Biggest Work/Experience Difference from Amlaw 200 to Big Law? Forum

[Anonymous User]

I'm thinking about trying to make a leap from an Amlaw 200 (i.e. insurance defense but specialty group within the firm) to Big Law. Can anyone share with me what kind of work difference I might experience? Example should I expect to work longer hours even though my current firm expects 2,000 hours per year? Crazier schedule? More things you cannot bill for and therefore longer hours? (I'm sure there's lots I haven't thought about so looking for collective wisdom here, thanks!)

[Anonymous User]

I think the workload may not be too different in terms of billable hours, but expectations as to availability will likely differ (e.g., you'll need to drop things to service your partner/client in ways you didn't need to at an Amlaw 200 firm). So you may end up working the same hours but the hours will probably be shittier.

I think the sophistication of clients will also tend to increase (which is a good and bad thing), as well as the general quality of your peers.

[nealric]

If within lit, I think the biggest difference will be how cases are run and briefing is done. Most ID shops place more of a priority on working efficiently and getting briefs out the door.

In biglaw, you are likely to be asked to go down a lot more rabbit holes and spend a lot more time on things. There are good and bad aspects to it. You may sacrifice some autonomy as partners spend more time reviewing your work (partially due to less billing pressure).

[Lacepiece23]

Probably just a big difference in work product expectations. Take this with a grain of salt, but I summered at an ID shop before biglaw. I had glowing reviews on my writing. When I went to biglaw, not so much.

You’re written work product will probably be torn to shreds. You can prepare my reading brian garner books with a critical eye. But you may already be a good writer and you can just disregard everything I said.

[Anonymous User]

OP here, thank you all!

Nealric - What do you mean by less billing pressure? Like clients are more lenient with time spent on tasks because not insurance carrier guidelines? Or something different?

Lacepiece23 - That's helpful to know! I think I'm a good writer, but I like to think worst case scenario. How did you handle that transition? Were they willing to teach to correct and improve your work? I worry about a potential scenario where a new Big Law firm is unforgiving and would can someone transitioning from ID shop to them rather than take the time to fix. Which Brian Garner books did you read?

[Lacepiece23]

OP here, thank you all!

Nealric - What do you mean by less billing pressure? Like clients are more lenient with time spent on tasks because not insurance carrier guidelines? Or something different?

Lacepiece23 - That's helpful to know! I think I'm a good writer, but I like to think worst case scenario. How did you handle that transition? Were they willing to teach to correct and improve your work? I worry about a potential scenario where a new Big Law firm is unforgiving and would can someone transitioning from ID shop to them rather than take the time to fix. Which Brian Garner books did you read?

Read 100 tips for writing the winning brief. It’s great. And then realize that most biglaw partners won’t like everything he preaches. And then adjust accordingly. Like some won’t like that I started a sentence with “And” even thought that’s what he preaches. You’ll figure it out and be better off for following his principles. I taught myself as was lauded as a great writer even though my writing professor told me I was terrible.

They will just redline shit to death. They won’t tell you why. You’ll figure out different writing styles as you go. I’d start with what brian teaches and then adjust accordingly after you get redlines foe each partner.

I don’t think they will can you. It’s not really how it works. Just try to get ahead and start with a good impression by doing some homework on writing. Take your time. Cut your own hours on the first few writing assignments if you have to. Perception matters more than ability. If you turn in something good a few times, they will likely think your other bs is good too.

Hope this helps and good luck! I’m sure you will be fine.

[nealric]

Nealric - What do you mean by less billing pressure? Like clients are more lenient with time spent on tasks because not insurance carrier guidelines? Or something different?

Yes. The average biglaw client is going to be a lot less cost sensitive than the average ID client. When biglaw folks go to an ID environment, they often feel like they are being forced to send slipshod work out the door. Conversely, someone used to ID may feel like everything is being polished to death in biglaw. A fairly simple brief that you might take a few hours on in ID may go through multiple rounds of comments and a day or two of work in biglaw.

The extent to which the above is true does of course depend a bit on what biglaw firm you are talking about and the matter in question. The more the amount in controversy and the higher up the ladder the firm is, the more pressure there is to deliver perfection.

[Anonymous User]

OP here, thank you all!

Nealric - What do you mean by less billing pressure? Like clients are more lenient with time spent on tasks because not insurance carrier guidelines? Or something different?

Lacepiece23 - That's helpful to know! I think I'm a good writer, but I like to think worst case scenario. How did you handle that transition? Were they willing to teach to correct and improve your work? I worry about a potential scenario where a new Big Law firm is unforgiving and would can someone transitioning from ID shop to them rather than take the time to fix. Which Brian Garner books did you read?

Read 100 tips for writing the winning brief. It’s great. And then realize that most biglaw partners won’t like everything he preaches. And then adjust accordingly. Like some won’t like that I started a sentence with “And” even thought that’s what he preaches. You’ll figure it out and be better off for following his principles. I taught myself as was lauded as a great writer even though my writing professor told me I was terrible.

They will just redline shit to death. They won’t tell you why. You’ll figure out different writing styles as you go. I’d start with what brian teaches and then adjust accordingly after you get redlines foe each partner.

I don’t think they will can you. It’s not really how it works. Just try to get ahead and start with a good impression by doing some homework on writing. Take your time. Cut your own hours on the first few writing assignments if you have to. Perception matters more than ability. If you turn in something good a few times, they will likely think your other bs is good too.

Hope this helps and good luck! I’m sure you will be fine.

Thank you so much for both the advice and encouragement!

[Anonymous User]

Nealric - What do you mean by less billing pressure? Like clients are more lenient with time spent on tasks because not insurance carrier guidelines? Or something different?

Yes. The average biglaw client is going to be a lot less cost sensitive than the average ID client. When biglaw folks go to an ID environment, they often feel like they are being forced to send slipshod work out the door. Conversely, someone used to ID may feel like everything is being polished to death in biglaw. A fairly simple brief that you might take a few hours on in ID may go through multiple rounds of comments and a day or two of work in biglaw.

The extent to which the above is true does of course depend a bit on what biglaw firm you are talking about and the matter in question. The more the amount in controversy and the higher up the ladder the firm is, the more pressure there is to deliver perfection.

That makes sense. Sometimes I get concerned with how fast we're expected to rush something out the door currently.