How is the market out there? Forum

[ALCA1920]

I decided not to go to law school in part because of the job prospects for non-T20 folk. I keep hearing about there being an oversupply of attorneys and that we don't need anymore. Maybe it was wrong for me to end the journey so soon b/c I find the law fascinating, but my understanding is that actual legal practice is... well... unpleasant.

Based on your experience, is this true? How has your legal employment/job search been so far?

[Anonymous User]

YMMV, because I'm a miserable first year who wishes she'd never gone to law school, but all the money in the world wouldn't make this life worth it and I'm looking for exit options less than five months in, although for golden handcuff reasons I can't leave yet. I will be in debt forever if I quit this job and I don't even care. Fast food wasn't this painful. Retail wasn't this painful. I have gotten on two separate psychiatric medications and started talk therapy since I started this job, and I still cry regularly because I feel so lost and alone. I am beginning to experience suicidal thoughts and have posted a list of reasons to stay alive above my desk. You made the right call not getting into this.

[Anonymous User]

YMMV, because I'm a miserable first year who wishes she'd never gone to law school, but all the money in the world wouldn't make this life worth it and I'm looking for exit options less than five months in, although for golden handcuff reasons I can't leave yet. I will be in debt forever if I quit this job and I don't even care. Fast food wasn't this painful. Retail wasn't this painful. I have gotten on two separate psychiatric medications and started talk therapy since I started this job, and I still cry regularly because I feel so lost and alone. I am beginning to experience suicidal thoughts and have posted a list of reasons to stay alive above my desk. You made the right call not getting into this.

Not OP, but would you mind elaborating on the parts you find worst? I'll soon be on the job market and want to be aware of what I need to look out for.

[ALCA1920]

YMMV, because I'm a miserable first year who wishes she'd never gone to law school, but all the money in the world wouldn't make this life worth it and I'm looking for exit options less than five months in, although for golden handcuff reasons I can't leave yet. I will be in debt forever if I quit this job and I don't even care. Fast food wasn't this painful. Retail wasn't this painful. I have gotten on two separate psychiatric medications and started talk therapy since I started this job, and I still cry regularly because I feel so lost and alone. I am beginning to experience suicidal thoughts and have posted a list of reasons to stay alive above my desk. You made the right call not getting into this.

Damn, sorry to hear. Hope things turn around for the better. If you don't mind me asking, what's wrong with the job? Is it just too stressful?

[Anonymous User]

I enjoy my job, but I just recently started a few months ago. The hours are annoying, but I’m a specialist so I normally get to sign off around 7 and sign back on around 10 for two hours. Luckily the fire drills rarely involve me.

Getting integrated during covid in a specialist position (learning curve is steep) has been challenging though. The senior associates and partners are all very busy, but I’m barely on pace for 2000ish hours. I think it’s because I’ve literally never met these people and they don’t trust me yet.

It’ll probably pick up once the office opens back up and I get to actually meet everyone.

For the intellectually stimulating factor, my practice area is pretty interesting. I have a lot more hands-on, substantive work compared to my general corporate colleagues. But that makes the hours go by slower sometimes. It’s a trade off.

Overall, it’s not bad. First poster is probably drowning in corporate right now.

[Anonymous User]

I'm not working yet (2L graduating in December), so we'll see how I actually like the work. But re: job opportunities, I didn't have an issue getting a 2L SA position with a mid-market firm of about 250-ish attorneys pre-OCI (obviously no offer until after this summer but this firm, absent catastrophe, 100% offers).

Specifically, I knew I wanted to end up in a particular non-major market for personal reasons; so, I went to the best school I could that offered me the best financial package. Assuming I get an offer, I'll graduate with ~$30k, $100k starting salary, and a relatively inexpensive cost of living in that market.

We'll see if the work-life balance at this mid-size firm makes the lower salary worth it. According to the junior associates I've talked to, it seems like pretty good hours: weekends usually free, out of the office by 5-6 (when they were going in for work) majority of the nights and late nights are not the norm. Given COL, the pay works out pretty nicely. But we'll see how things shake out.

