How soon is too soon to bail on BigLaw? Forum

[krads153]

I love how purposefully misleading Summer Associateships are.

I love how most 0Ls want to go to law school "to get biglaw" without having any idea what it means.

A paralegal job isn't that hard to get at a biglaw firm - do that and see if you like it first. More than half of our paralegals don't end up going to law school.

[Desert Fox]

I love how purposefully misleading Summer Associateships are.

I love how most 0Ls want to go to law school "to get biglaw" without having any idea what it means.

A paralegal job isn't that hard to get at a biglaw firm - do that and see if you like it first. More than half of our paralegals don't end up going to law school.

At least at my firm, it doesn't seem like paralegals have all that great of a perspective on how terrible being an associate is. Plus you'd have to do a womans job.

[krads153]

I love how purposefully misleading Summer Associateships are.

I love how most 0Ls want to go to law school "to get biglaw" without having any idea what it means.

A paralegal job isn't that hard to get at a biglaw firm - do that and see if you like it first. More than half of our paralegals don't end up going to law school.

At least at my firm, it doesn't seem like paralegals have all that great of a perspective on how terrible being an associate is. Plus you'd have to do a womans job.

It depends on the dept at my firm. In certain depts some of they bill 80 hour weeks alongside the attorneys. But yeah other paralegals are working 9 to 5 or something super chill.

I will say that they have lower standards for work product though - they wouldn't yell at paralegals like they would at first year associates for the same mistakes.

[Cogburn87]

lol this is like most assignments in biglaw - crazy deadlines and no or bad instructions. her dad sounds like the protective type. i think my parents would just tell me STFU and deal with it (which is what i've done for a few years now).

This strategy can backfire tho. As a parent you might end up being quoted in the NYT coldly rationalizing your son's suicide as part of the nature of the assignment he chose.

[krads153]

lol this is like most assignments in biglaw - crazy deadlines and no or bad instructions. her dad sounds like the protective type. i think my parents would just tell me STFU and deal with it (which is what i've done for a few years now).

This strategy can backfire tho. As a parent you might end up being quoted in the NYT coldly rationalizing your son's suicide as part of the nature of the assignment he chose.

Maybe, good and bad points to this type of parenting - I've had to dig myself out of the financial hole called law school (took years but out of it) on my own. I think I'm a tougher (but also more bitter and much, much whinier) person for it (and for dealing with various random shit on my own). And its given me perspective on life on what's important and what isn't. If you coddle your kid they will never get perspective (but they will probably be much less bitter/whiny). And you won't be around forever to help them - eventually they will have to stand on their own two feet (unless you're like Donald Trump).

[kaiser]

lol this is like most assignments in biglaw - crazy deadlines and no or bad instructions. her dad sounds like the protective type. i think my parents would just tell me STFU and deal with it (which is what i've done for a few years now).

This strategy can backfire tho. As a parent you might end up being quoted in the NYT coldly rationalizing your son's suicide as part of the nature of the assignment he chose.

Maybe, good and bad points to this type of parenting - I've had to dig myself out of the financial hole called law school (took years but out of it) on my own. I think I'm a tougher (but also more bitter and much, much whinier) person for it. And its given me perspective on life on what's important and what isn't. If you coddle your kid they will never get perspective (but they will probably be less bitter/whiny).

Depends on where the kid is as far as professional experience. If its the kid's first day ever in a professional job, it may take a parent's perspective to let the kid know that, no, tons of assignments on the first day without any guidance or instruction are not normal. That is not how things should be and its not what you should expect out of your professional career. Without that kind of perspective, the kid may be apt to think that this is truly how it is, or worse yet, how it should be.

That being said, the parent can and should encourage the new associate to not make any hasty decisions, and at least give things a try. So if I were that parent, no way do I condone quitting after 1 day.

[krads153]

lol this is like most assignments in biglaw - crazy deadlines and no or bad instructions. her dad sounds like the protective type. i think my parents would just tell me STFU and deal with it (which is what i've done for a few years now).

This strategy can backfire tho. As a parent you might end up being quoted in the NYT coldly rationalizing your son's suicide as part of the nature of the assignment he chose.

Maybe, good and bad points to this type of parenting - I've had to dig myself out of the financial hole called law school (took years but out of it) on my own. I think I'm a tougher (but also more bitter and much, much whinier) person for it. And its given me perspective on life on what's important and what isn't. If you coddle your kid they will never get perspective (but they will probably be less bitter/whiny).

