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Go to a big firm like everyone else, then if you don't like it do something else.

Biglaw ain't just for debt - the money is ALSO great for savings and/or extravagant lifestyle choices. On top of that, some people like biglaw (or like practices that are only options at big firms), and lots of excellent job opportunities aren't available to new graduates, or are at least much easier to get after doing a tour of duty at a firm.

Go biglaw for 2 years, save around $100k and then do whatever strikes your fancy thereafter.

I should note that I hope horrible things happen to you and your family. No I don't, but I envy you with the burning passion of 1,000 suns.

I'd recommend doing at least a couple years in biglaw. It's actually not a terrible job when you're not afraid to lose it. I graduated with little debt and now have about $100k in savings after ~20 months, so I frequently say no to work that doesn't interest me (generally nonbillable or small projects for partners I dislike). Use your remaining years in law school and your time in biglaw to figure out what job interests you (whether legal or not) and plan a way to get there.

I don't have any experience with this, but I'd imagine that biglaw definitely isn't as bad when you're not petrified of losing the job. Do it for three-four years, save a ton of money, and move on to greener pastures.

Basically, what posters before me said.

dresden doll wrote:I don't have any experience with this, but I'd imagine that biglaw definitely isn't as bad when you're not petrified of losing the job. Do it for three-four years, save a ton of money, and move on to greener pastures.

Basically, what posters before me said.

I'd imagine it depends on your personality. If you are the type of person who can't say no to people, can't help but give 100%, can't risk getting a bad review, can't slack, etc. etc., it'll still be miserable.

But if you can coast, bill 1800 a year, don't answer weekend emails,etc. etc. you can probably last 3 years minimum.

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If you don't know for sure you want PI get an SA, get some firm exposure, then reevaluate from there

In the meantime try to extern for credit in govt or a PI org or both as a 2L

Desert Fox wrote:

dresden doll wrote:I don't have any experience with this, but I'd imagine that biglaw definitely isn't as bad when you're not petrified of losing the job. Do it for three-four years, save a ton of money, and move on to greener pastures.

Basically, what posters before me said.

I'd imagine it depends on your personality. If you are the type of person who can't say no to people, can't help but give 100%, can't risk getting a bad review, can't slack, etc. etc., it'll still be miserable.

But if you can coast, bill 1800 a year, don't answer weekend emails,etc. etc. you can probably last 3 years minimum.

IDK, I still think it's gotta be easier when you know you won't be fucked if you lose the job. I guess I could see how that wouldn't matter if you're the sort of person who has to work yourself up into a frenzy over work no matter what, however.

I'm (currently) student loan free and a junior in biglaw. I have no ambitions to stay at the firm, but it's still fucking with my head and destroying me. Worth it, glad I did it, would recommend the same to OP - but I find it's hard to turn off the type A, even if I'm not trying to be the alpha striver.

Anonymous User wrote:I'm (currently) student loan free and a junior in biglaw. I have no ambitions to stay at the firm, but it's still fucking with my head and destroying me. Worth it, glad I did it, would recommend the same to OP - but I find it's hard to turn off the type A, even if I'm not trying to be the alpha striver.

As someone in a very similar position to OP this + all the talk from the regulars that exit options aren't THAT great 2-3 years out scares the hell out of me.

You want decent money === biglaw.
You want work life balance, do not go to biglaw.

However, I advise you to go for biglaw (or fed gig maybe) because you can always leave it, especially if you are debt free, but you cannot always get in once you miss the boat.

Why not do an SA since its a pretty sweet gig and it gets your foot in the door, and then if you keep your grades up try to clerk '16-17 and then get a federal gov't position if you can?

It would be silly to skip OCI, since as others have mentioned, going the summer associate route is your one real shot at large firm work as an associate - you can always decline your offer once you have it in hand if you find something more interesting in gov't, chambers of academia.

Try to get a gig at a market paying boutique. You have the grades right now and small firms can be a step up in QOL (but not always, so choose carefully).

bdubs wrote:(but not always, so choose carefully).

Right. This is the issue. I mean if Susman, Boies, or W&C is an option that's awesome but there is just so little information on "boutiques" as a whole.

Anonymous User wrote:

bdubs wrote:(but not always, so choose carefully).

Right. This is the issue. I mean if Susman, Boies, or W&C is an option that's awesome but there is just so little information on "boutiques" as a whole.

Susman or Boies are not likely going to be "a step up in QOL."

Anonymous User wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:

bdubs wrote:(but not always, so choose carefully).

Right. This is the issue. I mean if Susman, Boies, or W&C is an option that's awesome but there is just so little information on "boutiques" as a whole.

Susman or Boies are not likely going to be "a step up in QOL."

Yeah I'm aware. 2400 at those places.

Anonymous User wrote:

bdubs wrote:(but not always, so choose carefully).

Right. This is the issue. I mean if Susman, Boies, or W&C is an option that's awesome but there is just so little information on "boutiques" as a whole.

Nothing better than talking to people. If you have an offer from a boutique you have likely talked to a lot of people who work there already. With a little bit of leg work on linkedin or the general interwebs you can usually track down a few former associates who have moved on to something else that hopefully would give you some less biased perspective. The firm may also have a reputation among its peers that is helpful to your evaluation.

Lack of easily accessible information shouldn't be an excuse to ignore a potentially good career option.

bdubs wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:

bdubs wrote:(but not always, so choose carefully).

Right. This is the issue. I mean if Susman, Boies, or W&C is an option that's awesome but there is just so little information on "boutiques" as a whole.

Nothing better than talking to people. If you have an offer from a boutique you have likely talked to a lot of people who work there already. With a little bit of leg work on linkedin or the general interwebs you can usually track down a few former associates who have moved on to something else that hopefully would give you some less biased perspective. The firm may also have a reputation among its peers that is helpful to your evaluation.

Lack of easily accessible information shouldn't be an excuse to ignore a potentially good career option.

Totally fair. Thanks. Still trying to sort out corp or lit honestly.

Bigfed is where it's at for decent money + QOL if you can get into an honors program after grad.

ETA: also clerk if you can. Clerking rocks.

bdubs wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:

bdubs wrote:(but not always, so choose carefully).

Right. This is the issue. I mean if Susman, Boies, or W&C is an option that's awesome but there is just so little information on "boutiques" as a whole.

Nothing better than talking to people. If you have an offer from a boutique you have likely talked to a lot of people who work there already. With a little bit of leg work on linkedin or the general interwebs you can usually track down a few former associates who have moved on to something else that hopefully would give you some less biased perspective. The firm may also have a reputation among its peers that is helpful to your evaluation.

Lack of easily accessible information shouldn't be an excuse to ignore a potentially good career option.

All great advice.