So far I'm not regretting law school. This is my second graduate program, so I'm burnt out on school. This semester has been a slog, and I'm excited to do something like work this summer and a large externship in the fall. I also think the firm I'll work at is the right fit for me. I don't think I could stand Biglaw, but sometimes mid-size/mid-market firms can turn into Biglaw hours for less than Biglaw pay; I'm praying that's not the case.

[Anonymous User]

[*]

YMMV, because I'm a miserable first year who wishes she'd never gone to law school, but all the money in the world wouldn't make this life worth it and I'm looking for exit options less than five months in, although for golden handcuff reasons I can't leave yet. I will be in debt forever if I quit this job and I don't even care. Fast food wasn't this painful. Retail wasn't this painful. I have gotten on two separate psychiatric medications and started talk therapy since I started this job, and I still cry regularly because I feel so lost and alone. I am beginning to experience suicidal thoughts and have posted a list of reasons to stay alive above my desk. You made the right call not getting into this.

Not OP, but would you mind elaborating on the parts you find worst? I'll soon be on the job market and want to be aware of what I need to look out for.

Okay, so the red flags I missed when interviewing were that the department I was hired into has absolutely no other juniors-- no one else below a sixth year associate, in fact. There is no "team." Also, ask how work is allocated or how associates are staffed. They call this firm "entrepreneurial," but what that means is as a first year you're going to be begging from work door to door like a panhandler and then they'll blame you if you get in too deep and can't finish your work or if you don't have ENOUGH hours. I think it's also maybe kind of a red flag if most of an office's work comes from OTHER offices, plus it's a pain in the ass to deal with 57 partners in different locations who never talk to each other. Overall, try not to be blinded by money like I was, either.

I now hear they've had an associate retention problem at this office, and I honestly think it's probably the fault of one specific senior associate who is the incarnation of Satan. She isn't ever outright rude or demeaning enough to take up with anyone (HR or whatever), but she has zero patience and zero tolerance for questions, even if it's the person's first time ever doing a task that's unlike previous tasks, and then she gets really unpleasant if you don't do a good job. AND she's best pals with the department head. I feel incredibly isolated and like I have nowhere to turn.

Honestly, I think some of these issues would have been impossible to tell at the interview stage. I interviewed with Satan Associate and she was rather unpleasant then, but I just assumed she was tired or didn't like my resume, and the partners were all pretty nice. I had no way of knowing how much this person would make my life hell.

[Anonymous User]

I'm a few years into practice and I really love my job. The work is enjoyable and interesting, and for the most part my colleagues aren't psychopaths. That being said, I work in government and make far less than any of my law school classmates. But I almost never work weekends, and even once during a Saturday fire drill where I really did need to work my boss first asked me if it was okay and apologized. Hell, I once abandoned ship during a fire drill at 6pm on a weeknight, as a first-year, because I had opera tickets. My work ethic was later rated outstanding on my annual performance review.

But now I'm having to lateral to private practice, at least for a few years, because the pay I'm getting really is shit and I want to be able to have kids in the future. I just wanted to pipe in and let everyone know that it is possible to have a nice life as a lawyer after law school, if money isn't an issue.

[Anonymous User]

I'm a few years into practice and I really love my job. The work is enjoyable and interesting, and for the most part my colleagues aren't psychopaths. That being said, I work in government and make far less than any of my law school classmates. But I almost never work weekends, and even once during a Saturday fire drill where I really did need to work my boss first asked me if it was okay and apologized. Hell, I once abandoned ship during a fire drill at 6pm on a weeknight, as a first-year, because I had opera tickets. My work ethic was later rated outstanding on my annual performance review.

But now I'm having to lateral to private practice, at least for a few years, because the pay I'm getting really is shit and I want to be able to have kids in the future. I just wanted to pipe in and let everyone know that it is possible to have a nice life as a lawyer after law school, if money isn't an issue.

