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Biglawyers 10+ years in: how is your life?
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Date: February 1st, 2023 10:24 PM Author: Misanthropic brindle senate (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5282474&forum_id=2#45875131) |
Date: February 1st, 2023 10:26 PM Author: milky cruise ship i imagine at that point it converges with being an alcoholic but instead of wasting time drinking you wasted it editing documents. (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5282474&forum_id=2#45875139) |
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Date: February 1st, 2023 10:47 PM Author: yapping queen of the night rehab Most of us did both (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5282474&forum_id=2#45875241) |
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Date: February 1st, 2023 11:00 PM Author: pearl aphrodisiac striped hyena alcoholism + pandemic shutdown ruined my ability to biglaw. it was easier to function and keep myself somewhat in check when i had to roll into the office every day. (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5282474&forum_id=2#45875306) |
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Date: February 1st, 2023 11:18 PM Author: Misanthropic brindle senate (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5282474&forum_id=2#45875402) |
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Date: February 2nd, 2023 4:59 AM Author: yapping queen of the night rehab Cr. I nearly drank myself to death and ended up in rehab. I biglaw better now though. (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5282474&forum_id=2#45875917) |
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Date: February 2nd, 2023 6:07 AM Author: cerebral clown this is common (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5282474&forum_id=2#45875967) |
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Date: February 2nd, 2023 7:46 PM Author: translucent ticket booth I had a year of sobriety right when the pandemic hit and it was obvious everyone on the edge would be dead or in rehab by the fall. (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5282474&forum_id=2#45879298) |
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Date: February 1st, 2023 11:12 PM Author: translucent ticket booth They're not exclusive. It was fucking shocking how clean my copy was after 8 pm. (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5282474&forum_id=2#45875373) |
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Date: February 1st, 2023 10:32 PM Author: Crimson liquid oxygen wrinkle (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5282474&forum_id=2#45875161) |
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Date: February 1st, 2023 10:33 PM Author: Opaque goyim tanning salon (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5282474&forum_id=2#45875169) |
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Date: February 1st, 2023 11:19 PM Author: Misanthropic brindle senate (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5282474&forum_id=2#45875405) |
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Date: February 1st, 2023 10:36 PM Author: blue hairraiser degenerate site (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5282474&forum_id=2#45875182) |
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Date: February 1st, 2023 10:40 PM Author: floppy abode toaster It never stops - the emails, needing to prove your worth, the competition for clients, the billing pressure, the client complaints about the bill, the associate churn, the summer program, the emails, the texts, the emails, etc.
There’s no going back. Don’t know how to do anything but the kind of deals I’ve spent 80% of my working time on for the last 15 years. There are people a few rungs down the preftige ladder who work about as hard but get paid 1/3 as much, so that helps.
Life is pretty good. Attracted to my wife. House is fine although other people have spent more and theirs are nicer. Love my kids more than anything. Get along with my parents and siblings (although I’m the black sheep who moved away).
There’s never enough time to do everything and the first thing to go is any solo activities / hobbies.
We’re thrifty but I don’t really ever have to think about money or how much something costs (within reason). I take nice vacations. I save money.
Being partner and having a small book has helped me get some control over my life although there are always more important people who can shit on you (and do from time to time at their convenience). |
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Date: February 1st, 2023 10:47 PM Author: Lavender dashing range I am glad that you have had this result. I wish that I felt some semblance of security. |
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Date: February 1st, 2023 10:51 PM Author: floppy abode toaster Thanks - rooting for you.
