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Forgive my ignorance. I've learned from this board that people often work for 4 or 5 years in BigLaw to pay off their debt. Where do they typically end up afterwards, and if you're making 150k plus, how much might you make after leaving BigLaw. I'm just trying to underst and the career path of your typical T14 grad.

Also, let's say you don't go into biglaw after graduating. How might your career and salary differ from someone who did choose big law once you're 5 or 10 years out. In other words, is the benefit of biglaw limited to high salary, or do you end up with better jobs in thevlong run than someone who went a different route? I realize there are a lot of variables, but I'm tryint to understand the benefits and drawbacks of different paths.

Thanks.

1. Stay in biglaw
2. Academia
3. Go in-house at a company
4. Go into fed gov
5. Go into DA office
6. Go into NGO work on issue(s) of importance to you
7. Magical fairies and pixie dust.

Doorkeeper wrote:1. Stay in biglaw
2. Academia
3. Go in-house at a company
4. Go into fed gov
5. Go into DA office
6. Go into NGO work on issue(s) of importance to you
7. Magical fairies and pixie dust.

I think I'll go with number 7.

Doorkeeper wrote: 7. Magical fairies and pixie dust.

Am angry this is not properly quantified anywhere. I would like to base all future career decisions on my chances of maximum pixie dust. But only if there are also unicorns.

Basically every legal employer has ex-biglaw lawyers. There are some employers that more or less require biglaw experience, like in house counsel, there are others that prefer it and then there are jobs where it isn't necessary but they still hire ex-biglawyers.

Can you do bigpussylaw to save up to start solo/small firm?

SunshineMagic wrote:Can you do bigpussylaw to save up to start solo/small firm?

my 0L plan.. I'm hoping to start a solo/small criminal defense firm after biglaw.. i'd like to hear if anyone has any relevant info on this too

It gets harder to afford coke and prostitutes

rad lulz wrote:It gets harder to afford coke and prostitutes

+1

rad lulz wrote:It gets harder to afford coke and prostitutes

damn really?

SaintsTheMetal wrote:

SunshineMagic wrote:Can you do bigpussylaw to save up to start solo/small firm?

my 0L plan.. I'm hoping to start a solo/small criminal defense firm after biglaw.. i'd like to hear if anyone has any relevant info on this too

I'm just a dumb ho but I think it would be hard to go from bigpussylaw to gangsta defense law... Unless you had done white collar defense in bigpussylaw

SunshineMagic wrote:

SaintsTheMetal wrote:

SunshineMagic wrote:Can you do bigpussylaw to save up to start solo/small firm?

my 0L plan.. I'm hoping to start a solo/small criminal defense firm after biglaw.. i'd like to hear if anyone has any relevant info on this too

I'm just a dumb ho but I think it would be hard to go from bigpussylaw to gangsta defense law... Unless you had done white collar defense in bigpussylaw

Its not like you will ever likely be able to practice the same things at a small/solo firm as a BigLaw firm.. Nomatter what your are interested in doing at your small firm, you are probably not going to be doing big Corporate law at a small firm.. I don't see why it would be harder to go into Criminal law would be harder to get into than anything else that small or "full service" firms do

SaintsTheMetal wrote:

SunshineMagic wrote:

SaintsTheMetal wrote:

SunshineMagic wrote:Can you do bigpussylaw to save up to start solo/small firm?

my 0L plan.. I'm hoping to start a solo/small criminal defense firm after biglaw.. i'd like to hear if anyone has any relevant info on this too

I'm just a dumb ho but I think it would be hard to go from bigpussylaw to gangsta defense law... Unless you had done white collar defense in bigpussylaw

Its not like you will ever likely be able to practice the same things at a small/solo firm as a BigLaw firm.. Nomatter what your are interested in doing at your small firm, you are probably not going to be doing big Corporate law at a small firm.. I don't see why it would be harder to go into Criminal law would be harder to get into than anything else that small or "full service" firms do

i"ll throw my .02 in. Down here in the South, we obviously do not have a lot of BigLaw. It is much easier to take the leap and go solo from law school. You can also join the Indigent Defender board of your county/Parish, Public Defender's office or the DA's office. Working the in DA office will allow you to under stand the workings of the office and what deals can be made with who. (I could never work for the DA. Too many cock suckers in there.) When you just to the dark side, you will know whats up. Its all about getting clients in the door.

(I plan to practice criminal defense. I just have to decide if I want to join a PD's office for a few years or go straight solo

Retire after 5 years because of the guaranteed millions that all lawyers make.

jcm043 wrote:

SaintsTheMetal wrote: i"ll throw my .02 in. Down here in the South, we obviously do not have a lot of BigLaw. It is much easier to take the leap and go solo from law school. You can also join the Indigent Defender board of your county/Parish, Public Defender's office or the DA's office. Working the in DA office will allow you to under stand the workings of the office and what deals can be made with who. (I could never work for the DA. Too many cock suckers in there.) When you just to the dark side, you will know whats up. Its all about getting clients in the door.

(I plan to practice criminal defense. I just have to decide if I want to join a PD's office for a few years or go straight solo

WHO DAT!

That sounds like a good plan though.. something I could definitely see doing myself.. i assume you will be looking to go to a local school for a near full ride then? I imagine starting out solo or as a PD is not gonna pay off any kind of substantial debt you would get from a tier 1 school

Excellent117 wrote:Retire after 5 years because of the guaranteed millions that all lawyers make.

Sounds like a plan to me.