Get a great attorney job with bad school, bad grades, AMA

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sorry OP but I don't see how $150k 10 years out of law school would give anyone hope. The reality is that law school isn't worth it unless you go to a top school and you're proving that point. That is a starting salary from a top school so 10 years to get there is depressing.

Except you'll be clamoring for a job like this in a few years when you don't make partner.

I'm just speaking the truth. If OP had a scholarship or something then fine but to get into student loan debt for that kind of career path is crazy. OP how much did you take out in student loans to do this?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sorry OP but I don't see how $150k 10 years out of law school would give anyone hope. The reality is that law school isn't worth it unless you go to a top school and you're proving that point. That is a starting salary from a top school so 10 years to get there is depressing.

Except you'll be clamoring for a job like this in a few years when you don't make partner.

I'm just speaking the truth. If OP had a scholarship or something then fine but to get into student loan debt for that kind of career path is crazy. OP how much did you take out in student loans to do this?

Did not have loans.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sorry OP but I don't see how $150k 10 years out of law school would give anyone hope. The reality is that law school isn't worth it unless you go to a top school and you're proving that point. That is a starting salary from a top school so 10 years to get there is depressing.

Except you'll be clamoring for a job like this in a few years when you don't make partner.

I'm just speaking the truth. If OP had a scholarship or something then fine but to get into student loan debt for that kind of career path is crazy. OP how much did you take out in student loans to do this?

If OP had a government job, he could do public interest loan forgiveness.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Will answer as much as I can without outing. Just putting some hope out there!

Job is in-house, pays 150k + up to 30% bonus, 10 years out of law school.

How did you do it?

See above - the specializing was most important. Also, frankly, being a cool and normal person. Many lawyers with better academics are socially awkward and/or overconfident. Good personality and being easy to work with goes farther than people think.

How did you enter that specialty? I am currently in a dead end government position and I don’t know how to get somewhere better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Will answer as much as I can without outing. Just putting some hope out there!

Job is in-house, pays 150k + up to 30% bonus, 10 years out of law school.

How did you do it?

See above - the specializing was most important. Also, frankly, being a cool and normal person. Many lawyers with better academics are socially awkward and/or overconfident. Good personality and being easy to work with goes farther than people think.

How did you enter that specialty? I am currently in a dead end government position and I don’t know how to get somewhere better.

Same here. Would love to stay in the Federal Government, but it seems impossible to move to a better position.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sorry OP but I don't see how $150k 10 years out of law school would give anyone hope. The reality is that law school isn't worth it unless you go to a top school and you're proving that point. That is a starting salary from a top school so 10 years to get there is depressing.

Except you'll be clamoring for a job like this in a few years when you don't make partner.

I'm just speaking the truth. If OP had a scholarship or something then fine but to get into student loan debt for that kind of career path is crazy. OP how much did you take out in student loans to do this?

Did not have loans.

Scholarship? If not then who paid?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Will answer as much as I can without outing. Just putting some hope out there!

Job is in-house, pays 150k + up to 30% bonus, 10 years out of law school.

How did you do it?

See above - the specializing was most important. Also, frankly, being a cool and normal person. Many lawyers with better academics are socially awkward and/or overconfident. Good personality and being easy to work with goes farther than people think.

How did you enter that specialty? I am currently in a dead end government position and I don’t know how to get somewhere better.

Worked with a professor to get a small clerkship (think local, nothing that would impress the biglaw types here!) Met some people there, one was starting a small firm in the niche area and brought me with him. Moved along from there!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Will answer as much as I can without outing. Just putting some hope out there!

Job is in-house, pays 150k + up to 30% bonus, 10 years out of law school.

Am I a betch to point out that I think 10 years out of law school and only making "up to" $200k isn't all that? Maybe you get great benefits OP. Sorry for not being supportive. Ok I have a question: how did you cultivate your happy and positive outlook on life?

Hey, whatever works for you, PP! Considering most people say anyone from a T3-T4 school will never do anything beyond doc review, if they ever practice law at all, I think it's great.

This. I went to a T4 school, graduated about 15 years ago, and I have a federal government job. Decent pay, great benefits, and awesome hours and flexibility. I'm very happy professionally and personally. Don't believe all the doom and gloom about lower tier law schools.

Awesome, PP!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Will answer as much as I can without outing. Just putting some hope out there!

Job is in-house, pays 150k + up to 30% bonus, 10 years out of law school.

Am I a betch to point out that I think 10 years out of law school and only making "up to" $200k isn't all that? Maybe you get great benefits OP. Sorry for not being supportive. Ok I have a question: how did you cultivate your happy and positive outlook on life?

PP must be working at a big firm, and think that any other legal job is beneath him/her.

I think that the OP is doing fine, considering that tons of top law school grads are working in the federal government as attorneys, where the top salary (unless you're at the SEC or similar) is $161,000. They seem to think it's OK.

I spent 6 years in biglaw, and now I work in the law department of a large corporation that sells great products that everyone loves. I do not miss biglaw at all. I make less money (salary of $225,000 per year 20 years out of law school), but I also get a bonus, stock, profit-sharing, and other benefits (like a 401(k) match).