We are financially secure but only because our spending has not kept up with our income. Looking around any my partners, this generally is not the case. Some have been in the same house for 15-20 years, but lots trade up a few times, sometimes have summer homes and ski homes in expensive areas, some “summer” in Europe, etc. Who you marry is most critical in this. I just want to be able to quit when my kids are done with school and not try to hang around until I’m 70. |
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Date: February 1st, 2023 10:56 PM Author: floppy abode toaster I should have mentioned private school. There are parents paying $60k/year x 2-3 kids for K-19 or more. It’s just insane. I can’t fathom that. (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5282474&forum_id=2#45875292) |
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Date: February 1st, 2023 11:01 PM Author: Lavender dashing range I just want to get out of my shit house and move my family to a better town. I have 4 kids. Public schools are necessary, but want to have a slightly better life for them. It sucks being poor and having no options. (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5282474&forum_id=2#45875317) |
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Date: February 2nd, 2023 6:12 AM Author: cerebral clown I have 3 kids. We doubled our property tax for an arguably worse house in a much better school district (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5282474&forum_id=2#45875970) |
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Date: February 2nd, 2023 6:11 AM Author: cerebral clown this (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5282474&forum_id=2#45875969) |
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Date: February 2nd, 2023 8:01 AM Author: Azure Heady Mexican At least you managed to go in-house at WikiFeet (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5282474&forum_id=2#45876104) |
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Date: February 2nd, 2023 9:54 PM Author: pearly talented electric furnace plaza (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5282474&forum_id=2#45879834) |
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Date: February 1st, 2023 10:47 PM Author: yapping queen of the night rehab 180 x 180. Not flame (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5282474&forum_id=2#45875239) |
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Date: February 1st, 2023 10:48 PM Author: pearl aphrodisiac striped hyena shitcanned 9.5 years in lol (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5282474&forum_id=2#45875252) |
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Date: February 1st, 2023 11:04 PM Author: wine center jap Walk us through that. How do you get almost a decade and they just say "get the fuck out." Were you at an up or out firm? (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5282474&forum_id=2#45875335) |
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Date: February 1st, 2023 11:12 PM Author: brass razzle-dazzle goal in life (guy who is unfamiliar with biglaw) (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5282474&forum_id=2#45875371) |
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Date: February 1st, 2023 11:16 PM Author: wine center jap I thought the model had changed since 10 years ago. See my ? below. (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5282474&forum_id=2#45875391) |
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Date: February 2nd, 2023 5:01 AM Author: yapping queen of the night rehab It has but as soon as there is even a minor slow down or some partner gets a bee in his bonnet you're dun here. (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5282474&forum_id=2#45875919) |
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Date: February 2nd, 2023 6:16 AM Author: cerebral clown or they offer you perma-counsel gig that pays less than 5th year associate (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5282474&forum_id=2#45875973) |
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Date: February 1st, 2023 11:13 PM Author: brass razzle-dazzle goal in life The understanding that any non partner can be sacked at any time for little or no reason is one of *the* defining trade-offs of biglaw. (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5282474&forum_id=2#45875376) |
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Date: February 1st, 2023 11:16 PM Author: wine center jap Hear me out: What about all the chatter of "this time it's different, up or out is dead, everyone is a permanent of counsel these days." Is that just an XO meme? Are people still routinely getting fired if they don't get breakfast at year 10? (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5282474&forum_id=2#45875385) |
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Date: February 1st, 2023 11:37 PM Author: brass razzle-dazzle goal in life There is nothing significant about year 10. I never said there was. Guys can hang around for 15, 20 years and then be fired one day out of the blue. Or you can be fired at year 5 out of the blue, or year 10. The point is that there is no job security over any time horizon, unless you are a partner with portable biz. (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5282474&forum_id=2#45875475) |
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Date: February 2nd, 2023 8:26 PM Author: impressive multi-colored azn that was more true during the pandemic. now that we're in a downturn and clients are being pissy the chaff is getting cut loose (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5282474&forum_id=2#45879483) |
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Date: February 1st, 2023 11:13 PM Author: translucent ticket booth That's literally the business model. (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5282474&forum_id=2#45875377) |
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Date: February 1st, 2023 11:17 PM Author: wine center jap I don't know whether to believe all the of counsel poasting on XO or not. I thought it was more common to just be pushed into an of counsel role in 2023 not kicked out on your ass. (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5282474&forum_id=2#45875395) |
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Date: February 1st, 2023 11:38 PM Author: brass razzle-dazzle goal in life Of counsels are sacked all the time (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5282474&forum_id=2#45875478) |
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Date: February 2nd, 2023 1:52 AM Author: orchid soul-stirring parlour it depends on your practice area and how busy you are. It has generally been this way the last five years or so but many areas are slowing down. Firm profits were down last year. (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5282474&forum_id=2#45875730) |
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Date: February 2nd, 2023 1:51 PM Author: Crimson liquid oxygen wrinkle (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5282474&forum_id=2#45877622) |
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Date: February 1st, 2023 11:17 PM Author: pearl aphrodisiac striped hyena i lateraled 3 years in. at second firm was checked out pretty early so would alternate 2000 billable years for really low years (honestly like 1500 hours). would honestly actively avoid work at all costs and have to lie in reviews about being confused about not being more busy and being more proactive about getting more work, blah blah blah. substance wise, my work was pretty good--i never had a bad review. anyway, ended up being shitcanned midyear 2022 before ever getting a negative review to set up the process. pretty sure the business people at the firm made a decision to cut dead weight because of economic worries. none of the people i was working with even knew about it (including pretty senior partners) until i told them. total shitshow
anyway, i got 3.5 month severance (we'll pay you for awhile until you find a job and you're still employed), and found a job at about two months but delayed the start date and didn't tell the firm that fired me i had a new job until like a week before i was staring. getting paid biglaw senior assoc money to do nothing for two months with a job in hand was pretty sweet tbh. |
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Date: February 1st, 2023 11:18 PM Author: wine center jap lol nice move. Do you think if you had just kept hitting the 2,000 hour mark they would have kept you around forever? Or did you feel pressure to either get breakfast or gtfo (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5282474&forum_id=2#45875403) |
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Date: February 2nd, 2023 1:00 AM Author: pearl aphrodisiac striped hyena yes, at this particular firm, but not everywhere. the thing with this firm is that you actually had to seek out work to be busy (and there was plenty of it). i very rarely turnded down work when approached, but i had a mental block about seeking it out. (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5282474&forum_id=2#45875681) |
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Date: February 2nd, 2023 6:17 AM Author: cerebral clown new job? firm? (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5282474&forum_id=2#45875974) |
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Date: February 1st, 2023 10:50 PM Author: confused selfie Pretty chill, all told. (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5282474&forum_id=2#45875259) |
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Date: February 1st, 2023 11:24 PM Author: impressive multi-colored azn made equity. slide and let do (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5282474&forum_id=2#45875419) |
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Date: February 2nd, 2023 5:02 AM Author: yapping queen of the night rehab Word (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5282474&forum_id=2#45875921) |
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Date: February 2nd, 2023 1:13 AM Author: splenetic white background story About to be shitcanned (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5282474&forum_id=2#45875706) |
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Date: February 2nd, 2023 2:32 AM Author: pale fear-inspiring skinny woman pit made equity, 3 mil+/year (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5282474&forum_id=2#45875787) |
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Date: February 2nd, 2023 6:11 AM Author: cerebral clown tier 1 city biglol firms for 6 years, tier 3 city regional firm 2 years. since then inhouse at fortune 1000 company.
