What am I supposed to enjoy about being an attorney? Forum

[Anonymous User]

This is a serious question. I'm a midlaw first year associate and I've never felt so bored and useless with my work in my life. There are zero parts of my job that I enjoy. EVERY part is tedious. EVERY part is stressful. There is ZERO training at my firm, ZERO associates within 25 years of my age, ZERO concern for me whatsoever. I'm technically a corporate associate, but the firm literally just throws anything they have at me, even filing docs for litigation purposes, which I told them I have no experience with. I have at least 8 partners expecting things from me at any given time, and absolutely no guidance at all. If I ask a question, the typical response is "read the rules".

What am I supposed to find enjoyable? Seriously. Do I just have a jaded perspective? Is this work supposed to be interesting and I'm just being difficult? I don't understand.

I'm sure there aren't many jobs a person like me would enjoy, but I can't imagine wasting my life doing this bullshit. It all seems so pointless.

[deepseapartners]

What drew you to legal practice to begin with? Have you considered trying to lateral?

[Anonymous User]

What drew you to legal practice to begin with?

I can give you my stock answer for interviews, but the real reason is: I screwed around in college, had a terrible GPA, so I couldn't get a good job in my major (Finance). I'm a top notch standardized test taker, and had a great LSAT, so I went to law school. Seemed like the only remaining ticket to a decent paying profession.

Have you considered trying to lateral?

I look for jobs every day.

[Snowy Shaw]

What drew you to legal practice to begin with?

I can give you my stock answer for interviews, but the real reason is: I screwed around in college, had a terrible GPA, so I couldn't get a good job in my major (Finance). I'm a top notch standardized test taker, and had a great LSAT, so I went to law school. Seemed like the only remaining ticket to a decent paying profession.

Have you considered trying to lateral?

I look for jobs every day.

Going into a field solely out of a desire for money is never a good idea. If you had no interest in being a lawyer before and during law school, what makes you think that's going to change after law school?

[Anonymous User]

I am a biglaw corporate first year. I can identify with not liking it and I think about how the work is so pointless every day.

I don't have the experience of getting pulled in that many different directions (especially from litigation partners?) and it seems odd that no associate is within 25+ years. To me, it seems like a weird set up at the firm and I would apply to lateral (just like you are doing) opportunities as much as possible.

Recently, I said "no" to more work when I considered my plate to be full. The senior associate was understanding and didn't make a fuss about it at all. Maybe this is something to try (especially from people outside of your practice group) when you have a lot of work already. I try to remind myself that I don't need to be the superstar associate or even an above average associate - I am simply trying to hit the two year mark, pay off some loans, build up some savings, and move on.

[deepseapartners]

What drew you to legal practice to begin with?

I can give you my stock answer for interviews, but the real reason is: I screwed around in college, had a terrible GPA, so I couldn't get a good job in my major (Finance). I'm a top notch standardized test taker, and had a great LSAT, so I went to law school. Seemed like the only remaining ticket to a decent paying profession.

Have you considered trying to lateral?

I look for jobs every day.

I'm sorry that's the real answer, but at least you recognize that you didn't actually want to practice law. Was there any part of law school that you enjoyed, or was it just a three-year slog through hell for you?

[mvp99]

everything is pointless, there is no purpose

[zot1]

All that cash.

[Londonbear]

Maybe get a hobby or find something you enjoy outside of work in the meantime (as you're looking for something else), and just think of work as a way to pay the bills. I think sometimes we think we have to love our jobs, and that puts pressure on us to like it and if we don't, then we end up miserable.

[Anonymous User]

What drew you to legal practice to begin with?

I can give you my stock answer for interviews, but the real reason is: I screwed around in college, had a terrible GPA, so I couldn't get a good job in my major (Finance). I'm a top notch standardized test taker, and had a great LSAT, so I went to law school. Seemed like the only remaining ticket to a decent paying profession.

Have you considered trying to lateral?

I look for jobs every day.

I'm sorry that's the real answer, but at least you recognize that you didn't actually want to practice law. Was there any part of law school that you enjoyed, or was it just a three-year slog through hell for you?

It really wasn't all that bad for me. By second semester 2L I fully understood the art of taking law school exams, so I was able to essentially not go to class for all of 3L and pulled almost straight As. I approached law school exams like a broken piece of furniture, and my outline was my tool kit. I enjoyed piecing the problems together and by the end of law school, I was really good at it. I liked the academic part of law school, I was on law review which was actually somewhat interesting, I liked academic writing, but there's no chance in hell I could ever become a law professor (not enough prestigious junk on my resume; grades were poor until I figured things out).

