Biglaw Litigation Hours & How to Adjust Forum

[Anonymous User]

Hi all,

I'm starting work as a litigation associate at one of S&C/PW/DPW in the fall. I'm no stranger to working long hours but I am curious about a few things:
1) For my morning people, what time do you go to sleep/wake up on average? And do you usually know when you'll be working late? In other words, if it's 10 and you're not expecting more emails (and you're done for the day), can you just go to sleep?

2) I imagine litigation has fewer things popping up in the middle of the evening than corporate, but are there any junctures in a case where you find things are mostly likely to suddenly explode (barring trial)?

3) This may vary by office, but as a first-year should we be staying longer in the office or is showing face more a thing of the past?

4) Any general advice on adjusting to the new lifestyle? And is it true that ramping up generally takes a few months?

[Crazysnackaroo]

Hi all,

I'm starting work as a litigation associate at one of S&C/PW/DPW in the fall. I'm no stranger to working long hours but I am curious about a few things:
1) For my morning people, what time do you go to sleep/wake up on average? And do you usually know when you'll be working late? In other words, if it's 10 and you're not expecting more emails (and you're done for the day), can you just go to sleep?

2) I imagine litigation has fewer things popping up in the middle of the evening than corporate, but are there any junctures in a case where you find things are mostly likely to suddenly explode (barring trial)?

3) This may vary by office, but as a first-year should we be staying longer in the office or is showing face more a thing of the past?

4) Any general advice on adjusting to the new lifestyle? And is it true that ramping up generally takes a few months?

Huge caveat at the start, every firm and practice group will be different. For the record, I'm no longer in BL and I practiced in the South.
1) I woke up around 6:30, would work out around 7 or 7:30, and I was usually in the office around 9. People started to get in around 9 but it was very popular to get in around 10. I think it's generally fine to stop responding at 9 pm unless there's something big (in my firm group, it was generally fine to not be timely to responses after 6 or 7 pm as well - for example, partner asks you to do something at 6:30, it was okay to respond at 7:30 and say "received and will do"- but you'll need to find out and see with your group, which may be totally different). I wasn't in transactional, but they'll have more late night closings. In lit, I might stay up late or at the office late to finish prepping a motion, for depos or trial etc.

2) Not really. You know when things will be late night. I guess if something unforeseen happens during someones depo that might alter the next depo, it could theoretically alter some stuff. But generally, you'll just know the late nights because you'll see them on the calendar.

3) Totally depends on your group/team. Nobody really stayed in the office past 6 or 6:30 unless there was a big matter to finish (like prepping for a depo the next day etc). Usually a cohort that came in around 9-5:30 and a second cohort who did the 10-6/6:30 push. I did know a couple folks who did 8-4:30, but that was much rarer. I'd say also some older partners like to just pop into your office to give you work or ask you questions. I actually think when you first start having butt in seat will just help you become friendly with the office. At the start, you really are selling yourself and your work to senior associates and partners. 60% of that is the work product, 40% of that is you. Don't be sloppy, but most of this stuff can be learned.

4) It's going to suck at first. Ramping up takes 6 months or so. You'll also likely be doing a lot of doc review years 1-3. My general advice is to find folks you like working with and for. It just makes it a lot easier.

[nealric]

Hi all,

I'm starting work as a litigation associate at one of S&C/PW/DPW in the fall. I'm no stranger to working long hours but I am curious about a few things:
1) For my morning people, what time do you go to sleep/wake up on average? And do you usually know when you'll be working late? In other words, if it's 10 and you're not expecting more emails (and you're done for the day), can you just go to sleep?

2) I imagine litigation has fewer things popping up in the middle of the evening than corporate, but are there any junctures in a case where you find things are mostly likely to suddenly explode (barring trial)?

3) This may vary by office, but as a first-year should we be staying longer in the office or is showing face more a thing of the past?

4) Any general advice on adjusting to the new lifestyle? And is it true that ramping up generally takes a few months?

Huge caveat at the start, every firm and practice group will be different. For the record, I'm no longer in BL and I practiced in the South..

I note that places outside of Texas tend to have more of an "early to bed early to rise" culture while NYC has more of a night owl culture. Leaving before ~7:00 was "early" when I was in NYC biglaw and 8-9pm was pretty standard. Granted, this was pre-COVID WFH culture so not sure how it is today.