If you don't mind my asking, what kind of government work do you do, and what is the general pay range?

[Sackboy]

Getting integrated during covid in a specialist position (learning curve is steep) has been challenging though. The senior associates and partners are all very busy, but I’m barely on pace for 2000ish hours. I think it’s because I’ve literally never met these people and they don’t trust me yet.

This is weird way to view your current situation. 2,000 is either average or above average for biglaw. This forum warps people's perspectives, but 2,000 is a very healthy workload. If you have that many hours, you're obviously trusted with work.

[Anonymous User]

I'm a few years into practice and I really love my job. The work is enjoyable and interesting, and for the most part my colleagues aren't psychopaths. That being said, I work in government and make far less than any of my law school classmates. But I almost never work weekends, and even once during a Saturday fire drill where I really did need to work my boss first asked me if it was okay and apologized. Hell, I once abandoned ship during a fire drill at 6pm on a weeknight, as a first-year, because I had opera tickets. My work ethic was later rated outstanding on my annual performance review.

But now I'm having to lateral to private practice, at least for a few years, because the pay I'm getting really is shit and I want to be able to have kids in the future. I just wanted to pipe in and let everyone know that it is possible to have a nice life as a lawyer after law school, if money isn't an issue.

If you don't mind my asking, what kind of government work do you do, and what is the general pay range?

I work in a very specialized area of litigation making just under $80k (in an expensive area).

[lavarman84]

I'm a few years into practice and I really love my job. The work is enjoyable and interesting, and for the most part my colleagues aren't psychopaths. That being said, I work in government and make far less than any of my law school classmates. But I almost never work weekends, and even once during a Saturday fire drill where I really did need to work my boss first asked me if it was okay and apologized. Hell, I once abandoned ship during a fire drill at 6pm on a weeknight, as a first-year, because I had opera tickets. My work ethic was later rated outstanding on my annual performance review.

But now I'm having to lateral to private practice, at least for a few years, because the pay I'm getting really is shit and I want to be able to have kids in the future. I just wanted to pipe in and let everyone know that it is possible to have a nice life as a lawyer after law school, if money isn't an issue.

I also work as a litigator for the government, and I'm quite happy. The best advice I could give people who find the law interesting is to go to the best-ranked law school that offers you a strong scholarship, incur very little debt, and try to work for the government. If you pick a place to live that isn't high COL, you can live comfortably, have good work-life balance, and like your job. Of course, I say that as a litigator. I don't know if the same holds true for transactional attorneys.

The people I know who hate being a lawyer either don't like the law (and shouldn't have gone to law school) or work in private practice for firms that are overly demanding. Biglaw obviously makes a lot of attorneys miserable. But they at least pay well. I know people at small firms who hate it and don't make that much. Basically, go to a law school that will put you in a position to get a good job, minimize your debt, and allow you to practice the sort of law you want where you want. Being stuck in biglaw because you have too much debt will likely make you miserable. And getting stuck with a terrible small law firm because you have no job prospects will also likely make you miserable.

[Anonymous User]

I'm a few years into practice and I really love my job. The work is enjoyable and interesting, and for the most part my colleagues aren't psychopaths. That being said, I work in government and make far less than any of my law school classmates. But I almost never work weekends, and even once during a Saturday fire drill where I really did need to work my boss first asked me if it was okay and apologized. Hell, I once abandoned ship during a fire drill at 6pm on a weeknight, as a first-year, because I had opera tickets. My work ethic was later rated outstanding on my annual performance review.

But now I'm having to lateral to private practice, at least for a few years, because the pay I'm getting really is shit and I want to be able to have kids in the future. I just wanted to pipe in and let everyone know that it is possible to have a nice life as a lawyer after law school, if money isn't an issue.

