Orange County Big Law lifestyle Forum

[Anonymous User]

I'm posting anon, b/c that's how small the market is. I will be SA'ing at a large firm in OC this summer. Question: how does the QOL compare to other markets. I consciously chose OC, b/c even though it's boring, and I'm young and single, my gut was telling me that it would be more humane than NYC. Specifically, interested in non-ip lit. Thanks

[Anonymous User]

how is OC "boring"?

[lawschoolftw]

how is OC "boring"?

[Anonymous User]

I'm posting anon, b/c that's how small the market is. I will be SA'ing at a large firm in OC this summer. Question: how does the QOL compare to other markets. I consciously chose OC, b/c even though it's boring, and I'm young and single, my gut was telling me that it would be more humane than NYC. Specifically, interested in non-ip lit. Thanks

Do they pay NY market? Yes OC is extremely boring and housing is not cheap.

[Anonymous User]

I'm posting anon, b/c that's how small the market is. I will be SA'ing at a large firm in OC this summer. Question: how does the QOL compare to other markets. I consciously chose OC, b/c even though it's boring, and I'm young and single, my gut was telling me that it would be more humane than NYC. Specifically, interested in non-ip lit. Thanks

Do they pay NY market? Yes OC is extremely boring and housing is not cheap.

I live in OC and I'm not bored at all. And yes most big firms pay NYC market. Same as LA.

[Anonymous User]

I'm posting anon, b/c that's how small the market is. I will be SA'ing at a large firm in OC this summer. Question: how does the QOL compare to other markets. I consciously chose OC, b/c even though it's boring, and I'm young and single, my gut was telling me that it would be more humane than NYC. Specifically, interested in non-ip lit. Thanks

Do they pay NY market? Yes OC is extremely boring and housing is not cheap.

I live in OC and I'm not bored at all. And yes most big firms pay NYC market. Same as LA.

LOL at most, do you have any evidence? I guess that depends how you define BIG FIRM.

NALP reported that starting pay of $160,000 was still common at the largest firms, but only 40 percent of 700-lawyer firms and larger are paying that rate in Los Angeles and Washington, compared with 90 percent in 2009.

http://www.dailyreportonline.com/id=120 ... z3H137COIU

[Anonymous User]

Newport Beach peninsula, you won't be bored.

[Anonymous User]

Newport Beach peninsula, you won't be bored.

Yes you will

[Anonymous User]

OC is only boring if you're bothered by endless suburbs with the closest urban centers being an hour or so away, everything closing at 9:00 pm, having to drive everywhere, paying $90 or so to go to Disneyland, a dearth of mom-and-pop shops, going to open air malls, and... the beach?

[lacrossebrother]

Can you not just hang out with smoking hot chicks from Laguna on the beach?

[itascot1992]

Can you not just hang out with smoking hot chicks from Laguna on the beach?

Models and Bottles

[Anonymous User]

OC is definitely boring for young people. I've lived in OC and LA, and they are night and day. Everything in OC closes early, there are no main nightlife areas, you have to drive a shit ton to get anywhere, and it's just as expensive in living in LA.

[Anonymous User]

OC is definitely boring for young people. I've lived in OC and LA, and they are night and day. Everything in OC closes early, there are no main nightlife areas, you have to drive a shit ton to get anywhere, and it's just as expensive in living in LA.

I grew up in Irvine and this guy gets it.

OC is a great place to raise a family, but I think it would suck to live there if your single and in your late 20s/early 30s.

That being said, it depends what's important to your QOL. OC may be "boring" but QOL, esp if you live near the ocean can be pretty great all things considered.

[Anonymous User]

OC is definitely boring for young people. I've lived in OC and LA, and they are night and day. Everything in OC closes early, there are no main nightlife areas, you have to drive a shit ton to get anywhere, and it's just as expensive in living in LA.

I grew up in Irvine and this guy gets it.

OC is a great place to raise a family, but I think it would suck to live there if your single and in your late 20s/early 30s.

That being said, it depends what's important to your QOL. OC may be "boring" but QOL, esp if you live near the ocean can be pretty great all things considered.

