Associates: How's life? Forum

[Buglaw]

It's terrible but the money helps

My twin brother, a second year neurosurgery resident in cleveland, works the same hours as i do (v5 m&a junior) for 30% of the salary.

your twin brother is going to make 700K+ for 30 years and not have to worry about partner/client demands.

I can't believe someone actually just compared an M&A junior FAVORABLY to a neurosurgery resident. In what world did you not think about the long-term career trajectories here?!

I see your point, but if you’re just going for money vs time, neurosurgery is not where it’s at. Timewise it’s very similar to partner hours (and the stress involves actual life or death situations) but pay doesn’t come close to biglaw partner level (think around half).

A good argument can be made that it’s a better (more interesting, actually useful) job overall, but not if you’re purely in it for the cash.

Internet issue.

[Buglaw]

It's terrible but the money helps

My twin brother, a second year neurosurgery resident in cleveland, works the same hours as i do (v5 m&a junior) for 30% of the salary.

your twin brother is going to make 700K+ for 30 years and not have to worry about partner/client demands.

I can't believe someone actually just compared an M&A junior FAVORABLY to a neurosurgery resident. In what world did you not think about the long-term career trajectories here?!

I see your point, but if you’re just going for money vs time, neurosurgery is not where it’s at. Timewise it’s very similar to partner hours (and the stress involves actual life or death situations) but pay doesn’t come close to biglaw partner level (think around half).

A good argument can be made that it’s a better (more interesting, actually useful) job overall, but not if you’re purely in it for the cash.

Internet issue.

[Buglaw]

It's terrible but the money helps

My twin brother, a second year neurosurgery resident in cleveland, works the same hours as i do (v5 m&a junior) for 30% of the salary.

your twin brother is going to make 700K+ for 30 years and not have to worry about partner/client demands.

I can't believe someone actually just compared an M&A junior FAVORABLY to a neurosurgery resident. In what world did you not think about the long-term career trajectories here?!

I see your point, but if you’re just going for money vs time, neurosurgery is not where it’s at. Timewise it’s very similar to partner hours (and the stress involves actual life or death situations) but pay doesn’t come close to biglaw partner level (think around half).

A good argument can be made that it’s a better (more interesting, actually useful) job overall, but not if you’re purely in it for the cash.

Internet issue

[Buglaw]

It's terrible but the money helps

My twin brother, a second year neurosurgery resident in cleveland, works the same hours as i do (v5 m&a junior) for 30% of the salary.

your twin brother is going to make 700K+ for 30 years and not have to worry about partner/client demands.

I can't believe someone actually just compared an M&A junior FAVORABLY to a neurosurgery resident. In what world did you not think about the long-term career trajectories here?!

I see your point, but if you’re just going for money vs time, neurosurgery is not where it’s at. Timewise it’s very similar to partner hours (and the stress involves actual life or death situations) but pay doesn’t come close to biglaw partner level (think around half).

A good argument can be made that it’s a better (more interesting, actually useful) job overall, but not if you’re purely in it for the cash.

Internet issue.

[Buglaw]

It's terrible but the money helps

My twin brother, a second year neurosurgery resident in cleveland, works the same hours as i do (v5 m&a junior) for 30% of the salary.

your twin brother is going to make 700K+ for 30 years and not have to worry about partner/client demands.

I can't believe someone actually just compared an M&A junior FAVORABLY to a neurosurgery resident. In what world did you not think about the long-term career trajectories here?!

I see your point, but if you’re just going for money vs time, neurosurgery is not where it’s at. Timewise it’s very similar to partner hours (and the stress involves actual life or death situations) but pay doesn’t come close to biglaw partner level (think around half).

A good argument can be made that it’s a better (more interesting, actually useful) job overall, but not if you’re purely in it for the cash.

internet issue.

[Buglaw]

It's terrible but the money helps

My twin brother, a second year neurosurgery resident in cleveland, works the same hours as i do (v5 m&a junior) for 30% of the salary.

your twin brother is going to make 700K+ for 30 years and not have to worry about partner/client demands.

I can't believe someone actually just compared an M&A junior FAVORABLY to a neurosurgery resident. In what world did you not think about the long-term career trajectories here?!

I see your point, but if you’re just going for money vs time, neurosurgery is not where it’s at. Timewise it’s very similar to partner hours (and the stress involves actual life or death situations) but pay doesn’t come close to biglaw partner level (think around half).

A good argument can be made that it’s a better (more interesting, actually useful) job overall, but not if you’re purely in it for the cash.

Internet issue.

[Buglaw]

It's terrible but the money helps

My twin brother, a second year neurosurgery resident in cleveland, works the same hours as i do (v5 m&a junior) for 30% of the salary.

your twin brother is going to make 700K+ for 30 years and not have to worry about partner/client demands.

I can't believe someone actually just compared an M&A junior FAVORABLY to a neurosurgery resident. In what world did you not think about the long-term career trajectories here?!

I see your point, but if you’re just going for money vs time, neurosurgery is not where it’s at. Timewise it’s very similar to partner hours (and the stress involves actual life or death situations) but pay doesn’t come close to biglaw partner level (think around half).

A good argument can be made that it’s a better (more interesting, actually useful) job overall, but not if you’re purely in it for the cash.

