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What skills are necessary to be successful in BigLaw?
Posted: Sun Nov 13, 2011 7:22 pm
by crazi4law
I heard that law in general is a lot of reading, but I never really read anything at school besides textbooks; Is that going to be a problem?
I've always excelled in writing, but I've always been really bad at math, science and accounting... is that going to be an issue too?
And is there any way that I can find out now, whether I will be good at BigLaw or any type of corporate law?
Re: What skills are necessary to be successful in BigLaw?
Posted: Sun Nov 13, 2011 7:27 pm
by Transferthrowaway
Being able to sacrifice your health, hobbies, friendships, and relationships.
Re: What skills are necessary to be successful in BigLaw?
Posted: Sun Nov 13, 2011 7:30 pm
by Renzo
Transferthrowaway wrote:Being able to sacrifice your health, hobbies, friendships, and relationships.
Without being bitter and burned out by it, at least publicly.
Re: What skills are necessary to be successful in BigLaw?
Posted: Sun Nov 13, 2011 7:31 pm
by Transferthrowaway
Renzo wrote:Transferthrowaway wrote:Being able to sacrifice your health, hobbies, friendships, and relationships.
Without being bitter and burned out by it, at least publicly.
Excellent addition.
Re: What skills are necessary to be successful in BigLaw?
Posted: Sun Nov 13, 2011 7:33 pm
by Anonymous User
patience, extreme detail oriented, patience, adderall.
Re: What skills are necessary to be successful in BigLaw?
Posted: Sun Nov 13, 2011 7:40 pm
by crazi4law
So do I have to be really good at math and accounting? And do I actually have to read a lot? (i am rather slow at reading.. is that going to be a problem?)
Re: What skills are necessary to be successful in BigLaw?
Posted: Sun Nov 13, 2011 7:56 pm
by PwnLaw
Depends on your goals. If you define success as doing well and sticking around for a few years until your exit options become solid, then: endurance, think skin, HYPER ATTENTION TO DETAIL, and a bit of brown nosing.
If you're going for partner, then the top will get you to service partner so long as you become indispensible to a rainmaker.
If you're going for rainmaker, then all of the above and extremely strong personal skills.
Re: What skills are necessary to be successful in BigLaw?
Posted: Sun Nov 13, 2011 7:58 pm
by Sup Kid
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Re: What skills are necessary to be successful in BigLaw?
Posted: Mon Nov 14, 2011 2:27 am
by vanwinkle
Re: What skills are necessary to be successful in BigLaw?
Posted: Mon Nov 14, 2011 12:05 pm
by johnnyutah
A devotion to doing stupid, time consuming bullshit in order to win approval from others.
Re: What skills are necessary to be successful in BigLaw?
Posted: Mon Nov 14, 2011 12:09 pm
by Nicholasnickynic
johnnyutah wrote:A devotion to doing stupid, time consuming bullshit in order to win approval from others.
Correct. ON a serious note:
A basic understanding of how to do the work you are assigned + the ability/willpower/drive/ etc to do extremely long hours. And teh ability to suck up to senior partners
Thats it.
They don't care about the quality of your work- as long as its passable.
If you are billing a lot of hours- they are making more money. If you suck up, they like you as a person.
So, formula for success:
1. Be competent at your work,
2. Work your ass off (if you are not destroying your personal relationships, you are not working hard enough)
3. suck up to the senior partners.
Re: What skills are necessary to be successful in BigLaw?
Posted: Mon Nov 14, 2011 10:28 pm
by Julio_El_Chavo
crazi4law wrote:So do I have to be really good at math and accounting? And do I actually have to read a lot? (i am rather slow at reading.. is that going to be a problem?)
Uhhh... yeah. Lawyers have to read a lot.
Re: What skills are necessary to be successful in BigLaw?
Posted: Mon Nov 14, 2011 11:01 pm
by Grizz
Transferthrowaway wrote:Being able to sacrifice your health, hobbies, friendships, and relationships.
Came ITT to poast this.