T30 grad, bottom 10 percent, Northern California, still looking Forum

[Danger Zone]

Fyi most people on this forum have absolutely no clue what life is like in small firms. Billing in biglaw firms is 1000x easier.

Ditto. Small firm associate here. There are many, many days where there is so little work that I'll bill .8 for the day and then have admin time for my own independent research. Then there are days when I'll bill 12 hours and won't have time to breath. But I'm currently in a slump where I'll be lucky to hit 100 hours (billable and admin combined) this month. Last month was the same way. Sometimes low billable hours are no fault of the associate and just the firm's business development. Other times not...but you know what I mean.

OP here. Thank you. That is exactly my experience at my firm. I was let go because there just wasn't enough work around. I wasn't going to bill aimlessly obviously. I am sure there are many associates out there than inflate their billables just to stay around and not get fired. And nobody is checking. I could never do that. I would rather quit. I felt horrible after the $1200 scanning session. My employer claimed he couldn't afford to keep me around because my salary(which was VERY low) was higher than the hours I was billing. There just wasn't enough work around. So I appreciate the assumptions from above posters that I was lazy or entitled which led to me being discharged.

Some of the posters above are 28+ in age, married and may have kids or will soon have kids. They are drowning in debt and could still be law students. They will do anything for a paycheck. Most are billing robots at firms. I am fortunate not to relate to that and I am grateful every day. We all have difference situations and I have much to learn, but at this point in my life I would much rather be unemployed than work a shitty job(and I am not talking shitty as in prestige or pay of job...but the general experience). I am assuming my experience is similar to other associates at small, medium, and larger firms based on the posts from this thread. In that case, I will aim for government work or much rather leave the legal field. Thank you all for the feedback, minus some posts which were dripping with false assumptions.

Wtf are you talking about

[los blancos]

Fyi most people on this forum have absolutely no clue what life is like in small firms. Billing in biglaw firms is 1000x easier.

Ditto. Small firm associate here. There are many, many days where there is so little work that I'll bill .8 for the day and then have admin time for my own independent research. Then there are days when I'll bill 12 hours and won't have time to breath. But I'm currently in a slump where I'll be lucky to hit 100 hours (billable and admin combined) this month. Last month was the same way. Sometimes low billable hours are no fault of the associate and just the firm's business development. Other times not...but you know what I mean.

This sounds like litigation pretty much everywhere to varying degrees.

[20160810]

OP, I get that because of your grades you're going to need to take whatever job you can get, but don't let one shitty job sour you on the law if you're actually interested in practicing. A lot of small firms are just plain sketchy. They do whatever they can to gin up money, and do shady stuff like hiring law student "interns" just to use their Westlaw passwords. It sounds like you were at one of those (billing $1,000 for scanning docs is extremely suspicious, especially if the time entry said something like "preparation of records.")

The fact that you have no debt means that you're in a decent position, at least relative to your similarly situated classmates. Just fire off applications like a mad man, ask everyone to go to lunch with you, and see if anything pops. A lot of the people who had crappy grades in my class are working for startups doing non-law jobs now, so maybe try that angle if you know anyone who might be able to get you an interview.

[Anonymous User]

OP, I get that because of your grades you're going to need to take whatever job you can get, but don't let one shitty job sour you on the law if you're actually interested in practicing. A lot of small firms are just plain sketchy. They do whatever they can to gin up money, and do shady stuff like hiring law student "interns" just to use their Westlaw passwords. It sounds like you were at one of those (billing $1,000 for scanning docs is extremely suspicious, especially if the time entry said something like "preparation of records.")

The fact that you have no debt means that you're in a decent position, at least relative to your similarly situated classmates. Just fire off applications like a mad man, ask everyone to go to lunch with you, and see if anything pops. A lot of the people who had crappy grades in my class are working for startups doing non-law jobs now, so maybe try that angle if you know anyone who might be able to get you an interview.

Great advice. Thank you. A lot of the startups I know/applying to are paying twice my previous salary(with stock options) and the co-workers are a lot more enjoyable to be around.

[20160810]

OP, I get that because of your grades you're going to need to take whatever job you can get, but don't let one shitty job sour you on the law if you're actually interested in practicing. A lot of small firms are just plain sketchy. They do whatever they can to gin up money, and do shady stuff like hiring law student "interns" just to use their Westlaw passwords. It sounds like you were at one of those (billing $1,000 for scanning docs is extremely suspicious, especially if the time entry said something like "preparation of records.")

The fact that you have no debt means that you're in a decent position, at least relative to your similarly situated classmates. Just fire off applications like a mad man, ask everyone to go to lunch with you, and see if anything pops. A lot of the people who had crappy grades in my class are working for startups doing non-law jobs now, so maybe try that angle if you know anyone who might be able to get you an interview.

Great advice. Thank you. A lot of the startups I know/applying to are paying twice my previous salary(with stock options) and the co-workers are a lot more enjoyable to be around.

This is anecdata to the max, but I know a number of lawyers in that world and they're all pretty happy. I say go for it.

[84651846190]

There's not enough work anywhere in any area of law at any level. In every niche of law, you're going to have the "winners" at the tippy top of the profession pulling down a shitload of money and everyone else scraping by at various levels of desperation. There are too many fucking lawyers. Too many fucking law students. Shut down at least the bottom 1/3 of law schools and then MAYBE things might even out. Until then, you're competing with a shitload of over-qualified lemmings.

[ballouttacontrol]

There's not enough work anywhere in any area of law at any level. In every niche of law, you're going to have the "winners" at the tippy top of the profession pulling down a shitload of money and everyone else scraping by at various levels of desperation. There are too many fucking lawyers. Too many fucking law students. Shut down at least the bottom 1/3 of law schools and then MAYBE things might even out. Until then, you're competing with a shitload of over-qualified lemmings.

pretty Norcal is worse than almost everywhere else. Job market is god awful in almost every industry in norcal. WAY more young people live there than there is work. Especially once you take into account it's the highest COL in the country.

Maybe try opening a practice in fucking modesto or something?

[eav1277]

Modesto! I know where that is. haha.

If possibly interested in public interest work (or as you look for jobs), consider volunteering at a legal aid organization or a public defender. I'm sure many would take the extra help. You won't have as strange of a gap in your resume. If they like you (and you like the work), you might even get a full time offer if you work long enough for free.

[Anonymous User]

Modesto! I know where that is. haha.

If possibly interested in public interest work (or as you look for jobs), consider volunteering at a legal aid organization or a public defender. I'm sure many would take the extra help. You won't have as strange of a gap in your resume. If they like you (and you like the work), you might even get a full time offer if you work long enough for free.

The public defenders in SoCal won't even take attorneys willing to work for free - that's how screwed up the market is down here.