I also work as a litigator for the government, and I'm quite happy. The best advice I could give people who find the law interesting is to go to the best-ranked law school that offers you a strong scholarship, incur very little debt, and try to work for the government. If you pick a place to live that isn't high COL, you can live comfortably, have good work-life balance, and like your job. Of course, I say that as a litigator. I don't know if the same holds true for transactional attorneys.

The people I know who hate being a lawyer either don't like the law (and shouldn't have gone to law school) or work in private practice for firms that are overly demanding. Biglaw obviously makes a lot of attorneys miserable. But they at least pay well. I know people at small firms who hate it and don't make that much. Basically, go to a law school that will put you in a position to get a good job, minimize your debt, and allow you to practice the sort of law you want where you want. Being stuck in biglaw because you have too much debt will likely make you miserable. And getting stuck with a terrible small law firm because you have no job prospects will also likely make you miserable.

I hear this often about government work. Aside from the better hours and no billing requirements (correct me if I’m wrong), is the work inherently more enjoyable there?

[Anonymous User]

I'm a few years into practice and I really love my job. The work is enjoyable and interesting, and for the most part my colleagues aren't psychopaths. That being said, I work in government and make far less than any of my law school classmates. But I almost never work weekends, and even once during a Saturday fire drill where I really did need to work my boss first asked me if it was okay and apologized. Hell, I once abandoned ship during a fire drill at 6pm on a weeknight, as a first-year, because I had opera tickets. My work ethic was later rated outstanding on my annual performance review.

But now I'm having to lateral to private practice, at least for a few years, because the pay I'm getting really is shit and I want to be able to have kids in the future. I just wanted to pipe in and let everyone know that it is possible to have a nice life as a lawyer after law school, if money isn't an issue.

I also work as a litigator for the government, and I'm quite happy. The best advice I could give people who find the law interesting is to go to the best-ranked law school that offers you a strong scholarship, incur very little debt, and try to work for the government. If you pick a place to live that isn't high COL, you can live comfortably, have good work-life balance, and like your job. Of course, I say that as a litigator. I don't know if the same holds true for transactional attorneys.

The people I know who hate being a lawyer either don't like the law (and shouldn't have gone to law school) or work in private practice for firms that are overly demanding. Biglaw obviously makes a lot of attorneys miserable. But they at least pay well. I know people at small firms who hate it and don't make that much. Basically, go to a law school that will put you in a position to get a good job, minimize your debt, and allow you to practice the sort of law you want where you want. Being stuck in biglaw because you have too much debt will likely make you miserable. And getting stuck with a terrible small law firm because you have no job prospects will also likely make you miserable.

I hear this often about government work. Aside from the better hours and no billing requirements (correct me if I’m wrong), is the work inherently more enjoyable there?

Thank you for the insight! Adding on a question - are most government jobs eligible for PSLF?

[lavarman84]

I'm a few years into practice and I really love my job. The work is enjoyable and interesting, and for the most part my colleagues aren't psychopaths. That being said, I work in government and make far less than any of my law school classmates. But I almost never work weekends, and even once during a Saturday fire drill where I really did need to work my boss first asked me if it was okay and apologized. Hell, I once abandoned ship during a fire drill at 6pm on a weeknight, as a first-year, because I had opera tickets. My work ethic was later rated outstanding on my annual performance review.

But now I'm having to lateral to private practice, at least for a few years, because the pay I'm getting really is shit and I want to be able to have kids in the future. I just wanted to pipe in and let everyone know that it is possible to have a nice life as a lawyer after law school, if money isn't an issue.

I also work as a litigator for the government, and I'm quite happy. The best advice I could give people who find the law interesting is to go to the best-ranked law school that offers you a strong scholarship, incur very little debt, and try to work for the government. If you pick a place to live that isn't high COL, you can live comfortably, have good work-life balance, and like your job. Of course, I say that as a litigator. I don't know if the same holds true for transactional attorneys.