Then I rather live in San Diego, La Jolla

[ub3r]

OC is definitely boring for young people. I've lived in OC and LA, and they are night and day. Everything in OC closes early, there are no main nightlife areas, you have to drive a shit ton to get anywhere, and it's just as expensive in living in LA.

Sounds like San Jose vs San Francisco

[Anonymous User]

OP here:

1. I'd rather not out whether my firm pays market: some do, many don't
2. If it's alright with you guys, my question was more about billables/work-life balance. I think OC is boring, others don't -- but I would appreciate objective metrics such as whether the workload is lighter than LA/NYC. Thanks!

[Anonymous User]

OP here:

1. I'd rather not out whether my firm pays market: some do, many don't
2. If it's alright with you guys, my question was more about billables/work-life balance. I think OC is boring, others don't -- but I would appreciate objective metrics such as whether the workload is lighter than LA/NYC. Thanks!

First, dude you are anon, so you are not outing anyone. Second, billable/ w-l balance is such a firm specific question, no one can help you without knowing the firm name or what type of work you do. But generally any secondary/small market has less workload than NYC/LA.

[Anonymous User]

Went to college in Orange County- it's not that bad. It's not that far from LA and in Southern CA you have to drive to go out anyway. Plus there are some little cool spots. Artists' Village in Santa Ana has neat food and bars, Kogi the Korean taco truck is life, being close to the beach is alright. I mean, it is basically the suburbs, but it's still California.

[Rahviveh]

It's not that far from LA and in Southern CA you have to drive to go out anyway.

It's very far from LA. I doubt he will be driving to LA on a regular basis while working biglaw hours.

OP - you should message desertlaw. He is an actual biglawyer in OC. I suspect its more humane than NYC, although I've heard some of the offices are complete sweatshops.

[Anonymous User]

Went to college in Orange County- it's not that bad. It's not that far from LA and in Southern CA you have to drive to go out anyway. Plus there are some little cool spots. Artists' Village in Santa Ana has neat food and bars, Kogi the Korean taco truck is life, being close to the beach is alright. I mean, it is basically the suburbs, but it's still California.

Irvine Anon from above.

I pretty much agree with this. OP the best analogy I can make is that Orange County is the "Missionary Position" of California. It's pretty boring and stale, but at the same time it's reliable, nice to look at, and there really aren't any surprises.

As for the BigLaw specific aspects, I'm with the others who have said this will vary wildly by firms and even by practice groups, so its hard to give general firm lifestyle advice

[desertlaw]

I am at biglaw OC firm for the past few years. Work/life balance for billable hours is going to depend a lot on your practice group. Generally though, it seems like face-time is not that important in OC, especially after 6 p.m. since everyone goes home to be with kids. But you can still have people billing 2300+.

One thing I would strongly encourage is that you don't live inland of the 405. If you're going to pay the premium to live in southern California, don't live in Irvine/Tustin/Anaheim. Live in Newport or Huntington or Laguna by the water while you're young (which are the most fun parts anyways). You can live by the beach and still be to the office in 15-20 minutes (or you could legitimately walk to work if you live in Corona del Mar and your office is in Fashion Island), something that no other BigLaw city has. Plenty of biglaw attorneys surf a few days a week before work, that is pretty damn cool, even if the nightlife isn't as good as LA.

Feel free to PM me for specific questions.

[baal hadad]

You should try to chill w like LC or whatever

[Anonymous User]

It's not that far from LA and in Southern CA you have to drive to go out anyway.

It's very far from LA. I doubt he will be driving to LA on a regular basis while working biglaw hours.

OP - you should message desertlaw. He is an actual biglawyer in OC. I suspect its more humane than NYC, although I've heard some of the offices are complete sweatshops.

Eh, I'm from North Orange County 30 minutes from Downtown LA, so I guess it's all relative. (Actually grew up on the LA/OC border). Not sure where OP's firm is, but driving to LA on the weekends should not be a real problem, even from South Orange County.

[cookiejar1]

You should try to chill w like LC or whatever

come on man you should know better. she moved from laguna to la after she married that usc law dood

[baal hadad]

You should try to chill w like LC or whatever

come on man you should know better. she moved from laguna to la after she married that usc law dood

I did know that

I'm sure there are a multitude of equivalents