Junior associate existential crisis? Forum

[biglawbust]

Title might be slightly hyperbolic, but I'm a junior associate and hate my job. I'm starting to think it's not just biglaw, but most office jobs. The thought of spending 2/3 of my waking hours over the next 40 years sitting at a desk in a little office clicking a mouse and typing is making me depressed. The work is mundane and boring. Without trying to sound like an "entitled mellenial," I just wish there was more than this. More than 40 years of paperwork. It's very unfulfilling. But I look around and everyone seems happy to spend all day in a box without windows clicking away. Am I the only one?

[Actus Reus]

Title might be slightly hyperbolic, but I'm a junior associate and hate my job. I'm starting to think it's not just biglaw, but most office jobs. The thought of spending 2/3 of my waking hours over the next 40 years sitting at a desk in a little office clicking a mouse and typing is making me depressed. The work is mundane and boring. Without trying to sound like an "entitled mellenial," I just wish there was more than this. More than 40 years of paperwork. It's very unfulfilling. But I look around and everyone seems happy to spend all day in a box clicking away. Am I the only one?

Not having windows is why firm selection is so important.

Everyone talks about prestige. Amenities are the real difference maker.

[iliketurtles123]

Not working in the legal field yet but I worked before law school. When I started, I absolutely hated it. I too was very depressed about the idea of slaving away for most of your life. And I didn't even hate my job either. Just the idea of getting out of work and having only a few hours of free time was depressing.

I think this is something almost everyone goes through, and not just in law. Obviously it's worse in the legal field since you're working almost double what everyone else is.

After about a year, I finally came to terms with it. I imagine it might take a bit longer in the legal field.
Helps if you have a lot of great amenities and coworkers. I imagine that's why fit is so important in the interview process.

[FloridaCoastalorbust]

Not working in the legal field yet but I worked before law school. When I started, I absolutely hated it. I too was very depressed about the idea of slaving away for most of your life. And I didn't even hate my job either. Just the idea of getting out of work and having only a few hours of free time was depressing.

I think this is something almost everyone goes through, and not just in law. Obviously it's worse in the legal field since you're working almost double what everyone else is.

After about a year, I finally came to terms with it. I imagine it might take a bit longer in the legal field.
Helps if you have a lot of great amenities and coworkers. I imagine that's why fit is so important in the interview process.

+999

[baal hadad]

Take the money you earn and use it to do things you actually like

You are not ur fuckkn khakis

[Cogburn87]

lol @ TLS. "If only you had picked a firm that was a better fit with good amenities, then you wouldn't feel this way!" lol

[A. Nony Mouse]

lol @ TLS. "If only you had picked a firm that was a better fit with good amenities, then you wouldn't feel this way!" lol

(woosh)

But more seriously: yes, there are plenty of people who hate sitting in a box on a computer all day, and plenty who don't mind it. Many of the ones who hate it either don't go into law to start with, or leave it for something else. The ones who do decide that the benefits of the high-paid job/experience/whatever outweighs that tedium. (My sister, who's been out of college for 15+ years, has held an office job for less than a year of that time. She doesn't make any money, but she loves what she does and has a great life. But she doesn't make any money.)

[Cogburn87]

lol @ TLS. "If only you had picked a firm that was a better fit with good amenities, then you wouldn't feel this way!" lol

(woosh)

Not really

Everyone talks about prestige. Amenities are the real difference maker.

Helps if you have a lot of great amenities and coworkers. I imagine that's why fit is so important in the interview process.

[A. Nony Mouse]

lol @ TLS. "If only you had picked a firm that was a better fit with good amenities, then you wouldn't feel this way!" lol

(woosh)

Not really

Everyone talks about prestige. Amenities are the real difference maker.

Helps if you have a lot of great amenities and coworkers. I imagine that's why fit is so important in the interview process.

I'm pretty sure Actus Reus was being sarcastic.

[Actus Reus]

lol @ TLS. "If only you had picked a firm that was a better fit with good amenities, then you wouldn't feel this way!" lol

(woosh)

Not really

Everyone talks about prestige. Amenities are the real difference maker.

Helps if you have a lot of great amenities and coworkers. I imagine that's why fit is so important in the interview process.

I'm pretty sure Actus Reus was being sarcastic.

You've described my mens rea.

[Cogburn87]

I'm pretty sure Actus Reus was being sarcastic.

Fair enough. Not familiar with the poster. Pretty sure turtles was not.

[A. Nony Mouse]

To be fair to iliketurtles, she (?I think) wrote a bit more than just "cop great amenities, bro." I think she's right about the adjustment to office work for a lot of people.

[Actus Reus]

In all seriousness, the small things do make a big difference (sharing an office, comfy chair, nice view)

[A. Nony Mouse]

In all seriousness, the small things do make a big difference (sharing an office, comfy chair, nice view)

This is very true. I WANT A WINDOW GODDAMMIT. (sigh)

[wildcatatpenn]

In all seriousness, the small things do make a big difference (sharing an office, comfy chair, nice view)

This is very true. I WANT A WINDOW GODDAMMIT. (sigh)

wtf? is there such thing as a biglaw firm sticking lawyers in interior offices??? I don't think any firm I ever CBed at, or my summer firm, did this to attys.
New York thing maybe? Only market I didn't really consider..

[Johann]

stop thinking about the future so much. just go into work tomorrow and do tomorrow. bank some money. reassess later.

[Actus Reus]

stop thinking about the future so much. just go into work tomorrow and do tomorrow. bank some money. reassess later.

*says the 2L who studies night after night for 12 hours*

[A. Nony Mouse]

In all seriousness, the small things do make a big difference (sharing an office, comfy chair, nice view)

This is very true. I WANT A WINDOW GODDAMMIT. (sigh)

wtf? is there such thing as a biglaw firm sticking lawyers in interior offices??? I don't think any firm I ever CBed at, or my summer firm, did this to attys.
New York thing maybe? Only market I didn't really consider..

Not at a firm. (Though I think some people have mentioned interior offices in NY?)

[Johann]

stop thinking about the future so much. just go into work tomorrow and do tomorrow. bank some money. reassess later.

*says the 2L who studies night after night for 12 hours*

i work. i have a tendency to overthink things like the OP. when i dont think about things as often i am much happier and the months fly by quicker. i think its genuinely good advice.

[r6_philly]

It may feel like a futile situation you are trapped in (windows do make it better though), you still have options. You can choose to stick in the little box and click away, but know that all your needs are well taken care of outside the box (when you do get out), or you can leave the box and have to wonder how to pay for anything. Or there is a third option where you can live well without being trapped, but I think everyone is looking for that, so must be fairly scarce. But there is a choice, and you have to learn to live with your choices.

Just as an aside: interior offices are TTT and depressing. My view makes up for a lot of stuff I give up, it would actually be tough without it.

[Danger Zone]

In all seriousness, the small things do make a big difference (sharing an office, comfy chair, nice view)

This is very true. I WANT A WINDOW GODDAMMIT. (sigh)

wtf? is there such thing as a biglaw firm sticking lawyers in interior offices??? I don't think any firm I ever CBed at, or my summer firm, did this to attys.
New York thing maybe? Only market I didn't really consider..

Not at a firm. (Though I think some people have mentioned interior offices in NY?)

There are interior offices in New York. And guess who gets them.