I enjoyed corporate work, especially when the subject matter seemed important. I don't think I would mind working at, say, a biglaw firm with a lot of interesting corporate work. I just don't see that happening for me any time soon. I guess that's why the midlaw job is bugging me so much right now. Things haven't changed much - but the feeling of getting pigeon-holed as a midlaw attorney, and thereby losing my access to a biglaw job (with more interesting work, faster ability to pay off loans, and even if I hate it just as much there's better exit opportunities).

I have nothing else to do but keep applying, I think.

[Anonymous User]

What drew you to legal practice to begin with?

I can give you my stock answer for interviews, but the real reason is: I screwed around in college, had a terrible GPA, so I couldn't get a good job in my major (Finance). I'm a top notch standardized test taker, and had a great LSAT, so I went to law school. Seemed like the only remaining ticket to a decent paying profession.

Have you considered trying to lateral?

I look for jobs every day.

I'm sorry that's the real answer, but at least you recognize that you didn't actually want to practice law. Was there any part of law school that you enjoyed, or was it just a three-year slog through hell for you?

It really wasn't all that bad for me. By second semester 2L I fully understood the art of taking law school exams, so I was able to essentially not go to class for all of 3L and pulled almost straight As. I approached law school exams like a broken piece of furniture, and my outline was my tool kit. I enjoyed piecing the problems together and by the end of law school, I was really good at it. I liked the academic part of law school, I was on law review which was actually somewhat interesting, I liked academic writing, but there's no chance in hell I could ever become a law professor (not enough prestigious junk on my resume; grades were poor until I figured things out).

I enjoyed corporate work, especially when the subject matter seemed important. I don't think I would mind working at, say, a biglaw firm with a lot of interesting corporate work. I just don't see that happening for me any time soon. I guess that's why the midlaw job is bugging me so much right now. Things haven't changed much - but the feeling of getting pigeon-holed as a midlaw attorney, and thereby losing my access to a biglaw job (with more interesting work, faster ability to pay off loans, and even if I hate it just as much there's better exit opportunities).

I have nothing else to do but keep applying, I think.

Lol. All corporate work is pretty much the same everywhere....

[Snowy Shaw]

Lol. All corporate work is pretty much the same everywhere....

Basically what he's saying is that he's upset he couldn't get a biglaw position straight out of school

[lawhopeful10]

Maybe get a hobby or find something you enjoy outside of work in the meantime (as you're looking for something else), and just think of work as a way to pay the bills. I think sometimes we think we have to love our jobs, and that puts pressure on us to like it and if we don't, then we end up miserable.

I would echo this. 3L here about to graduate so my SA was my only experience but my attitude has always been I'm not supposed to enjoy work, it's solely to make money so I can do stuff outside of work I do enjoy. I think a lot of happiness in life stems from expectations and how things play out relative to them. One of the problems of firm life seems to be not giving people the time or flexibility to do fun stuff outside of work but that's a separate issue which seems to be different than just hating actual work.

[zot1]

Maybe get a hobby or find something you enjoy outside of work in the meantime (as you're looking for something else), and just think of work as a way to pay the bills. I think sometimes we think we have to love our jobs, and that puts pressure on us to like it and if we don't, then we end up miserable.

I would echo this. 3L here about to graduate so my SA was my only experience but my attitude has always been I'm not supposed to enjoy work, it's solely to make money so I can do stuff outside of work I do enjoy. I think a lot of happiness in life stems from expectations and how things play out relative to them. One of the problems of firm life seems to be not giving people the time or flexibility to do fun stuff outside of work but that's a separate issue which seems to be different than just hating actual work.

Assuming you'll have time for hobbies...

[mvp99]

I'm buying a ps4 soon.

[zot1]

I'm buying a ps4 soon.