The people I know who hate being a lawyer either don't like the law (and shouldn't have gone to law school) or work in private practice for firms that are overly demanding. Biglaw obviously makes a lot of attorneys miserable. But they at least pay well. I know people at small firms who hate it and don't make that much. Basically, go to a law school that will put you in a position to get a good job, minimize your debt, and allow you to practice the sort of law you want where you want. Being stuck in biglaw because you have too much debt will likely make you miserable. And getting stuck with a terrible small law firm because you have no job prospects will also likely make you miserable.

I hear this often about government work. Aside from the better hours and no billing requirements (correct me if I’m wrong), is the work inherently more enjoyable there?

I can't speak for every government job, but yes, I enjoy my work. It's worth noting, though, that I like the law and enjoy litigating.

I imagine there are plenty of government jobs that aren't enjoyable, but people choose them because they make a comfortable living and only work 40 hours a week. (An example of that sort of job for me would be a person who drafts opinions for federal government agencies, but maybe people find those jobs interesting. I don't know.)

As for billing requirements, I've heard some government jobs do require you to bill hours, but I don't think it's the norm. I certainly am not expected to bill hours.

Thank you for the insight! Adding on a question - are most government jobs eligible for PSLF?

I'm not sure. I graduated law school with no debt, so I have never had to look into it.

[Anonymous User]

As another government lawyer, first, yes, all government jobs are eligible for PSLF.

And I think one of the biggest differences between government work and the private sector is that (at least in my particular kind of government job) you have a ton of autonomy right from the start. My cases are my cases, and while I have co-counsel on some (mostly trial cases), if it's my case I'm the lead attorney. (I've second-chaired a few times as well.) This can be kind of stressful, but personally I have a much easier time putting the work into something when I'm the one deciding what work needs to be done when, rather than when someone else is giving me pieces of things to do on their plan and timeline. Staying up late to finish something because I just didn't quite plan my time well enough to do it earlier is very different from having someone hand me an assignment at 5 pm and say they need something by morning. And putting in the work for trial when I'm going to give the opening or closing and examine 1/2 the witnesses is (for me) much easier than doing the work to prep someone else to do those things (not b/c I need the limelight, just that if I'm the one who's going to have to stand up and rely on the work I have a different kind of investment in it).

The other thing is that there is a hierarchy, but I think it's quite a bit flatter than at a firm. My title is the same title as every other attorney in my office who isn't a supervisor. Seniority isn't entirely meaningless because you develop skill over time, but you do generally get a crack at the kind of cases you're interested in, and you can seize the chance to develop pretty complex work relatively early on if that's your goal. (TBF though, that's not the case in every office - it depends on caseload and variety of work available.)

I do find the work more interesting than what I'd do in a firm, but that's sort of specific to practice areas and what I find interesting. My work isn't "sophisticated" in the way that some kind of multi-district complex commercial litigation involving 4 of the biggest law firms in the country is sophisticated, but it's meaningful to me, which is more important.

I actually do have to "bill" hours - I put it in quotes because it's nothing like at a firm, there isn't any kind of hours requirement beyond working 40 hrs a week, I don't have to justify hours to a client and the details required are much less (I'm sure if I billed like this at a firm all my entries would get kicked back). It's to justify the number of positions we have and to help support claims for needing more.

All that said, it's still law and it's still litigation. If you don't like researching and writing for motions practice, you won't like it in government. If the adversarial system stresses you out, litigating for the government won't be any more fun than in the private sector. Pay is definitely less, although I'm in a low COL, small market where my salary is more than adequate and probably better than most lawyers (there's almost no true biglaw in my market).

[Anonymous User]

Getting integrated during covid in a specialist position (learning curve is steep) has been challenging though. The senior associates and partners are all very busy, but I’m barely on pace for 2000ish hours. I think it’s because I’ve literally never met these people and they don’t trust me yet.

This is weird way to view your current situation. 2,000 is either average or above average for biglaw. This forum warps people's perspectives, but 2,000 is a very healthy workload. If you have that many hours, you're obviously trusted with work.

The rest of my team is probably closer to 2500+, so it just feels low.

