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too broad of a question, different practices are going to have different busy seasons. If you are doing transactional tax, don't plan on taking anything during feb-march-april or august-sept (filing deadlines, and filing extension deadlines). Busy/slow/always busy are good things to ask during informational interviews about certain practices within a firm.

Yes. People take vacations in biglaw. 2 consecutive weeks would be a bit unusual, but then again if you were on a giant case that settled, or a deal, or you were getting married or having a child, it would most likely be ok. You will be able to look at the deadlines in your cases and plan around them. But if you are on multiple cases that are busy, this may be more difficult.

Basically, you want to let people know well in advance of when you're planning to take vacation and work out on your teams who is going to cover your day-to-day responsibilities. Also, I wouldn't plan on totally disconnecting. You should/will (depending on firm) check your email regularly and plan on working a bit while you're away.

I have never taken a vacation in biglaw through 3 years. I frequently talk to associates and partners on vacation, hearing their children or family members playing in the background. You have to take your e-mail with you and be willing to work remotely on any of your deals. To me, that's not a vacation. All I have done is three day vacations to avoid having to respond to things.

2nd year biglaw associate here: I take 4 weeks per year, and I've never been contacted while on vacation for any reason or seen anybody reschedule a vacation.

The only people I know who don't take 4 weeks per year are the people who take 5 because that's a perk after a certain level of seniority.

Don't know what you're on about.

I take all of my vacation days and not for staycations. Just don't be an idiot about when you take off and people are usually decent about it.

Also my next vacation I'll be in the woods without electricity. Shit's going to be so cash.

thesealocust wrote:2nd year biglaw associate here: I take 4 weeks per year, and I've never been contacted while on vacation for any reason or seen anybody reschedule a vacation.

The only people I know who don't take 4 weeks per year are the people who take 5 because that's a perk after a certain level of seniority.

Don't know what you're on about.

4 weeks is a lot of vaca for a second year. pretty sweet.

Theopliske8711 wrote:

thesealocust wrote:2nd year biglaw associate here: I take 4 weeks per year, and I've never been contacted while on vacation for any reason or seen anybody reschedule a vacation.

The only people I know who don't take 4 weeks per year are the people who take 5 because that's a perk after a certain level of seniority.

Don't know what you're on about.

4 weeks is a lot of vaca for a second year.

We get 4 and most people seem to use them.

thesealocust wrote:2nd year biglaw associate here: I take 4 weeks per year, and I've never been contacted while on vacation for any reason or seen anybody reschedule a vacation.

The only people I know who don't take 4 weeks per year are the people who take 5 because that's a perk after a certain level of seniority.

Don't know what you're on about.

4 weeks w no contact? That's impressive, and I'd guess much more toward the liberal end of the spectrum.

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Dude's forward as fuck.

Theopliske8711 wrote:Dude's forward as fuck.

JSWright101 wrote:What firm in what city in what practice?

A big one; New York; Corporate.

It's worth asking about when you interview, vacation culture differs dramatically from firm to firm. Be wary of "~~~UNLIMITED VACATION~~~" because that's code for "nobody takes any vacation."

Healthy vacation policies (and more importantly, healthy vacation cultures) are more common than I would have guessed in biglaw. Given the demands of the job, I think it's understood that breaks are critical.

Also, your poll and your post ask opposite questions. I really don't know how you expect to worry about getting a big firm gig with that kind of sloppy attention to detail.

thesealocust wrote:

JSWright101 wrote:What firm in what city in what practice?

A big one; New York; Corporate.

It's worth asking about when you interview, vacation culture differs dramatically from firm to firm. Be wary of "~~~UNLIMITED VACATION~~~" because that's code for "nobody takes any vacation."

Healthy vacation policies (and more importantly, healthy vacation cultures) are more common than I would have guessed in biglaw. Given the demands of the job, I think it's understood that breaks are critical.

Vacations are protected if they are approved well.enough in advance and you remind everyone of your schedule.

People at my firm take most of their vacation. They get coverage where necessary and respond to email but we try to avoid bugging them.

IAFG wrote:People at my firm take most of their vacation. They get coverage where necessary and respond to email but we try to avoid bugging them.

This is how it is at my firm.

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thesealocust wrote:2nd year biglaw associate here: I take 4 weeks per year, and I've never been contacted while on vacation for any reason or seen anybody reschedule a vacation.

The only people I know who don't take 4 weeks per year are the people who take 5 because that's a perk after a certain level of seniority.

Don't know what you're on about.

Come on man if you've been following the recent big law threads it is no surprise that 0Ls think you can't take any vacays whatsoever

To add a little bit more to the useful:

Major holidays are more of a grab bag. On the one hand, nearly everything stops for Christmas, New Years, 4th of July, etc.

On the other hand, as a junior you're disproportionately likely to be left holding the bag as midlevels / seniors try to take time off around the holidays.

And on the other, darker, horrible hand, if there's a giant deal or case or w/e... you almost certainly won't be stuck in the office all day Christmas, but you might be there until after nightfall on Christmas Eve, or the day after Thanksgiving, etc.

dwil770 wrote:

thesealocust wrote:2nd year biglaw associate here: I take 4 weeks per year, and I've never been contacted while on vacation for any reason or seen anybody reschedule a vacation.

The only people I know who don't take 4 weeks per year are the people who take 5 because that's a perk after a certain level of seniority.

Don't know what you're on about.

Come on man if you've been following the recent big law threads it is no surprise that 0Ls think you can't take any vacays whatsoever

Yeah, as a 0L I can also say I am pleasantly surprised by the responses. I had assumed most firms went the "unlimited vacation" route. This is great news, I love vacationing.

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