Quitting biglaw to be a PD Forum

[Anonymous User]

Biglaw is terrible right now so I'm posting about how I'm quitting my biglaw job as soon as bonus hits and moving to a public defender office. Starting mid January.

Can answer questions if anyone is interested.

[LawrenceGazebo]

Biglaw is terrible right now so I'm posting about how I'm quitting my biglaw job as soon as bonus hits and moving to a public defender office. Starting mid January.

Can answer questions if anyone is interested.

Are you actually doing this, or "planning" on doing this? Have you taken any concrete steps?

[lookatriffraffplease]

are you a litigation associate and have you had substantive pro bono/other litigation experience? how do you plan to market yourself? I would like to transition from big law to criminal law

[Anonymous User]

Biglaw is terrible right now so I'm posting about how I'm quitting my biglaw job as soon as bonus hits and moving to a public defender office. Starting mid January.

Can answer questions if anyone is interested.

Are you actually doing this, or "planning" on doing this? Have you taken any concrete steps?

I accepted a PD offer last week. They were cool with me starting mid January so I could collect my bonus.

[Anonymous User]

are you a litigation associate and have you had substantive pro bono/other litigation experience? how do you plan to market yourself? I would like to transition from big law to criminal law

I'm a transactional associate. I think I was able to land the job because 1) I've only been in biglaw for a little under a year and a half, so still early career, 2) a ton of criminal defense work in law school, 3) I've been able to do criminal defense pro bono at my firm, and 4) right place right time.

[avenuem]

Biglaw is terrible right now so I'm posting about how I'm quitting my biglaw job as soon as bonus hits and moving to a public defender office. Starting mid January.

Can answer questions if anyone is interested.

What did you hate so much to make this decision? You said biglaw is terrible right now. It won't be forever, will it? Isn't most of the legal profession terrible right now? The gra$$ is not greener on the other side, and that's not limited to the monetary loss.

[LawrenceGazebo]

Biglaw is terrible right now so I'm posting about how I'm quitting my biglaw job as soon as bonus hits and moving to a public defender office. Starting mid January.

Can answer questions if anyone is interested.

Are you actually doing this, or "planning" on doing this? Have you taken any concrete steps?

I accepted a PD offer last week. They were cool with me starting mid January so I could collect my bonus.

Very cool, congrats and good luck!

[Anonymous User]

Biglaw is terrible right now so I'm posting about how I'm quitting my biglaw job as soon as bonus hits and moving to a public defender office. Starting mid January.

Can answer questions if anyone is interested.

What did you hate so much to make this decision? You said biglaw is terrible right now. It won't be forever, will it? Isn't most of the legal profession terrible right now? The gra$$ is not greener on the other side, and that's not limited to the monetary loss.

I've hated it the whole time. It's boring, stressful, and constant. I hate almost all of my coworkers and the ones I don't hate I feel sorry for.

The money part sucks, even though my new office pays decent for PDs. It's going to be a big lifestyle change. Luckily I love criminal defense work and am excited to be in court every day.

I know when people get older they look back at their decisions, and I have to wonder how much they'd be willing to pay to have those years back. Money comes and goes but you never get time back. I want to do something that I care about and that I enjoy instead of selling the best years of my life to a firm.

[Anonymous User]

Biglaw is terrible right now so I'm posting about how I'm quitting my biglaw job as soon as bonus hits and moving to a public defender office. Starting mid January.

Can answer questions if anyone is interested.

Are you actually doing this, or "planning" on doing this? Have you taken any concrete steps?

I accepted a PD offer last week. They were cool with me starting mid January so I could collect my bonus.

Very cool, congrats and good luck!

Thanks!

[avenuem]

Biglaw is terrible right now so I'm posting about how I'm quitting my biglaw job as soon as bonus hits and moving to a public defender office. Starting mid January.

Can answer questions if anyone is interested.

What did you hate so much to make this decision? You said biglaw is terrible right now. It won't be forever, will it? Isn't most of the legal profession terrible right now? The gra$$ is not greener on the other side, and that's not limited to the monetary loss.

I've hated it the whole time. It's boring, stressful, and constant. I hate almost all of my coworkers and the ones I don't hate I feel sorry for.

The money part sucks, even though my new office pays decent for PDs. It's going to be a big lifestyle change. Luckily I love criminal defense work and am excited to be in court every day.

