Top Law Schools

...

You get paid less, but also in general work regular hours at many firms from what I understand. A lot of it is discovery-related work though/managing document review, etc. and you can't move "upward" (although it's questionable if moving "upward" in a biglaw firm is good or bad).

Honestly, as someone who has worked as an associate at a biglaw firm, being a staff attorney sounds a lot better to me....

Also associates are treated like shit too, so it's not unique to being a staff attorney.

...

Mind sharing what market you're in? What type of ID you do? What size/type of ID mill you're at... I wouldn't mind answering a PM and helping you brain storm some alternatives. I've walked a mile in your tattered, sole-less shoes and I'm always willing to advise on the few available escape routes. I once thought about the staff attorney position as a "way out" and I'm glad that I ultimately never went down that path. Spinning Staff Atty experience as anything but low level associate work will be very tough and in my opinion will limit your future endeavors. And if things get lien at your firm - they'll cut you right along with the other associates (possibly faster), because media like ATL doesn't blink when staff attorneys get laid off - they only publicize associate layoffs.

I started out 8 years ago exactly in your shoes, working in a dead end ID firm. 8 years later - I'll probably earn $160k - $170k this year at a reasonably good mid-sized law firm. Many of the attorneys here are Ivy, top 10 law school grads (and they don't look at me like I have visible herpes when they learn that I went to a law school suitable for a very below average chimp). You too can escape my friend - its just a long, hard, lonely road to walk and it takes a few years...

...

Damn 75 in NY is brutal. I deal with similar feelings of shame as you - I'm a T14 grad earning 85 at a firm that does public entity representation and ID. I've considered but decided not to pursue staff attorney positions because I don't want to get stuck doing discovery. I enjoy the actual lawyering inherent in my job and managing docs is the opposite of what I want to do. But I have far less debt and live in a secondary market where rent is not 2k+ a month.

...

2 to 5 years is your ideal "jump" point, where you are actually the most marketable. Going into a staff attorney position during that time period is a huge waste in my opinion. Especially if you don't hate being a lawyer and wouldn't mind actually practicing - but just want to make more money.

If I were you, I would start to focus on applying to "better" ID firms to build your resume. By better, I mean moving away from low-end GL, toward the "sexier" areas like professional liability, D&O, or some other more specialized ID areas that have higher rates (allowing you to be paid better). If you want to PM me in confidence - I'd be happy to give you some more specific ideas.