People who like Biglaw Forum

[Catharsis&Crumpets]

So, does anyone actually LIKE biglaw?

Or have you accepted the shitty lifestyle because you’re willing to accept the sacrifices for the money?

Sure as fuck beats shitlawl with the same amount of sacrifice for less money, so I get why most don't complain. The bigger questions is whether anyone outside of government practice and niche boutiques actually enjoys the practice of law. Not the academic exercise of practicing law, mind you, but the day in and day out. But that's beyond the scope of this thread.

The broader question is who enjoys working in the first place? Most jobs involve some unpleasantness.

True, but I don't know too many accountants getting midnight phone calls from clients regarding their clients' latest, "urgent" brain fart.

On the topic of enjoying a job, who in the world truly enjoys accounting? Accounting has to be the most tedious field. What I hear from people who did accounting before law school is that big 4 accountants work long hours for a lot less pay. The job is absolutely boring, the hours/pay mix is worse.. I don't know what's better about accounting.

The low barrier to entry, significantly less debt to obtain the degree, and better long term job prospects/career longevity, particularly for those who manage to obtain a CPA. You may not earn "fuck you" money, but over 50% of practicing lawyers never will either. Besides, most legal work becomes tedious after you do it for more than a couple of years. Fact patterns become routine, you've got your standard complaint/answer/motion template that you tweak here and there with the occasional memorandum thrown in for spice, and over 90% of cases never go to trial.

[nealric]

So, does anyone actually LIKE biglaw?

Or have you accepted the shitty lifestyle because you’re willing to accept the sacrifices for the money?

Sure as fuck beats shitlawl with the same amount of sacrifice for less money, so I get why most don't complain. The bigger questions is whether anyone outside of government practice and niche boutiques actually enjoys the practice of law. Not the academic exercise of practicing law, mind you, but the day in and day out. But that's beyond the scope of this thread.

The broader question is who enjoys working in the first place? Most jobs involve some unpleasantness.

True, but I don't know too many accountants getting midnight phone calls from clients regarding their clients' latest, "urgent" brain fart.

On the topic of enjoying a job, who in the world truly enjoys accounting? Accounting has to be the most tedious field. What I hear from people who did accounting before law school is that big 4 accountants work long hours for a lot less pay. The job is absolutely boring, the hours/pay mix is worse.. I don't know what's better about accounting.

There are interesting accounting problems just as there are interesting legal problems. But your average fresh out of undergrad Big4 analyst doesn't ever get to touch said problems. It can be reasonably interesting at the senior levels. The people you met probably did the accounting equivalent of biglaw first year work unless they were in public accounting for at least 5 years or so.

[Anonymous User]

Former accountant here and now big law junior, and I regret going to law school. The three years I wasted just to get a job with terrible hours that won't even break me even for the next six years.

[Anonymous User]

So, does anyone actually LIKE biglaw?

Or have you accepted the shitty lifestyle because you’re willing to accept the sacrifices for the money?

Sure as fuck beats shitlawl with the same amount of sacrifice for less money, so I get why most don't complain. The bigger questions is whether anyone outside of government practice and niche boutiques actually enjoys the practice of law. Not the academic exercise of practicing law, mind you, but the day in and day out. But that's beyond the scope of this thread.

The broader question is who enjoys working in the first place? Most jobs involve some unpleasantness.

True, but I don't know too many accountants getting midnight phone calls from clients regarding their clients' latest, "urgent" brain fart.

On the topic of enjoying a job, who in the world truly enjoys accounting? Accounting has to be the most tedious field. What I hear from people who did accounting before law school is that big 4 accountants work long hours for a lot less pay. The job is absolutely boring, the hours/pay mix is worse.. I don't know what's better about accounting.

There are interesting accounting problems just as there are interesting legal problems. But your average fresh out of undergrad Big4 analyst doesn't ever get to touch said problems. It can be reasonably interesting at the senior levels. The people you met probably did the accounting equivalent of biglaw first year work unless they were in public accounting for at least 5 years or so.

We should be comparing the first or second year levels of work. Both are boring but comparing my brief encounter with accounting back in college and law school with my current biglaw experience, biglaw is more interesting. It may involve some personal preference, but whereas comparing biglaw with finance makes sense, I would stick to biglaw any day over accounting. The pay is a lot lower for accounting largely because of the lower cost of entry. But for people who went to law school with little or no debt, that cost of entry talk is a non-starter. And accounting is definitely not that chill either in terms of hours.