Depends on where the kid is as far as professional experience. If its the kid's first day ever in a professional job, it may take a parent's perspective to let the kid know that, no, tons of assignments on the first day without any guidance or instruction are not normal. That is not how things should be and its not what you should expect out of your professional career. Without that kind of perspective, the kid may be apt to think that this is truly how it is, or worse yet, how it should be.

Well, they should have just asked for clearer instructions and pushed back on deadlines. A parent should tell their kid to do that first instead of telling them to quit immediately. If they are planning on quitting anyway, then who GAF and push back all you want on deadlines.

It doesn't sound like this person needed the money either - you could probably get away with asking for more instructions/feedback/pushed back deadlines, etc. and lasted at least a few months minimum.

[kaiser]

Doubt anyone is going to push back on deadlines on their very first day.

[krads153]

Doubt anyone is going to push back on deadlines on their very first day.

If you don't need the money, then you have a lot more freedom than most to do whatever you want. But yeah, a person who cries on the first day probably isn't going to push back on deadlines. I guess it depends on if you're okay with conflict or not.

[kaiser]

Doubt anyone is going to push back on deadlines on their very first day.

If you don't need the money, then you have a lot more freedom than most to do whatever you want. But yeah, a person who cries on the first day probably isn't going to push back on deadlines. I guess it depends on if you're okay with conflict or not.

Hell, I know I wouldn't have pushed back on deadlines as of the first day. It took me awhile before I truly understood what my capacity even was and how quickly/slowly assignments moved along. I certainly wasn't going to be rebuffing anyone or their deadlines (however arbitrary) on the very first day.

[krads153]

Doubt anyone is going to push back on deadlines on their very first day.

If you don't need the money, then you have a lot more freedom than most to do whatever you want. But yeah, a person who cries on the first day probably isn't going to push back on deadlines. I guess it depends on if you're okay with conflict or not.

Hell, I know I wouldn't have pushed back on deadlines as of the first day. It took me awhile before I truly understood what my capacity even was and how quickly/slowly assignments moved along. I certainly wasn't going to be rebuffing anyone or their deadlines (however arbitrary) on the very first day.

Ok, but you probably wouldn't have quit the first day either....so anything is possible.

If my parents were willing to give me $$$ if I had no job and let me do whatever I want, I would have made some different decisions in my life.

[notjumpman]

I think the only time it's "too soon" to bail on BigLaw is if you don't have another employment option that you'd prefer. It may take a few months in the firm to start to get a feel for what firm life is like at an associate level, but after that period I think you know what you're in for. If you'd rather be working in something else and have the means to do so, the time to leave is right now. No point in wasting any more time unless you are beholden to the paycheck.

I quit a few months ago after I'd put in a bit over a year as a new associate at a big firm in a big market. I didn't despise it but I also didn't like it and thought I'd be happier in a different field. I also battled feelings of leaving "too soon" but realized I was chasing sunk costs and cut the cord. Each day that passes, I'm happier with my decision.

If anyone wants to know more, let me know, happy to answer questions. I don't think I'm remarkable enough to open my own thread about this, but I've gotten a lot of questions about this in real life and thought it could be helpful.

[ScottRiqui]

I love how purposefully misleading Summer Associateships are.

True, although mine was so over-the-top that I can't really feel sorry for anyone who was actually "mislead" by the experience. "Oh, you thought biglaw was going to be 90-minute lunches every single day on the firm's dime, social events 4X a week and most weekends, and a snack basket on your desk that gets refilled every Monday? Really??"

[Cogburn87]

I love how purposefully misleading Summer Associateships are.

True, although mine was so over-the-top that I can't really feel sorry for anyone who was actually "mislead" by the experience. "Oh, you thought biglaw was going to be 90-minute lunches every single day on the firm's dime, social events 4X a week and most weekends, and a snack basket on your desk that gets refilled every Monday? Really??"

That's not really what people mean when they call it misleading.

[bruinfan10]

I love how purposefully misleading Summer Associateships are.

True, although mine was so over-the-top that I can't really feel sorry for anyone who was actually "mislead" by the experience. "Oh, you thought biglaw was going to be 90-minute lunches every single day on the firm's dime, social events 4X a week and most weekends, and a snack basket on your desk that gets refilled every Monday? Really??"

That's not really what people mean when they call it misleading.

[Cogburn87]

I love how purposefully misleading Summer Associateships are.

True, although mine was so over-the-top that I can't really feel sorry for anyone who was actually "mislead" by the experience. "Oh, you thought biglaw was going to be 90-minute lunches every single day on the firm's dime, social events 4X a week and most weekends, and a snack basket on your desk that gets refilled every Monday? Really??"

That's not really what people mean when they call it misleading.

?

[Aeon]

I love how purposefully misleading Summer Associateships are.