My friends in biglaw are often asking me how to get in-house. It's a lot more fun working for a corporation where everyone is on the same team working toward a common goal, rather than being at a law firm where it is every man for himself (turning down clients due to conflicts of interest, etc).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Will answer as much as I can without outing. Just putting some hope out there!

Job is in-house, pays 150k + up to 30% bonus, 10 years out of law school.

Am I a betch to point out that I think 10 years out of law school and only making "up to" $200k isn't all that? Maybe you get great benefits OP. Sorry for not being supportive. Ok I have a question: how did you cultivate your happy and positive outlook on life?

Hey, whatever works for you, PP! Considering most people say anyone from a T3-T4 school will never do anything beyond doc review, if they ever practice law at all, I think it's great.

This. I went to a T4 school, graduated about 15 years ago, and I have a federal government job. Decent pay, great benefits, and awesome hours and flexibility. I'm very happy professionally and personally. Don't believe all the doom and gloom about lower tier law schools.

Why, because you and 5 of your classmates were able to find legal work? This is you, "Here's an anecdote! Now go take out 200k in student loans with that 145 LSAT and you'll be set for life!"

[Anonymous]

OP I hate to say it but it sounds like you've made so many career moves that your law school's reputation and GPA are pretty much irrelevant at this point. I would say that the fact that it took you so many hops skips and jumps to get to where you are illustrates the difficulty of getting on your feet as a lawyer from a T3-T4 school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Will answer as much as I can without outing. Just putting some hope out there!

Job is in-house, pays 150k + up to 30% bonus, 10 years out of law school.

Am I a betch to point out that I think 10 years out of law school and only making "up to" $200k isn't all that? Maybe you get great benefits OP. Sorry for not being supportive. Ok I have a question: how did you cultivate your happy and positive outlook on life?

Hey, whatever works for you, PP! Considering most people say anyone from a T3-T4 school will never do anything beyond doc review, if they ever practice law at all, I think it's great.

This. I went to a T4 school, graduated about 15 years ago, and I have a federal government job. Decent pay, great benefits, and awesome hours and flexibility. I'm very happy professionally and personally. Don't believe all the doom and gloom about lower tier law schools.

Why, because you and 5 of your classmates were able to find legal work? This is you, "Here's an anecdote! Now go take out 200k in student loans with that 145 LSAT and you'll be set for life!"

Nah, unless I missed it, OP never endorsed taking on student debt (s/he said s/he had none). Nor did OP ever say "set for life." Said s/he hustled and networked and built a solid career.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Will answer as much as I can without outing. Just putting some hope out there!

Job is in-house, pays 150k + up to 30% bonus, 10 years out of law school.

Am I a betch to point out that I think 10 years out of law school and only making "up to" $200k isn't all that? Maybe you get great benefits OP. Sorry for not being supportive. Ok I have a question: how did you cultivate your happy and positive outlook on life?

Hey, whatever works for you, PP! Considering most people say anyone from a T3-T4 school will never do anything beyond doc review, if they ever practice law at all, I think it's great.

This. I went to a T4 school, graduated about 15 years ago, and I have a federal government job. Decent pay, great benefits, and awesome hours and flexibility. I'm very happy professionally and personally. Don't believe all the doom and gloom about lower tier law schools.

Why, because you and 5 of your classmates were able to find legal work? This is you, "Here's an anecdote! Now go take out 200k in student loans with that 145 LSAT and you'll be set for life!"

Nah, unless I missed it, OP never endorsed taking on student debt (s/he said s/he had none). Nor did OP ever say "set for life." Said s/he hustled and networked and built a solid career.

She said, "Don't believe all the doom and gloom about lower tier law schools." All I am saying is that you should believe the "doom and gloom" just as much as pp's anecdote.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Will answer as much as I can without outing. Just putting some hope out there!

Job is in-house, pays 150k + up to 30% bonus, 10 years out of law school.

Am I a betch to point out that I think 10 years out of law school and only making "up to" $200k isn't all that? Maybe you get great benefits OP. Sorry for not being supportive. Ok I have a question: how did you cultivate your happy and positive outlook on life?

Hey, whatever works for you, PP! Considering most people say anyone from a T3-T4 school will never do anything beyond doc review, if they ever practice law at all, I think it's great.

This. I went to a T4 school, graduated about 15 years ago, and I have a federal government job. Decent pay, great benefits, and awesome hours and flexibility. I'm very happy professionally and personally. Don't believe all the doom and gloom about lower tier law schools.

Why, because you and 5 of your classmates were able to find legal work? This is you, "Here's an anecdote! Now go take out 200k in student loans with that 145 LSAT and you'll be set for life!"

People like you are exactly OPS point about being someone people like to work with and how far that gets you. Learn it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP I hate to say it but it sounds like you've made so many career moves that your law school's reputation and GPA are pretty much irrelevant at this point. I would say that the fact that it took you so many hops skips and jumps to get to where you are illustrates the difficulty of getting on your feet as a lawyer from a T3-T4 school.

A clerkship, a small firm, and then in house? Doesn’t seem like a lot of moves in 10 years to me.. especially since clerkships are usually a year?