[Anonymous User]

[*]

YMMV, because I'm a miserable first year who wishes she'd never gone to law school, but all the money in the world wouldn't make this life worth it and I'm looking for exit options less than five months in, although for golden handcuff reasons I can't leave yet. I will be in debt forever if I quit this job and I don't even care. Fast food wasn't this painful. Retail wasn't this painful. I have gotten on two separate psychiatric medications and started talk therapy since I started this job, and I still cry regularly because I feel so lost and alone. I am beginning to experience suicidal thoughts and have posted a list of reasons to stay alive above my desk. You made the right call not getting into this.

Not OP, but would you mind elaborating on the parts you find worst? I'll soon be on the job market and want to be aware of what I need to look out for.

Okay, so the red flags I missed when interviewing were that the department I was hired into has absolutely no other juniors-- no one else below a sixth year associate, in fact. There is no "team." Also, ask how work is allocated or how associates are staffed. They call this firm "entrepreneurial," but what that means is as a first year you're going to be begging from work door to door like a panhandler and then they'll blame you if you get in too deep and can't finish your work or if you don't have ENOUGH hours. I think it's also maybe kind of a red flag if most of an office's work comes from OTHER offices, plus it's a pain in the ass to deal with 57 partners in different locations who never talk to each other. Overall, try not to be blinded by money like I was, either.

I now hear they've had an associate retention problem at this office, and I honestly think it's probably the fault of one specific senior associate who is the incarnation of Satan. She isn't ever outright rude or demeaning enough to take up with anyone (HR or whatever), but she has zero patience and zero tolerance for questions, even if it's the person's first time ever doing a task that's unlike previous tasks, and then she gets really unpleasant if you don't do a good job. AND she's best pals with the department head. I feel incredibly isolated and like I have nowhere to turn.

Honestly, I think some of these issues would have been impossible to tell at the interview stage. I interviewed with Satan Associate and she was rather unpleasant then, but I just assumed she was tired or didn't like my resume, and the partners were all pretty nice. I had no way of knowing how much this person would make my life hell.

Not OP but worried about finding the red flags too. did you interview on Zoom or in person? can you expand on how your work is allocated or staffed versus what you were told during your interview? Did you get to summer with your firm? I didnt and feel like I am going in blind. I know that corproate has a ton of work going on so im not as worried about getting my hours.

[Anonymous User]

[*]

YMMV, because I'm a miserable first year who wishes she'd never gone to law school, but all the money in the world wouldn't make this life worth it and I'm looking for exit options less than five months in, although for golden handcuff reasons I can't leave yet. I will be in debt forever if I quit this job and I don't even care. Fast food wasn't this painful. Retail wasn't this painful. I have gotten on two separate psychiatric medications and started talk therapy since I started this job, and I still cry regularly because I feel so lost and alone. I am beginning to experience suicidal thoughts and have posted a list of reasons to stay alive above my desk. You made the right call not getting into this.

Not OP, but would you mind elaborating on the parts you find worst? I'll soon be on the job market and want to be aware of what I need to look out for.

Okay, so the red flags I missed when interviewing were that the department I was hired into has absolutely no other juniors-- no one else below a sixth year associate, in fact. There is no "team." Also, ask how work is allocated or how associates are staffed. They call this firm "entrepreneurial," but what that means is as a first year you're going to be begging from work door to door like a panhandler and then they'll blame you if you get in too deep and can't finish your work or if you don't have ENOUGH hours. I think it's also maybe kind of a red flag if most of an office's work comes from OTHER offices, plus it's a pain in the ass to deal with 57 partners in different locations who never talk to each other. Overall, try not to be blinded by money like I was, either.

I now hear they've had an associate retention problem at this office, and I honestly think it's probably the fault of one specific senior associate who is the incarnation of Satan. She isn't ever outright rude or demeaning enough to take up with anyone (HR or whatever), but she has zero patience and zero tolerance for questions, even if it's the person's first time ever doing a task that's unlike previous tasks, and then she gets really unpleasant if you don't do a good job. AND she's best pals with the department head. I feel incredibly isolated and like I have nowhere to turn.

