The BigLaw hate buffet Forum

[rayiner]

the kind of person who stays to be a sr associate usually just fucking sucks. they turned down all the life rafts that floated by and i assume are desperately, hopelessly trying to get that partnership promotion

I feel like these kind of people are dangerous. Their spouse or child should be kept on continual watch to make sure they are safe when that last remaining nerve snaps.

Whatever. The cool partners that people fight to work with (yes, they exist) were senior associates once. Senior associates stay for a mix or reasons. Some are, like IAFG said, really gunning for partner. Some are just riding out big law as long as they can because they're paid more than they would be at any of their exit options. There's a mix of cool and miserable people in both groups.

the coolest partners lateralled for something non-personality-ruining like fedgov

The lateral-ed in from FedGov partners are disproportionately chill, laid-back bros.

[rayiner]

I'm sorry, I forgot to add: sleep.

Of course, this varies along with the cycles of work, so it's a little tough to describe the "average." Overall, though, I'd say I average 5 hours per night on weekdays and 7-8 on weekends.

Holy shit. Are you working 14 hours a day?

Not on average, no. But when I'm in one of those busy stretches where I am working 14 hours a day, I sleep less than five hours a night. I'm one of those people who needs to wind down after work. If I work from 10 a.m. to midnight, I don't just go home and go to sleep. I'll go to the gym, eat a real late meal, and maybe watch some TV. I won't fall asleep till 3 or so.

When it's slower I get more sleep (more like 6-7 hours a night), but even then I like staying up late. I might leave work at 5, go to a game with some friends, go out for drinks afterwards, and then maybe answer emails for an hour at home.

I could sleep more if I made it a priority. This is entirely anecdotal, but the associates I know who need lots of sleep (8 hours or more a night) seem the most unhappy. I think it's because their lives are nothing but working, eating, and sleeping. If you can get by on less sleep you can have a little more free time to yourself during the week.

Gotcha. I can fall asleep at the drop of a hat, so if I work till midnight, I'm asleep by 1 and still get 7 hours or so.

I don't think it's wise to try and get less sleep than your body needs (and only 2-3% of people need as a little as 5 hours a night). It's a recipe for weight-gain and burn-out. I know people who think "they can get by on less sleep" but really their lives would be better if they prioritized getting an extra hour or two each night.

Obviously not saying this applies to you, but just in general, there's this macho-attitude about sleep and how people can get away with less that isn't backed up by the science.

[JusticeHarlan]

From what you observe (since this seems to be an associates and below crowd), does life get better for those who actually stick it out and make it to midlevel? How about to partner?

When the bleary eyed junior associate sends his work off to the mid-level at 11:26 pm, that mid-level is then the one who has to spend an hour checking it and, if the junior is lucky, running his own edits. The mid-level then shoots it off to the senior at 12:34, along with everything else the mid-level has been working on. The senior then gets to review both the junior and mid-level's work and shoots it off the parter at 2:05 am, so the partner can wake up at 8:15, get to the office at 9:30, not look at it and just tell the senior to send it along to the client.

[thesealocust]

From what you observe (since this seems to be an associates and below crowd), does life get better for those who actually stick it out and make it to midlevel? How about to partner?

When the bleary eyed junior associate sends his work off to the mid-level at 11:26 pm, that mid-level is then the one who has to spend an hour checking it and, if the junior is lucky, running his own edits. The mid-level then shoots it off to the senior at 12:34, along with everything else the mid-level has been working on. The senior then gets to review both the junior and mid-level's work and shoots it off the parter at 2:05 am, so the partner can wake up at 8:15, get to the office at 9:30, not look at it and just tell the senior to send it along to the client.

So true.

[JusticeHarlan]

From what you observe (since this seems to be an associates and below crowd), does life get better for those who actually stick it out and make it to midlevel? How about to partner?

When the bleary eyed junior associate sends his work off to the mid-level at 11:26 pm, that mid-level is then the one who has to spend an hour checking it and, if the junior is lucky, running his own edits. The mid-level then shoots it off to the senior at 12:34, along with everything else the mid-level has been working on. The senior then gets to review both the junior and mid-level's work and shoots it off the parter at 2:05 am, so the partner can wake up at 8:15, get to the office at 9:30, not look at it and just tell the senior to send it along to the client.

So true.

BUT YOU GET FREE DINNER

[MKC]

From what you observe (since this seems to be an associates and below crowd), does life get better for those who actually stick it out and make it to midlevel? How about to partner?

