What is it like to be a 2nd-4th year biglaw lit associate? Forum

[Anonymous User]

I am currently a third year at a DC boutique and am getting some fantastic litigation experience. I am pretty much in charge of researching and drafting motions, including motions to dismiss, summary judgment, for a couple cases in the DDC. Not trying to sound like a tool, but am getting a lot of recruiter calls regarding large firms and am wondering what someone in my shoes would be doing at a large DC firm like Quinn, Skadden, or Arnold Porter (among many other firms)? What types of tasks are you usually assigned in litigation matters? Do you get substantive responsibility as a 2nd-4th year, or are you typically researching discrete issues and the senior associates are compiling the motions? Any insight would be appreciated. Thanks.

[First Offense]

Is this some bizarre humble-brag?

[mvp99]

troller

[Desert Fox]

That sounds like better experience than you'll get in big law. But if you are in biglaw and work on a smaller case you'll get some of that experience. But nobody is going to pay 10 mil a year for a snot nosed 3rd year to write a dispositive motion.

[Anonymous User]

OP here. Sorry guys--truly not trying to sound like a douche. What I was trying to convey is that I am getting great lit experience, but on smaller cases. What I am wondering is what other associates of roughly my seniority would be doing on those bet-the-company cases on the large law firm level. Would it be reviewing documents? Researching and drafting discrete portions of motions?

[run26.2]

It will depend on the firm and the motion. A partial motion to dismiss, someone in biglaw at your class year, or below, might do. More complex motions and SJ motions would be handled by a more senior associate, probably starting in at least year 5, although drafts or sections might be written by someone more junior.

Also, in biglaw there is a higher likelihood of having someone do more looking over your shoulder, varying from suggesting or telling you which arguments to make to performing a thorough review with the possibility for multiple rounds of edits. Certainly there are exceptions, based on firm or particular individual, or combination of both.