Honestly, I think some of these issues would have been impossible to tell at the interview stage. I interviewed with Satan Associate and she was rather unpleasant then, but I just assumed she was tired or didn't like my resume, and the partners were all pretty nice. I had no way of knowing how much this person would make my life hell.

Not OP but worried about finding the red flags too. did you interview on Zoom or in person? can you expand on how your work is allocated or staffed versus what you were told during your interview? Did you get to summer with your firm? I didnt and feel like I am going in blind. I know that corproate has a ton of work going on so im not as worried about getting my hours.

I interviewed on Zoom, and it's possible that made it harder to see potential issues. They scheduled me for four hours straight of interviews with no breaks built in, and they stuck to it, which now seems pretty inhumane and representative of how much they care about my well-being overall. I was VERY thirsty by the end of that. I suppose I could have asked for a break to get water, but it would have cut into the interview time.

When I interviewed and asked how work was handed out, they basically said "we have SO MUCH WORK for you, you'll just have work pouring in, don't even worry about it." I was a little desperate because COVID really hurt my job search, but in hindsight they basically ducked the question about work allocation entirely. That was probably because there is no system. It's a disaster zone. You ask for work and you drown, or you don't ask and you sit there twiddling your thumbs.

I did not summer with this firm. My summer experiences were the result of 3/4 of my LS career staff quitting my 1L summer, which is to say, not quality. I lateraled after clerking.

[chruck]

What did you end up doing? I am at the risk consulting arm of a Big 4/Accenture/Guidehouse and it made me 100% wish I had done an MBA or MA in Comp Sci instead. Working closely with the business as consultant and previously working in industry has made me see how legal services are usually a cost center for businesses that they avoid spending money on when they can. It actually seems to me that business are pushing more compliance to perform legal duties (eg reg interpretation in addition to implementation).

I looked at my T40-T50’s last employment report and couple others in that range and it still seems like 70-80% employed within 9 months of graduation (up from lower numbers). However, some schools seemed to gain 10% employment despite cutting enrollment by 33%.

Finally, I began as an attorney before getting a JD preferred job that setup a lot of people to work as attorneys in a specific regulated area. What I realized is when the law market is so crowded and you end up fighting so hard to get a legal job that at the end of the day is just a job. There is no guarantee you like it even after spending years of your mid 20s to early 30s and $100ks chasing it (and could possibly worst than imagined if you end up in a big law sweet shop).

[Anonymous User]

I enjoy my job, but I just recently started a few months ago. The hours are annoying, but I’m a specialist so I normally get to sign off around 7 and sign back on around 10 for two hours. Luckily the fire drills rarely involve me.

I think this is a good example of how much it will vary by individual. Like, sincerely glad this works for you, but the idea of signing off around 7 and then "getting to" sign back on from 10 to midnight is terrible to me. But I also hate the substance of my work and the culture of biglaw, so if I had more autonomy/was doing something I actually care even a little bit about, the hours and unpredictability might not bother me so much. Then again, they still might.

[thisismytlsuername]

I enjoy my job, but I just recently started a few months ago. The hours are annoying, but I’m a specialist so I normally get to sign off around 7 and sign back on around 10 for two hours. Luckily the fire drills rarely involve me.

I think this is a good example of how much it will vary by individual. Like, sincerely glad this works for you, but the idea of signing off around 7 and then "getting to" sign back on from 10 to midnight is terrible to me. But I also hate the substance of my work and the culture of biglaw, so if I had more autonomy/was doing something I actually care even a little bit about, the hours and unpredictability might not bother me so much. Then again, they still might.

On balance, in balance.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XgSJUzYCGtc

[Anonymous User]

On balance, in balance.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XgSJUzYCGtc

It gets posted a lot, but this video will never not be funny (and simultaneously, sad)