaw is that much different from firm to firm?

Yes. Culture matters for job satisfaction even if the end result is you work the same type of unpredictable long hours. Humans are not robots. If you work with jackasses you will have less job satisfaction than if you work with people who try to teach you and treat you like a teammate.

OP - if you want to leave law, you should spend the next 3-6 months prepping case studies and interview for management consulting firms.

I don't think OP was talking about the culture at the firm, but maybe I was wrong. I don't think the culture varies that much other than how work gets assigned and how prestige conscious the firm is.

There have been threads here describing the biglaw lifestyles. I don't think it dissuades many people. People assume they can do anything for that kind of money and they take out loans depending on staying in biglaw for several years.

Not everyone hates it though.

[Old Gregg]

Out the firm, if there is a V20 that sucks then our OCI season 2Ls need to hear about it!

Do you honestly believe that biglaw is that much different from firm to firm?

Yes. Culture matters for job satisfaction even if the end result is you work the same type of unpredictable long hours. Humans are not robots. If you work with jackasses you will have less job satisfaction than if you work with people who try to teach you and treat you like a teammate.

OP - if you want to leave law, you should spend the next 3-6 months prepping case studies and interview for management consulting firms.

We get it. You love your firm.

But that, too, will change over time.

That aside, I don't hate biglaw, but I knew what I was getting into.

[Old Gregg]

Out the firm, if there is a V20 that sucks then our OCI season 2Ls need to hear about it!

If you're worried about accepting an offer at a V20 that sucks, then don't do OCI and drop out of law school.

[iplulzer]

Look. Id love to hear OP and others who want to leave explain why. I'm far less interested in the "what were you expecting" or "do you think its better elsewhere" nonsense.

[A. Nony Mouse]

Out the firm, if there is a V20 that sucks then our OCI season 2Ls need to hear about it!

If you're worried about accepting an offer at a V20 that sucks, then don't do OCI and drop out of law school.

I'm really thinking/hoping this anon was being sarcastic.

[Lacepiece23]

OP are you in NYC or another market?

[NYstate]

Look. Id love to hear OP and others who want to leave explain why. I'm far less interested in the "what were you expecting" or "do you think its better elsewhere" nonsense.

Lol. You really don't know why many people hate biglaw?

[IAFG]

Out the firm, if there is a V20 that sucks then our OCI season 2Ls need to hear about it!

OP is at Debevoise Gottlieb & Thatcher LLP. Avoid.

[iplulzer]

Look. Id love to hear OP and others who want to leave explain why. I'm far less interested in the "what were you expecting" or "do you think its better elsewhere" nonsense.

Lol. You really don't know why many people hate biglaw?

Why is the possibility that I might not, so strange to you? We don't all live on this forum.

I want to hear the experience of a first year first hand. I bet this is true of most who click on this thread. Instead we are met with a load of speculative drivel.