I hated biglol. should've left after 2-3 years and gone regional. but I was too bitter which probably foreclosed me becoming partner forever. |
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Date: February 2nd, 2023 9:58 PM Author: pearly talented electric furnace plaza (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5282474&forum_id=2#45879851) |
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Date: February 2nd, 2023 7:45 AM Author: Pea-brained trip antidepressant drug spot 7 years in Biglaw, 4 years in house, finally settled into a spot where loans are paid off, house is secured, have enough to live on to last the family a couple of years should things go totally south. It’s been a horrible journey and still is in some ways, but I can’t say I would’ve wound up in any better place through a different course. I was a member of the ITE gen with no marketable skills who rode out the worst of ITE in law school then luckily wound up biglaw secure. Alternative would’ve probably been extended unemployment during ITE then some equally bullshit corporate job earning low six figures.
Current goals are create more of a financial cushion; avoid striver mistakes (eg expensive private elementary school where there’s a free great public school nearby); get into a place where I might be able to transition to something else in a few years. |
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Date: February 2nd, 2023 9:58 PM Author: pearly talented electric furnace plaza (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5282474&forum_id=2#45879856) |
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Date: February 2nd, 2023 10:57 AM Author: Sticky provocative point Are there any regrets about not doing it on your own and starting your own firm?
Any regrets about not doing “lawyer work” like going to trial, advocating for proles, going after shit industries and scams, cleaning up the city and state muck, defending high profile people from THE SYSTEM?
What separates a biglaw lawyer from someone like CLSG or those succesful lawyers everyone knows about it in every city? Just pure Entrepreneurship?? |
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Date: February 2nd, 2023 8:00 PM Author: exhilarant chapel puppy For a while on XO, there was great fascination with franchising. People saw it as a way to get rich without having to take any risks or demonstrate any entrepreneurial instincts. I tried to explain to poasters how lol-worthy this idea was, maybe I got through to a few of them.
The attraction to Biglaw is similar for a lot of people out there. It's seen as a way to get rich by following instructions, painting by numbers, and climbing the ladder in a relatively risk-free manner. But if you have that mindset, you get pushed out after a few years and make 250k in house while telling yourself that's what you wanted all along. Not really speaking from experience but the people who succeed in Biglaw, to the point of actually making millions a year, combine intelligence with strategic socializing and networking, being in the right place at the right time, and a Herculean capacity for drudgery. They probably worked harder to get those seven figure incomes than they would have if they had just started some company. |
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Date: February 2nd, 2023 8:26 PM Author: translucent ticket booth There's at least one poaster with multiple Subway franchises (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5282474&forum_id=2#45879480) |
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Date: February 2nd, 2023 8:29 PM Author: translucent ticket booth Burgerim is an Israeli[1] fast food hamburger franchise. Burgerim opened its first U.S. location in 2016 and rapidly grew to over 200 locations by 2019. In late 2019, the company began facing multiple controversies, including financial mismanagement leading to insolvency and allegations of using deceptive marketing practices to sell unprofitable franchises as quickly as possible. (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5282474&forum_id=2#45879493) |
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Date: February 2nd, 2023 8:08 PM Author: Metal marketing idea pozpig Still time to turn it around and make millions and billions! (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5282474&forum_id=2#45879411) |
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Date: February 2nd, 2023 8:25 PM Author: impressive multi-colored azn -no. i don't have that kind of hustle/risk tolerance and i didn't get a portable book big enough to matter until recently. i get offers from higher PPP firms all the time but i have yet to feel that it's worth it to burn down whatever i've built so far and start over
-i go to trial fairly often and do enough pro bono work with proles to stifle any regrets
-hustle, practice area, era. CSLG is atypical. you don't see many "successful lawyers" in a town that are broadly famous in a city that are under 50 |