I know when people get older they look back at their decisions, and I have to wonder how much they'd be willing to pay to have those years back. Money comes and goes but you never get time back. I want to do something that I care about and that I enjoy instead of selling the best years of my life to a firm.

Well, God speed. Sounds like this is what you want.

You should know that some of us actually love biglaw. We're used to jobs working upwards of ten hours, day-after-day, intense structure, hierarchies' benefits like generally clear reporting, ownership of work, and responsibility, etc., supervisors who don't know how to manage their emotion (you learn it's not personal, so no amount of screaming will hurt you), money which for some people can make almost any level of shit worth it, prestige, etc., and we don't just say we like biglaw because our boss/supervisor is watching. Knowing that, and knowing you value time over money, don't waste time feeling bad for people in biglaw who you like. Some of them might love it, and even feel bad for you.

I don't, since you seem to really be leaving on your own volition.

[Anonymous User]

I was in the army for a few years in a pretty terrible unit. Our battalion commander was an abusive loon who made everyone's life hell with crazy and unprofessional behavior.

Our battalion executive officer was older (prior service) and was brought on to help the commander. The commander treated him like shit for over a year, just terribly. He finally called it quits and retired, to reap his benefits and hang out to enjoy his time.

Unfortunately he died of an undiagnosed heart condition about a seven months after he retired.

I just have to think that had he known how short his time was he wouldn't have put up with the crazy boss. He would have hung out with his cool wife and done something meaningful with his time.

[Anonymous User]

Biglaw is terrible right now so I'm posting about how I'm quitting my biglaw job as soon as bonus hits and moving to a public defender office. Starting mid January.

Can answer questions if anyone is interested.

What did you hate so much to make this decision? You said biglaw is terrible right now. It won't be forever, will it? Isn't most of the legal profession terrible right now? The gra$$ is not greener on the other side, and that's not limited to the monetary loss.

I've hated it the whole time. It's boring, stressful, and constant. I hate almost all of my coworkers and the ones I don't hate I feel sorry for.

The money part sucks, even though my new office pays decent for PDs. It's going to be a big lifestyle change. Luckily I love criminal defense work and am excited to be in court every day.

I know when people get older they look back at their decisions, and I have to wonder how much they'd be willing to pay to have those years back. Money comes and goes but you never get time back. I want to do something that I care about and that I enjoy instead of selling the best years of my life to a firm.

Well, God speed. Sounds like this is what you want.

You should know that some of us actually love biglaw. We're used to jobs working upwards of ten hours, day-after-day, intense structure, hierarchies' benefits like generally clear reporting, ownership of work, and responsibility, etc., supervisors who don't know how to manage their emotion (you learn it's not personal, so no amount of screaming will hurt you), money which for some people can make almost any level of shit worth it, prestige, etc., and we don't just say we like biglaw because our boss/supervisor is watching. Knowing that, and knowing you value time over money, don't waste time feeling bad for people in biglaw who you like. Some of them might love it, and even feel bad for you.

I don't, since you seem to really be leaving on your own volition.

If I ever find the dickest post in a thread, it's always you lol
Come on, OP has NEVER said no one loves being at biglaw. Seriously it seems you do have a sort of a victim mentality.

I myself like working at biglaw. Sometimes it's a total shitshow, but there's definitely something rewarding. But if I ever become to hate this job, it will be the time when I need to work with a person like you.

OP, congrats you get an opportunity to do what you love to do. It's not easy regardless of whether you work at biglaw or not. Wish you best of luck.

[Anonymous User]

Hardcore senioritis at work. I give my notice in 5 business days and am so ready to move on.

[malibustacy]

PD work can be extremely intense and stressful. Best of luck, don't burn those bridges.

[Anonymous User]

Yeah, have a decent reputation so don’t think giving 70% for a few days will tank me.

But I’m also never going back to biglaw. I think if PD work ends up being too much for me I’m leaving the law. Basically went to law school to do work in the criminal legal system. If this doesn’t pan out I’ll get some government job and hang out.

But I think I’ll like it.

[Lacepiece23]

Yeah, have a decent reputation so don’t think giving 70% for a few days will tank me.

But I’m also never going back to biglaw. I think if PD work ends up being too much for me I’m leaving the law. Basically went to law school to do work in the criminal legal system. If this doesn’t pan out I’ll get some government job and hang out.

But I think I’ll like it.

I’m about five years out. From what I’ve seen, people who did biglaw and then went some alternative route end up doing really well.