[84651846190]

the sweet scholarly nectar

[BaiAilian2013]

Things people enjoy about law IME (may vary widely by practice area):
- the mental challenge of unraveling complex issues, figuring things out from what seemed like a hopeless morass. Like doing a puzzle if you enjoy puzzles.
- drafting language from scratch to accomplish a particular result and avoid any loopholes. The creative element is very satisfying to me (and I am not a creative type in the traditional sense).
- learning things on one matter that are later relevant on another matter, so finally you know something! Eventually getting to where you don't have to go back to the book every time to check. Probably checking anyway for peace of mind.
- paying close attention to detail and fixing little things, even though the end result might not be perfect.
- counseling clients, explaining things so they understand, putting their minds at ease. I don't really enjoy this yet because it makes my heart pound in my throat, but maybe one day.
- the fight. Griping to others internally about how the other side's argument just doesn't make any sense, dammit. Helping to craft an argument that will hopefully blow theirs out of the water. Sometimes winning. Or pushing back in a negotiation and gaining some ground.
- getting treated like a human adult. It didn't snow enough for the firm to close, but my neighborhood is definitely not safe to drive through? Fuck that, working from home! Meanwhile my secretary who lives in the same area as me is crawling to work in her 4-wheel drive, which is pretty shitty of the firm. Doctor's appointment in the middle of the day? Waltzing on out of here. Weekend trip? Checking out early Friday afternoon. My mom can't do that because her job won't let you take any time off on Fridays or Mondays, lest you have a fun weekend trip.
- working and shooting the shit with co-workers you actually fit in with, if you've never had that at work before.

[Mozart Lacrimosa]

Things people enjoy about law IME (may vary widely by practice area):
- getting treated like a human adult. It didn't snow enough for the firm to close, but my neighborhood is definitely not safe to drive through? Fuck that, working from home! Meanwhile my secretary who lives in the same area as me is crawling to work in her 4-wheel drive, which is pretty shitty of the firm. Doctor's appointment in the middle of the day? Waltzing on out of here. Weekend trip? Checking out early Friday afternoon. My mom can't do that because her job won't let you take any time off on Fridays or Mondays, lest you have a fun weekend trip.
- working and shooting the shit with co-workers you actually fit in with, if you've never had that at work before.

Are you in NYC or another big market? Curious whether that degree of independence is common in certain cities, firms. Sounds great.

[Danger Zone]

This is a serious question. I'm a midlaw first year associate and I've never felt so bored and useless with my work in my life. There are zero parts of my job that I enjoy. EVERY part is tedious. EVERY part is stressful. There is ZERO training at my firm, ZERO associates within 25 years of my age, ZERO concern for me whatsoever. I'm technically a corporate associate, but the firm literally just throws anything they have at me, even filing docs for litigation purposes, which I told them I have no experience with. I have at least 8 partners expecting things from me at any given time, and absolutely no guidance at all. If I ask a question, the typical response is "read the rules".

What am I supposed to find enjoyable? Seriously. Do I just have a jaded perspective? Is this work supposed to be interesting and I'm just being difficult? I don't understand.

I'm sure there aren't many jobs a person like me would enjoy, but I can't imagine wasting my life doing this bullshit. It all seems so pointless.

Ditto. You're not alone in all of this. Just stick it out for a couple years and then find something else.

[Anonymous User]

This is a serious question. I'm a midlaw first year associate and I've never felt so bored and useless with my work in my life. There are zero parts of my job that I enjoy. EVERY part is tedious. EVERY part is stressful. There is ZERO training at my firm, ZERO associates within 25 years of my age, ZERO concern for me whatsoever. I'm technically a corporate associate, but the firm literally just throws anything they have at me, even filing docs for litigation purposes, which I told them I have no experience with. I have at least 8 partners expecting things from me at any given time, and absolutely no guidance at all. If I ask a question, the typical response is "read the rules".

What am I supposed to find enjoyable? Seriously. Do I just have a jaded perspective? Is this work supposed to be interesting and I'm just being difficult? I don't understand.

I'm sure there aren't many jobs a person like me would enjoy, but I can't imagine wasting my life doing this bullshit. It all seems so pointless.

Ditto. You're not alone in all of this. Just stick it out for a couple years and then find something else.

Are you guys thinking of leaving law itself? I've been considering this, but it's scary making the jump.

[Danger Zone]

I'm interviewing for in house stuff. I'd rather be bored at a 9-6 than bored and constantly stressed.

[Anonymous User]

I'm interviewing for in house stuff. I'd rather be bored at a 9-6 than bored and constantly stressed.

For me, I'm not even sure about the work....right now being a programmer/accountant seems better (and I have a background in one of those at least)

[Danger Zone]

Yeah, "bored" was referring to the work itself, which is mind numbing.

[Anonymous User]

Yeah, "bored" was referring to the work itself, which is mind numbing.

Yeah, this work is more mind numbing than a lot of other professions' work....just wondering if I should quit and go back to another profession