If your significant other is a partner at a big law firm, what time does he/she get home usually?

[Anonymous]

For whatever its worth - I am/was a biglaw partner that decided to move out of DC to a southeast regional office of the biglaw firm. My hours are now about 8:30-5:30 and since my commute is 10 minutes I spend a lot of time with the family. My salary dropped from the mid-400s to the high 200s but that is actually far better in terms of lifestyle here than in DC because cost of living is lower.

All this being noted, there is no reason for a biglaw partner in DC to be pulling those crazy hours consistently. Yes, if you are a litigator in trial or corporate working on a big deal, you can have transient times of 14 hour work days. But most billing requirements are in the 2000 hour range and if you are efficient, you can work 8:30-6 and do an hour from home remotely when the kids go to bed. Most of the people who worked 9-10pm wasted time around the office, went to long lunches or were supreme gunners that wanted to work 2500 hours and make high six figures. Nothing wrong with that, but you are choosing to do it, the firm isn't expecting it from you.