[EliotAlderson]

Go to niche/specialist practice area, profit, have a life.

[Yugihoe]

Go to niche/specialist practice area, profit, have a life.

Easier said than done

[SmokeytheBear]

Now that we are on page four, can someone please let me know who ended up winning the pissing contest?

[Anonymous User]

Now that we are on page four, can someone please let me know who ended up winning the pissing contest?

Me obvi

[Person1111]

Go to niche/specialist practice area, profit, have a life.

Easier said than done

It's really not. The problem is that everyone follows the TLS received wisdom of going to a NYC biglaw firm to do transactional work (either because it is the most "prestigious" job or because it is the easiest job to obtain) and then complains that it's miserable. This whole thread underscores the importance of taking time early in your career (and in law school) to assess what you really want.

[pancakes3]

Go to niche/specialist practice area, profit, have a life.

Easier said than done

It's really not. The problem is that everyone follows the TLS received wisdom of going to a NYC biglaw firm to do transactional work (either because it is the most "prestigious" job or because it is the easiest job to obtain) and then complains that it's miserable. This whole thread underscores the importance of taking time early in your career (and in law school) to assess what you really want.

that's a twisted reading of "hedge your bids"

[lagamemnon]

Now that we are on page four, can someone please let me know who ended up winning the pissing contest?

Well I pissed the most, but the boring, loveless people who like the job probably haven't changed their minds.

[jd20132013]

Go to niche/specialist practice area, profit, have a life.

Easier said than done

It's really not. The problem is that everyone follows the TLS received wisdom of going to a NYC biglaw firm to do transactional work (either because it is the most "prestigious" job or because it is the easiest job to obtain) and then complains that it's miserable. This whole thread underscores the importance of taking time early in your career (and in law school) to assess what you really want.

I've been here for a while and I'm not sure id describe that as the received wisdom

[Anonymous User]

Go to niche/specialist practice area, profit, have a life.

Easier said than done

It's really not. The problem is that everyone follows the TLS received wisdom of going to a NYC biglaw firm to do transactional work (either because it is the most "prestigious" job or because it is the easiest job to obtain) and then complains that it's miserable. This whole thread underscores the importance of taking time early in your career (and in law school) to assess what you really want.

I've been here for a while and I'm not sure id describe that as the received wisdom

Yes. That's what folks here have been telling law students not to do. NYC biglaw corporate.

[cavalier1138]

This thread is the single best justification for bringing back JobVent. Or for using some of that sweet, sweet biglaw cash to get into therapy. Christ.

[Anonymous User]

Go to niche/specialist practice area, profit, have a life.

Easier said than done

It's really not. The problem is that everyone follows the TLS received wisdom of going to a NYC biglaw firm to do transactional work (either because it is the most "prestigious" job or because it is the easiest job to obtain) and then complains that it's miserable. This whole thread underscores the importance of taking time early in your career (and in law school) to assess what you really want.

I've been here for a while and I'm not sure id describe that as the received wisdom

Yes. That's what folks here have been telling law students not to do. NYC biglaw corporate.

Yeah but for someone aiming for that sweet 40/hr a week in-house gig, isn’t it best to do nyc (or some other major market) trans work so that they can 1. Make some cash and 2. Exit as soon as possible?

[LaLiLuLeLo]

Go to niche/specialist practice area, profit, have a life.

Easier said than done

It's really not. The problem is that everyone follows the TLS received wisdom of going to a NYC biglaw firm to do transactional work (either because it is the most "prestigious" job or because it is the easiest job to obtain) and then complains that it's miserable. This whole thread underscores the importance of taking time early in your career (and in law school) to assess what you really want.

I've been here for a while and I'm not sure id describe that as the received wisdom

Yes. That's what folks here have been telling law students not to do. NYC biglaw corporate.

Yeah but for someone aiming for that sweet 40/hr a week in-house gig, isn’t it best to do nyc (or some other major market) trans work so that they can 1. Make some cash and 2. Exit as soon as possible?

I think these days it’s best to do tech trans work (assuming in SV, could be wrong) if you want a sweet in house gig.

