Difference between junior associate and mid-level associate? Forum

[lawstoodent]

In terms of quality of work? Client interaction? Value? Etc.

Just wondering if there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Couldn't find anything on here.

[jd20132013]

feels like you didn't look that hard but I guess it's a hard thing to build search terms for


It is universally agreed to get worse (a few weirdos will come in here and say otherwise but, lol)

no there's no light at the end of the tunnel except the increased comp

[TheoO]

What light at the end of the tunnel would there be? Maybe you're less confused since you're more experienced, but that comes with more work, more responsibilities, expectation that you know your shit more and can't pull off the "I'm a dumb first-year, I don't know better."

[deepseapartners]

In terms of quality of work? Client interaction? Value? Etc.

Just wondering if there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Couldn't find anything on here.

Depends on why you dislike your job now. More senior Biglaw associates seem like they can have some control over when they work, especially if they are good at delegating, but many aren’t, and if you are that senior you are also probably swamped constantly so the difference may not be that meaningful. Plus, some shitty aspects are just inherent to the job (fire drills, made-up deadlines, demanding clients, pressure to never stop billing).

[HarrisonBarnes]

As you get more senior and are between your third and sixth year you are more valuable to law firms. You know what you are doing, your time does not need to be written off as much and your require less supervision. Your billing rate is also lower than senior associates and you are capable of handling more sophisticated work--which does not need to be given to senior associates. This looks good to clients because the law firm looks like it is saving them money. You are also not competitive with partners for work (partners make more money when they do their own work) and can be given stuff that is sufficiently complex but they do not want to do. It is at this point law firms want you to stick around the most. Most associates at this level get good reviews and management does not want them to leave. Paradoxically, this is also when you are most marketable. Law firms tend to be nicer to associates at this level and try to encourage them they are doing everything right, are on the right track and so forth--the only light at the end of the tunnel as a senior associate is that this is the most marketable you will often ever be, people will be nicer to you at the firm and you will have a "respite" where you feel somewhat secure in your job for a few years. You can also go in-house at this point or more easily move to a better firm if you want.

[lawstoodent]

As you get more senior and are between your third and sixth year you are more valuable to law firms. You know what you are doing, your time does not need to be written off as much and your require less supervision. Your billing rate is also lower than senior associates and you are capable of handling more sophisticated work--which does not need to be given to senior associates. This looks good to clients because the law firm looks like it is saving them money. You are also not competitive with partners for work (partners make more money when they do their own work) and can be given stuff that is sufficiently complex but they do not want to do. It is at this point law firms want you to stick around the most. Most associates at this level get good reviews and management does not want them to leave. Paradoxically, this is also when you are most marketable. Law firms tend to be nicer to associates at this level and try to encourage them they are doing everything right, are on the right track and so forth--the only light at the end of the tunnel as a senior associate is that this is the most marketable you will often ever be, people will be nicer to you at the firm and you will have a "respite" where you feel somewhat secure in your job for a few years. You can also go in-house at this point or more easily move to a better firm if you want.

Thanks.