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I'm, admittedly, still somewhat in the dark with regards to the details of working in the legal field after law school, but from what I've heard on here and a few other places, it seems like a lot of people aren't really making a career out of Big Law. With this in mind, I had a few questions I was hoping somebody could help me out with to clear a few things up.

Do people really get let go if they haven't made partner after 7 years, and if so is there a particular reason for this?

What kind of pay can you expect moving from Big Law into something else? And what are the jobs that most people tend to go after if they burn out or get the boot from Big Law?

Do people really get let go if they haven't made partner after 7 years, and if so is there a particular reason for this?

first off, it usually takes longer than 7 years to make partner these days. try 8-10. second, it's not that senior associates get "let go" so much as firms drop subtle hints that it might be time to move on (like no bonus, not moving their salary up a class, etc.).

but yes, firms do often encourage senior associates who they think won't be making partner to seek opportunities elsewhere. firms also help their associates find such opportunities (for example, by placing them in-house with a client). sometimes, firms will also allow associates to stay as non-equity partners, "counsel," or some other position. oftentimes in these cases it's because the attorney has some niche legal specialty that other attorneys at the firm lack, but the partners still don't think the attorney is partnership material.

and yes, there is a reason for the so-called "up-or-out" policy, and that reason is leverage. partners make more money by having a high ratio of associates to partners.

What kind of pay can you expect moving from Big Law into something else? And what are the jobs that most people tend to go after if they burn out or get the boot from Big Law?

it depends on where you go, but you can usually expect less. going in-house is a common route. for compensation info, check out ATL. people also sometimes seek to lateral to a less prestigious firm when they don't see themselves making partner at their current firm.