True, although mine was so over-the-top that I can't really feel sorry for anyone who was actually "mislead" by the experience. "Oh, you thought biglaw was going to be 90-minute lunches every single day on the firm's dime, social events 4X a week and most weekends, and a snack basket on your desk that gets refilled every Monday? Really??"

I never got a snack basket, much less one that magically refilled itself.

[Johann]

I am trying to bail. Just started today so hopefully I'm out in 10 months. Fuck big law - never too early to bail.

Also never had an SA. I anticipated it would suck, was pleasantly surprised for 2 months. And now it sucks way worse than my pessimistic mind envisioned.

[Anonymous User]

^ please elaborate

[bear patrol]

I think the only time it's "too soon" to bail on BigLaw is if you don't have another employment option that you'd prefer. It may take a few months in the firm to start to get a feel for what firm life is like at an associate level, but after that period I think you know what you're in for. If you'd rather be working in something else and have the means to do so, the time to leave is right now. No point in wasting any more time unless you are beholden to the paycheck.

I quit a few months ago after I'd put in a bit over a year as a new associate at a big firm in a big market. I didn't despise it but I also didn't like it and thought I'd be happier in a different field. I also battled feelings of leaving "too soon" but realized I was chasing sunk costs and cut the cord. Each day that passes, I'm happier with my decision.

If anyone wants to know more, let me know, happy to answer questions. I don't think I'm remarkable enough to open my own thread about this, but I've gotten a lot of questions about this in real life and thought it could be helpful.

Thanks, I would definitely appreciate hearing more about your story. Did you not have a big debt load to worry about when you left? Did you have a new job lined up? How did people in your group react to you leaving (just curious)?

Can definitely relate to the "don't despite it but don't necessarily like it" mentality.

[notjumpman]

I think the only time it's "too soon" to bail on BigLaw is if you don't have another employment option that you'd prefer. It may take a few months in the firm to start to get a feel for what firm life is like at an associate level, but after that period I think you know what you're in for. If you'd rather be working in something else and have the means to do so, the time to leave is right now. No point in wasting any more time unless you are beholden to the paycheck.

I quit a few months ago after I'd put in a bit over a year as a new associate at a big firm in a big market. I didn't despise it but I also didn't like it and thought I'd be happier in a different field. I also battled feelings of leaving "too soon" but realized I was chasing sunk costs and cut the cord. Each day that passes, I'm happier with my decision.

If anyone wants to know more, let me know, happy to answer questions. I don't think I'm remarkable enough to open my own thread about this, but I've gotten a lot of questions about this in real life and thought it could be helpful.

Thanks, I would definitely appreciate hearing more about your story. Did you not have a big debt load to worry about when you left? Did you have a new job lined up? How did people in your group react to you leaving (just curious)?

Can definitely relate to the "don't despite it but don't necessarily like it" mentality.

Sure, my debt load fortunately was extremely low by the time I decided to pack it up, so the paycheck wasn't a major concern. No kids or other major obligations either. If my debt load were larger, I would've stayed until it was almost entirely paid off. I think some people lose track of how ridiculously good of an opportunity it is to make >$200k (more than 98% or 99% of the US) if you have debt. I just realized that I'd be comfortable making anything north of $80k, so once the debt was gone I was able to focus much more on what I thought would make me happy.

I had another job lined up by the time I put in my resignation notice and was prepared to leave that very day if they didn't want me around anymore. I personally think it's a really bad decision under ordinary circumstances to leave without your new job 100% locked in.

Turns out that virtually everyone was nothing but cordial to me when I shared the news, even excited for me to explore a new opportunity. A few of the attorneys I worked the most with seemed a little bummed out but not too bad. My group was very large, though, so I'm sure it took no time at all to move on without me. I was also mediocre at best in my work with a majority of the attorneys so I doubt they felt like they were losing much. The harder goodbyes were actually with various support staff and other young associates I had gotten closer with--I never really had the opportunity to get close with any partners despite my efforts early on.

The hardest part of the whole experience for me was a feeling that I was making the wrong decision because I was swimming against the current in leaving so early (I also switched industries). It would've been easier to ignore my personal agency in the matter and just continue along that career path, but I couldn't accept the high likelihood of being in the office late night 5 years from now, ordering Seamless from that same Thai place, working on another deal that I just don't care about, making all this money that I don't even need.

[Anonymous User]

I think the only time it's "too soon" to bail on BigLaw is if you don't have another employment option that you'd prefer. It may take a few months in the firm to start to get a feel for what firm life is like at an associate level, but after that period I think you know what you're in for. If you'd rather be working in something else and have the means to do so, the time to leave is right now. No point in wasting any more time unless you are beholden to the paycheck.

