If you're happy being a lawyer...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I love being a lawyer but I have a very unique job. Law school was ok. I went to a first tier school and did well but it wasn't the best time of my life. I practiced in a big firm for a few years. The money was good, forged a few friendships, but I couldn't wait to get out. Now I work for a specialized federal agency. Although my agency is my "client", really I feel that my job consists of making the right decisions. Rarely am I pushed in a specific direction. I get to apply the law (in an administrative setting) and do what I think is right. I work about 50 hours/week but telecommute 100%. Make about $110K base salary but another $10-20K in bonus. Interesting enough work and great work/life balance.

Can you share which agency?

Not the poster, but I'm willing to bet she works for the MSPB. I would kill to work there.

Because of the 100% telecommute?

As far as I know MSPB doesn't allow 100% telecommute. (Or if they do, it's a well-kept secret!)

I'm the one who guessed MSPB. I guessed that because: 1) I know there is a frequent poster who works there and has already posted about being happy with it: and 2) the applying the law in an administrative setting to make the "right" decision" thing. I'm willing to bet she specifically works in the Office of Appeals Counsel.

I'm the PP who loves her job. Hadn't heard of the MSPB! I am with the USPTO.

[Anonymous]

Wrong guesser here! Ahh! That makes sense too. USPTO is renowned for being pioneering in flexible working arrangements. Gotta have some specialized skills to work there, ones that I do not have.

I just have MSPB on the brain!

[Anonymous]

I'm an associate on partner track in BigLaw at a Vault50 firm that is actually woman-friendly. I work 50 hrs a week in litigation with a superb boss and love my job. Intellectually demanding and the people are great.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm an associate on partner track in BigLaw at a Vault50 firm that is actually woman-friendly. I work 50 hrs a week in litigation with a superb boss and love my job. Intellectually demanding and the people are great.

Give it time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm an associate on partner track in BigLaw at a Vault50 firm that is actually woman-friendly. I work 50 hrs a week in litigation with a superb boss and love my job. Intellectually demanding and the people are great.

Give it time.

Sorry. Should have mentioned that I'm a seventh-year, and will be up for partner in two years, and am pretty sure I'll be in if I want it. Not sure I want it, but my biggest client has offered me a position in-house, so I'll likely end up there

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm an associate on partner track in BigLaw at a Vault50 firm that is actually woman-friendly. I work 50 hrs a week in litigation with a superb boss and love my job. Intellectually demanding and the people are great.

Give it time.

LOL.

[Anonymous]

I also work for USPTO and love it. I have worked for a large firm and I can tell you that I will never go back. I telecommute, make good money and actually enjoy my job.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I also work for USPTO and love it. I have worked for a large firm and I can tell you that I will never go back. I telecommute, make good money and actually enjoy my job.

Are they hiring?

[Anonymous]

i'm one of those weird people who loved law school. nobody in my family is a lawyer so i really enjoyed the exposure to all of these different disciplines that i knew nothing about.

and i am really, really happy where i am now. i'm a govt. lawyer too, and i work for a fairly specialized agency, in a field i never really thought about working in and is not the field that i really wanted when i came out of law school. basically, i took the job thinking it would be something to do while i looked for something in "my" field. however, i've really come to appreciate my job. i'm a fourth-tier law grad (yes, you read that right, we do exist) and i have a job that pays six figures, which is amazing when you think that many of my classmates are slogging it out for 50 or 60K a year, or are completely unemployed.

and what's great about my job is that i don't have to deal with clients, i don't have billing requirements, i have reasonable hours (7:00-4:30), i get to work overtime, i have incredible benefits, i don't have to wear a suit, i don't have to go to court, i am good at what i do, my colleagues are amazing, and i get to telework 4 days a week. seriously, what's not to love?! there is no way i could parent in the manner that i see fit without the benefits i receive at my agency.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:i'm one of those weird people who loved law school. nobody in my family is a lawyer so i really enjoyed the exposure to all of these different disciplines that i knew nothing about.

and i am really, really happy where i am now. i'm a govt. lawyer too, and i work for a fairly specialized agency, in a field i never really thought about working in and is not the field that i really wanted when i came out of law school. basically, i took the job thinking it would be something to do while i looked for something in "my" field. however, i've really come to appreciate my job. i'm a fourth-tier law grad (yes, you read that right, we do exist) and i have a job that pays six figures, which is amazing when you think that many of my classmates are slogging it out for 50 or 60K a year, or are completely unemployed.

and what's great about my job is that i don't have to deal with clients, i don't have billing requirements, i have reasonable hours (7:00-4:30), i get to work overtime, i have incredible benefits, i don't have to wear a suit, i don't have to go to court, i am good at what i do, my colleagues are amazing, and i get to telework 4 days a week. seriously, what's not to love?! there is no way i could parent in the manner that i see fit without the benefits i receive at my agency.

Please share which agency.

[Anonymous]

I work at a litigating component of DOJ and most of the time, I love my job. Intellectually stimulating and interesting, often important work. There have been times where I have said to myself, I can't believe I get paid to do this.

That said, there are certainly frustrations; sometimes the things you end up fighting over in litigation seem petty and stupid, even in some big-deal case. While some opposing counsel are a pleasure to deal with, others, as a PP noted, can be just terrible, terrible people. And to some degree I wish I was in a policy role, maybe on the Hill, or in advocacy at a non-profit. Unfortunately, those jobs would be more hours (especially the Hill) with less control over my schedule (ditto) for less money, which we can't really afford.

If I had it to do over, I would definitely do it over.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I also work for USPTO and love it. I have worked for a large firm and I can tell you that I will never go back. I telecommute, make good money and actually enjoy my job.

Are they hiring?

Go to USAjobs.com, type in USPTO in the search field. There are about five openings currently, obviously not all for attorneys.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I love being a lawyer but I have a very unique job. Law school was ok. I went to a first tier school and did well but it wasn't the best time of my life. I practiced in a big firm for a few years. The money was good, forged a few friendships, but I couldn't wait to get out. Now I work for a specialized federal agency. Although my agency is my "client", really I feel that my job consists of making the right decisions. Rarely am I pushed in a specific direction. I get to apply the law (in an administrative setting) and do what I think is right. I work about 50 hours/week but telecommute 100%. Make about $110K base salary but another $10-20K in bonus. Interesting enough work and great work/life balance.

All of this applies to me, too, minus the 100% telework (about 60% though I'm grateful for that) and minus the potential bonus. I wish!

[Anonymous]

"I'm the one who guessed MSPB. I guessed that because: 1) I know there is a frequent poster who works there and has already posted about being happy with it: and 2) the applying the law in an administrative setting to make the "right" decision" thing. I'm willing to bet she specifically works in the Office of Appeals Counsel."

You must be a management-side lawyer to think that MSPB comes out with the right decisions!

[Anonymous]

I'm one of the few non-government or biglaw lawyers here, it seems! I love, love, love my job. I am a partner at a family law attorney for an incredible firm in No.Va. Specialized firms are usually smaller so while the pay isn't big money, the billable requirement is so reasonable. My firm requires 1500/year and won't go crazy if you don't hit that target.

Other than the hours, what I really like is that: I get to court on at least a weekly basis (I wouldn't like sitting in the office all day), and I get a blend of intellectual and interesting legal issues in addition to personal and interesting stories and tidbits about people's personal lives and marriage. It has certainly given me alot of perspective about life, partnerships, and marriage.