Internet issue.

[Buglaw]

It's terrible but the money helps

My twin brother, a second year neurosurgery resident in cleveland, works the same hours as i do (v5 m&a junior) for 30% of the salary.

your twin brother is going to make 700K+ for 30 years and not have to worry about partner/client demands.

I can't believe someone actually just compared an M&A junior FAVORABLY to a neurosurgery resident. In what world did you not think about the long-term career trajectories here?!

I see your point, but if you’re just going for money vs time, neurosurgery is not where it’s at. Timewise it’s very similar to partner hours (and the stress involves actual life or death situations) but pay doesn’t come close to biglaw partner level (think around half).

A good argument can be made that it’s a better (more interesting, actually useful) job overall, but not if you’re purely in it for the cash.

Internet issue.

[Buglaw]

It's terrible but the money helps

My twin brother, a second year neurosurgery resident in cleveland, works the same hours as i do (v5 m&a junior) for 30% of the salary.

your twin brother is going to make 700K+ for 30 years and not have to worry about partner/client demands.

I can't believe someone actually just compared an M&A junior FAVORABLY to a neurosurgery resident. In what world did you not think about the long-term career trajectories here?!

I see your point, but if you’re just going for money vs time, neurosurgery is not where it’s at. Timewise it’s very similar to partner hours (and the stress involves actual life or death situations) but pay doesn’t come close to biglaw partner level (think around half).

A good argument can be made that it’s a better (more interesting, actually useful) job overall, but not if you’re purely in it for the cash.

Internet issue.

[thelawyler]

Internet issue.

[thelawyler]

It's terrible but the money helps

My twin brother, a second year neurosurgery resident in cleveland, works the same hours as i do (v5 m&a junior) for 30% of the salary.

your twin brother is going to make 700K+ for 30 years and not have to worry about partner/client demands.

I can't believe someone actually just compared an M&A junior FAVORABLY to a neurosurgery resident. In what world did you not think about the long-term career trajectories here?!

I see your point, but if you’re just going for money vs time, neurosurgery is not where it’s at. Timewise it’s very similar to partner hours (and the stress involves actual life or death situations) but pay doesn’t come close to biglaw partner level (think around half).

A good argument can be made that it’s a better (more interesting, actually useful) job overall, but not if you’re purely in it for the cash.

Medicine is predictable though. When you are off, you are off. So hours are bad, but you're able to disconnect and recharge without being pinged (or being afraid of getting pinged), etc.

There's also the whole thing where big law partnership is not at all guaranteed by any stretch of the imagination while the neurosurgery resident will very very likely become a neurosurgeon.

[SFSpartan]

On track for 3000 billable/200 non-billable. Did 2800 last year. Really looking forward to paternity leave so that I can unplug. Trying to stick it out for partner in a couple years but also beginning to break.

[blair.waldorf]

On track for 3000 billable/200 non-billable. Did 2800 last year. Really looking forward to paternity leave so that I can unplug. Trying to stick it out for partner in a couple years but also beginning to break.

I am genuinely shocked that there are people like yourself who can pull these hours. I would break at 2500, honestly.

[Anonymous User]

It's terrible but the money helps

My twin brother, a second year neurosurgery resident in cleveland, works the same hours as i do (v5 m&a junior) for 30% of the salary.

your twin brother is going to make 700K+ for 30 years and not have to worry about partner/client demands.

I can't believe someone actually just compared an M&A junior FAVORABLY to a neurosurgery resident. In what world did you not think about the long-term career trajectories here?!

I see your point, but if you’re just going for money vs time, neurosurgery is not where it’s at. Timewise it’s very similar to partner hours (and the stress involves actual life or death situations) but pay doesn’t come close to biglaw partner level (think around half).

A good argument can be made that it’s a better (more interesting, actually useful) job overall, but not if you’re purely in it for the cash.

Medicine is predictable though. When you are off, you are off. So hours are bad, but you're able to disconnect and recharge without being pinged (or being afraid of getting pinged), etc.

There's also the whole thing where big law partnership is not at all guaranteed by any stretch of the imagination while the neurosurgery resident will very very likely become a neurosurgeon.

My doctor friends, whose industry is literally where the phrase "on call" comes from, beg to differ.

[Anonymous User]

On track for 3000 billable/200 non-billable. Did 2800 last year. Really looking forward to paternity leave so that I can unplug. Trying to stick it out for partner in a couple years but also beginning to break.

I am genuinely shocked that there are people like yourself who can pull these hours. I would break at 2500, honestly.

Also, why do you want to be a partner? From everything I’ve seen, the people who work the hardest are the junior partners and there truly is no amount of money that could make me want to live like they do.

[LBJ's Hair]

On track for 3000 billable/200 non-billable. Did 2800 last year. Really looking forward to paternity leave so that I can unplug. Trying to stick it out for partner in a couple years but also beginning to break.

I am genuinely shocked that there are people like yourself who can pull these hours. I would break at 2500, honestly.

Also, why do you want to be a partner? From everything I’ve seen, the people who work the hardest are the junior partners and there truly is no amount of money that could make me want to live like they do.

Same reason every partner is a partner. They like the work well enough, they're competitive, and they want to be rich.