There’s few lawyers who can combine trial skills with biglaw level acumen. Those who can go on to do amazing things as I’m sure you will!

Good luck. Have fun, and never look back.

[aegor]

You should know that some of us actually love biglaw. We're used to jobs working upwards of ten hours, day-after-day, intense structure, hierarchies' benefits like generally clear reporting, ownership of work, and responsibility, etc., supervisors who don't know how to manage their emotion (you learn it's not personal, so no amount of screaming will hurt you), money which for some people can make almost any level of shit worth it, prestige, etc., and we don't just say we like biglaw because our boss/supervisor is watching. Knowing that, and knowing you value time over money, don't waste time feeling bad for people in biglaw who you like.

The fact that you love those things is what makes me--and probably a lot of people--feel bad for you. You can still pity the blissfully ignorant.

[TigerIsBack]

Biglaw is terrible right now so I'm posting about how I'm quitting my biglaw job as soon as bonus hits and moving to a public defender office. Starting mid January.

Can answer questions if anyone is interested.

What did you hate so much to make this decision? You said biglaw is terrible right now. It won't be forever, will it? Isn't most of the legal profession terrible right now? The gra$$ is not greener on the other side, and that's not limited to the monetary loss.

I've hated it the whole time. It's boring, stressful, and constant. I hate almost all of my coworkers and the ones I don't hate I feel sorry for.

The money part sucks, even though my new office pays decent for PDs. It's going to be a big lifestyle change. Luckily I love criminal defense work and am excited to be in court every day.

I know when people get older they look back at their decisions, and I have to wonder how much they'd be willing to pay to have those years back. Money comes and goes but you never get time back. I want to do something that I care about and that I enjoy instead of selling the best years of my life to a firm.

Well, God speed. Sounds like this is what you want.

You should know that some of us actually love biglaw. We're used to jobs working upwards of ten hours, day-after-day, intense structure, hierarchies' benefits like generally clear reporting, ownership of work, and responsibility, etc., supervisors who don't know how to manage their emotion (you learn it's not personal, so no amount of screaming will hurt you), money which for some people can make almost any level of shit worth it, prestige, etc., and we don't just say we like biglaw because our boss/supervisor is watching. Knowing that, and knowing you value time over money, don't waste time feeling bad for people in biglaw who you like. Some of them might love it, and even feel bad for you.

I don't, since you seem to really be leaving on your own volition.

If I ever find the dickest post in a thread, it's always you lol
Come on, OP has NEVER said no one loves being at biglaw. Seriously it seems you do have a sort of a victim mentality.

I myself like working at biglaw. Sometimes it's a total shitshow, but there's definitely something rewarding. But if I ever become to hate this job, it will be the time when I need to work with a person like you.

OP, congrats you get an opportunity to do what you love to do. It's not easy regardless of whether you work at biglaw or not. Wish you best of luck.

Also, this poster is still a stub year so their opinion is based on about 2 months of work, so they really don't understand the demands of the job yet because they're not running a deal or a case and the buck doesn't stop with them on anything, despite what they think.

[Uhnon1313]

OP, what PD office did you go to? I'm currently in a somewhat similar position--biglaw and applying to PD offices. I don't know how to bring up sticking around my firm until January to collect a bonus.

[Anonymous User]

OP, what PD office did you go to? I'm currently in a somewhat similar position--biglaw and applying to PD offices. I don't know how to bring up sticking around my firm until January to collect a bonus.

I’m at a collar county of Cook County.

I had my first interview in October 2020, second in November 2020, offered the job in December. When I accepted I asked about start date and if there was flexibility for bonus purposes. No issue. If you’re in my area I know my office is hiring. I can dm you?

[Anonymous User]

OP - We have worked together at your prior firm, and I congratulate you for having the guts to bail and follow your passion. I am in the process of trying to leave as soon as bonus hits, your old firm is a misery factory and I like so many others have finally realized the money’s not worth it. Hope you have found more of a balance and are enjoying what you do.

[MeanieTeanie]

OP, checking in for a status update. How are you liking the change?

[Anonymous User]

I’m much happier at my current job. The work is more interesting and meaningful, my coworkers are nicer, and work life balance is infinitely better. Never being 100% off from work in biglaw really adds a ton of stress that you don’t realize you’re carrying until you leave.

Now, the pay isn’t great (compared to biglaw) and it obviously can be emotionally draining when bad stuff happens to your clients. But I really can’t imagine going back.