When the bleary eyed junior associate sends his work off to the mid-level at 11:26 pm, that mid-level is then the one who has to spend an hour checking it and, if the junior is lucky, running his own edits. The mid-level then shoots it off to the senior at 12:34, along with everything else the mid-level has been working on. The senior then gets to review both the junior and mid-level's work and shoots it off the parter at 2:05 am, so the partner can wake up at 8:15, get to the office at 9:30, not look at it and just tell the senior to send it along to the client.

So true.

BUT YOU GET FREE DINNER

So do mules. (actual mules, not the drug-smuggling kind)

[IAFG]

"slaves got more than one free meal a day"

- DF from ban island

[Theopliske8711]

Wait... DF was banned?

[MKC]

Wait... DF was banned?

He just slipped away like a prelawdelt with an innocent children's toy.

[IAFG]

Wait... DF was banned?

don't worry it's not that kind of ban

[linkx13]

Came to this thread to see how much Big Law sucks. Left with my PI hopes and dreams heavily bruised and battered.

Read the comments. Though parts of that are true, a lot of it is bullshit.

I know at least 3 PI people who say it's spot on.

And I know 3 that don't. Anecdotes are almost meaningless here.

[IAFG]

Came to this thread to see how much Big Law sucks. Left with my PI hopes and dreams heavily bruised and battered.

Read the comments. Though parts of that are true, a lot of it is bullshit.

I know at least 3 PI people who say it's spot on.

And I know 3 that don't. Anecdotes are almost meaningless here.

Well they're pretty meaningful in that you'll probably only get one PI offer (if you're lucky) and it might be at a place that makes you think that blog post is spot on. In fact I'd say it's a time when anecdotes are the only meaningful thing.

[JusticeHarlan]

Came to this thread to see how much Big Law sucks. Left with my PI hopes and dreams heavily bruised and battered.

Read the comments. Though parts of that are true, a lot of it is bullshit.

I know at least 3 PI people who say it's spot on.

And I know 3 that don't. Anecdotes are almost meaningless here.

I'm fairly certain the entire point of this thread is sharing anecdotes.

[rad lulz]

I think stayin up late is making me fat

[FKASunny]

I think stayin up late is making me fat

it's definitely a thing. Go paddle boarding

[Tropical Jackal]

At my V15 nobody is anywhere near this butthurt. We all love the work we are doing. Sure we work hard, but we play hard. And we are doing prestigious work. It's not hard to work a good 50 hours a week when you see your work in the journal.

[Mal Reynolds]

At my V15 nobody is anywhere near this butthurt. We all love the work we are doing. Sure we work hard, but we play hard. And we are doing prestigious work. It's not hard to work a good 50 hours a week when you see your work in the journal.

Who needs sleep when you can mainline prestige.

[Mal Reynolds]

Subject: The BigLaw hate buffet

At my V15 nobody is anywhere near this butthurt. We all love the work we are doing. Sure we work hard, but we play hard. And we are doing prestigious work. It's not hard to work a good 50 hours a week when you see your work in the journal.

Who needs sleep when you can mainline prestige.

Everyone gets a full 4 hours even in the worst case. Nobody complains because these people had to work hard to get here.

I assume the complainers here slacked through school and had to go to a V50 firm.

[FKASunny]

People who PM bitchmaid posts are the best

[IAFG]

At my V15 nobody is anywhere near this butthurt. We all love the work we are doing. Sure we work hard, but we play hard. And we are doing prestigious work. It's not hard to work a good 50 hours a week when you see your work in the journal.

Tbf you have no idea how butthurt they are.

[Tropical Jackal]

At my V15 nobody is anywhere near this butthurt. We all love the work we are doing. Sure we work hard, but we play hard. And we are doing prestigious work. It's not hard to work a good 50 hours a week when you see your work in the journal.

Tbf you have no idea how butthurt they are.

I can see the excitement when work comes in. I hear no complaints in the car service line at 1am.

[thesealocust]

I will win the victory over my self.

I will learn to love big brother.

[Tropical Jackal]

I will win the victory over my self.

I will learn to love big brother.

Big Brother didn't give me the best Sushi thirty five dollars can deliver.

[IAFG]

At my V15 nobody is anywhere near this butthurt. We all love the work we are doing. Sure we work hard, but we play hard. And we are doing prestigious work. It's not hard to work a good 50 hours a week when you see your work in the journal.

Tbf you have no idea how butthurt they are.

I can see the excitement when work comes in. I hear no complaints in the car service line at 1am.

I would never complain at work. Never.

[anyriotgirl]

At my V15 nobody is anywhere near this butthurt. We all love the work we are doing. Sure we work hard, but we play hard. And we are doing prestigious work. It's not hard to work a good 50 hours a week when you see your work in the journal.

Tbf you have no idea how butthurt they are.

tbf this person sounds like a college freshman frat pledge impersonating an attorney