I quit a few months ago after I'd put in a bit over a year as a new associate at a big firm in a big market. I didn't despise it but I also didn't like it and thought I'd be happier in a different field. I also battled feelings of leaving "too soon" but realized I was chasing sunk costs and cut the cord. Each day that passes, I'm happier with my decision.

If anyone wants to know more, let me know, happy to answer questions. I don't think I'm remarkable enough to open my own thread about this, but I've gotten a lot of questions about this in real life and thought it could be helpful.

Thanks, I would definitely appreciate hearing more about your story. Did you not have a big debt load to worry about when you left? Did you have a new job lined up? How did people in your group react to you leaving (just curious)?

Can definitely relate to the "don't despite it but don't necessarily like it" mentality.

Sure, my debt load fortunately was extremely low by the time I decided to pack it up, so the paycheck wasn't a major concern. No kids or other major obligations either. If my debt load were larger, I would've stayed until it was almost entirely paid off. I think some people lose track of how ridiculously good of an opportunity it is to make >$200k (more than 98% or 99% of the US) if you have debt. I just realized that I'd be comfortable making anything north of $80k, so once the debt was gone I was able to focus much more on what I thought would make me happy.

I had another job lined up by the time I put in my resignation notice and was prepared to leave that very day if they didn't want me around anymore. I personally think it's a really bad decision under ordinary circumstances to leave without your new job 100% locked in.

Turns out that virtually everyone was nothing but cordial to me when I shared the news, even excited for me to explore a new opportunity. A few of the attorneys I worked the most with seemed a little bummed out but not too bad. My group was very large, though, so I'm sure it took no time at all to move on without me. I was also mediocre at best in my work with a majority of the attorneys so I doubt they felt like they were losing much. The harder goodbyes were actually with various support staff and other young associates I had gotten closer with--I never really had the opportunity to get close with any partners despite my efforts early on.

The hardest part of the whole experience for me was a feeling that I was making the wrong decision because I was swimming against the current in leaving so early (I also switched industries). It would've been easier to ignore my personal agency in the matter and just continue along that career path, but I couldn't accept the high likelihood of being in the office late night 5 years from now, ordering Seamless from that same Thai place, working on another deal that I just don't care about, making all this money that I don't even need.

What type of work are you doing now? And did you have a background in it?

[notjumpman]

What type of work are you doing now? And did you have a background in it?

I don't want to out myself so apologies for being intentionally vague here. I'm on the business side now, in a private equity / venture capital type company. I have a bit of a background in it, I had worked in it for very brief periods before I went to law school but kept in touch with some of the folks while I worked at the law firm.

[BarbellDreams]

The shortest stint I've ever seen was one day. A friend of mine who graduated a few years before me came into biglaw, got a ton of assignments with no instructions and crazy deadlines, called her dad crying at 11pm that first Monday and after talking to him decided biglaw wasn't for her. The firm mailed her a prorated check for 1 day of work.

lol this is like most assignments in biglaw - crazy deadlines and no or bad instructions. her dad sounds like the protective type. i think my parents would just tell me STFU and deal with it (which is what i've done for a few years now).

what is she doing now?

She is 7 years out now, works for a tiny 4 attorney firm doing family and some slip and fall work and makes 80k. 9-5, no weekends guaranteed, terrible benefits but no billable hours. She is "meh" about her career, but has more or less full autonomy over her cases and won't ever leave cause of the 40 hours a week for upper 5 figures as an attorney situation. I guess it could have been worse.

[nealric]

The shortest stint I've ever seen was one day. A friend of mine who graduated a few years before me came into biglaw, got a ton of assignments with no instructions and crazy deadlines, called her dad crying at 11pm that first Monday and after talking to him decided biglaw wasn't for her. The firm mailed her a prorated check for 1 day of work.

To answer your question, there is no "shortest". Its whenever you are 100% comfortable with leaving and know you are making the right decision + when you have another job lined up. Biglaw kind of sucks, and everyone I know with the exception of a few IP attorneys are absolutely miserable. The 4 months gap won't much matter if you line up a job you like and flip there.

This is just mystifying to me. You do your best, and take your licks, and look elsewhere. I just can't fathom quitting before you even start. Heck, just refuse to work more than 50 hours a week and you could skate by for a couple years in most firms- you just half ass the assignments and turn whatever in you can in the time you've personally allotted. In the mean time, you look for jobs you are better suited for using biglaw as leverage.

As to the original question: I think 2 years is the magic mark where other employers start looking at you seriously. Anything below that and you are suspect for quitting so soon. Obviously, there are exceptions.