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Title says it all. I have good offers at places that would be a 10 minute commute and a offer I'd really like to take at a place that would be an hour commute. Wondering how much time people spend going to work on average and what would be a dealbreaker considering the long hours you're already putting in.

At my SA position this past summer I commuted a tad bit over an hour each way. It was annoying and that wasn't even working the hours I will be when I start. I'm gonna try to live within 10 minutes or so when I actually start. I just feel like working long hours is so much more miserable when you have a long drive before and after.

Can't speak to biglaw yet, but rather as someone who has had many jobs for many years: long commutes suck hard. You lose hours of life straight into the miserable void of traffic, and those wasted hours of repetitive travel exponentionally compound the long hours you're already working into the exact kind of thing that wears you out and breaks you down. Commuting via train or subway is vastly different than driving, however, as you can nap, read, or otherwise chill on the train which beats the hell out of driving.

Pretty sure your best solution is to move closer to the perfect job.

I did an hour long commute as a first year. It was hell. Sold the condo and bought a house 1/2 hour away. Life is better.

Note I am no stranger to a commute, went 1.5 hours away to law school each day. Firm is different.

Commuting via train or subway is vastly different than driving, however, as you can nap, read, or otherwise chill on the train which beats the hell out of driving.

Long subway rides are shitty also. I was working around 10-6(with occasional hours over) and the extra hour on the subway felt like a huge drag. And that didn't include delays and whatnot. I imagine it's even worse when you're doing 10-8/9. Best bet is to stay somewhat close to the office.

20 minutes.

an hour each way + biglaw is brutal.

Seems like you're picking a firm based on commute from your current residence. Under most circumstances, it would make more sense to pick the firm you like, and move to within a reasonable commute. Is moving not an option?

Personally, I would put a very high premium on minimizing commute time. If I'm going to work from the office for about 55 hours in a given week, I can be out of the house 7 AM-7PM with a 30 minute commute each way. That means I get home early enough to consistently have dinner with the family, play with kid, spend time relaxing, etc. With a 60 minute commute, I can't get home before 8 PM. Now I'm eating dinner alone at the office every night, and the dinner break delays me another half hour or so. That schedule would feel significantly more depressing to me.

30 minutes or so is fine. More is iffy. My two cents.

How far of a subway ride (nyc) would people recommend? Some people in my class are walking distance, I'm 20-30 mins by subway.

Would you be able to move closer to the firm you really want once you're a hot shot 1st year associate? If so, I would suck it up for the summer.

Otherwise, really value your life more. Two hours sitting in traffic every day for any chunk of your life is time you won't ever ever get back.

I commute 20 minutes each way and wish it were shorter...

OP here, I could potentially live close for the SA and maybe first year, but ultimately, my wife has job prospects in the area further from the office where I also have my friends/family. FWIW, I'm talking about living in North County of San Diego and commuting to Irvine.