[glitched]

Go to niche/specialist practice area, profit, have a life.

What would you consider niche?

[oblig.lawl.ref]

Go to niche/specialist practice area, profit, have a life.

Easier said than done

It's really not. The problem is that everyone follows the TLS received wisdom of going to a NYC biglaw firm to do transactional work (either because it is the most "prestigious" job or because it is the easiest job to obtain) and then complains that it's miserable. This whole thread underscores the importance of taking time early in your career (and in law school) to assess what you really want.

I've been here for a while and I'm not sure id describe that as the received wisdom

Yes. That's what folks here have been telling law students not to do. NYC biglaw corporate.

Yeah but for someone aiming for that sweet 40/hr a week in-house gig, isn’t it best to do nyc (or some other major market) trans work so that they can 1. Make some cash and 2. Exit as soon as possible?

I think these days it’s best to do tech trans work (assuming in SV, could be wrong) if you want a sweet in house gig.

Yeah you can exit in 1-2 years if you get lucky and are not at all picky. Probably can be picky and need less luck in 3. The problem is a lot of times, especially at larger companies, you are really just a commercial counsel. I wouldn't want to do purely commercial stuff. That sounds boring as all fuck.

I think SV corp is the best for going in house to a place you'd want to go.

[oblig.lawl.ref]

Go to niche/specialist practice area, profit, have a life.

It can be a crap shoot. Some of the specialist groups at my firm get severely understaffed from time to time. Also there are often like 3-5 partners firm wide. Some of these niche groups develop real hard working cultures and bill more hours than the general corporate side. I have also had to call them at 3:30 am to wake them up to review reps and disclosure schedules. Was told to just keep calling until they answered. So it's not all great.

[Anonymous User]

Yeah you can exit in 1-2 years if you get lucky and are not at all picky. Probably can be picky and need less luck in 3. The problem is a lot of times, especially at larger companies, you are really just a commercial counsel. I wouldn't want to do purely commercial stuff. That sounds boring as all fuck.

I think SV corp is the best for going in house to a place you'd want to go.

What’s the difference between commercial counsel and your run of the mill gc’s office type counsel?

[trebekismyhero]

Go to niche/specialist practice area, profit, have a life.

It can be a crap shoot. Some of the specialist groups at my firm get severely understaffed from time to time. Also there are often like 3-5 partners firm wide. Some of these niche groups develop real hard working cultures and bill more hours than the general corporate side. I have also had to call them at 3:30 am to wake them up to review reps and disclosure schedules. Was told to just keep calling until they answered. So it's not all great.

Agreed. At my firm, the folks in tax, real estate, patent, employee benefits are always super busy. They are almost always understaffed too because their partners don't bring in that many clients on their own so more service oriented. That said, the ppl I know at my firm in those niche areas do seem a little happier with their jobs on avg than the the general corp and lit associates.

[Winter is Coming]

Depending on how well the M&A people communicate, those groups often get "please turn comments ASAP" on documents they have very little context about seemingly out of nowhere.

[RaceJudicata]

So, does anyone actually LIKE biglaw?

Or have you accepted the shitty lifestyle because you’re willing to accept the sacrifices for the money?

Sure as fuck beats shitlawl with the same amount of sacrifice for less money, so I get why most don't complain. The bigger questions is whether anyone outside of government practice and niche boutiques actually enjoys the practice of law. Not the academic exercise of practicing law, mind you, but the day in and day out. But that's beyond the scope of this thread.

The broader question is who enjoys working in the first place? Most jobs involve some unpleasantness.

True, but I don't know too many accountants getting midnight phone calls from clients regarding their clients' latest, "urgent" brain fart.

On the topic of enjoying a job, who in the world truly enjoys accounting? Accounting has to be the most tedious field. What I hear from people who did accounting before law school is that big 4 accountants work long hours for a lot less pay. The job is absolutely boring, the hours/pay mix is worse.. I don't know what's better about accounting.

FWIW, all my friends who did big4 washed out in like 1-2 years cause it was miserable. Big law friends, have on average, lasted longer.

[Vianco]

You may not earn "fuck you" money, but over 50% of practicing lawyers never will either.

LOL

[SmokeytheBear]

You may not earn "fuck you" money, but over 50% of practicing lawyers never will either.

LOL

We need more scientific data like this on TLS.