Does big law get better?

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thanks to everyone for the input. Honestly, it's what I've expected to hear. We are in a fork in the road as far as the future so this was helpful. DH is likely a shoe in for partner (although I certainly know there are no guarantees in life). We plan to buy our dream house in a few years, so this would hopefully make that easily possible. However, he has also been contacted by a couple of government agencies that are interested in him (he does a very specialized area of law that is a hot topic right now). So we shall see what lies ahead.

[Anonymous]

He's a shoe in for partner? No one is a shoe in for partner these days.

[Anonymous]

best thing I ever did was leave the firm for govt

[Anonymous]

Lawyers do disgusting things thats why the money is high. Did you see devils advocate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Lawyers do disgusting things thats why the money is high. Did you see devils advocate.

Did you see Bad Teacher?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:He's a shoe in for partner? No one is a shoe in for partner these days.

This is loike saying "no one is a super model." Very few people. But the number isn't 0.

[Anonymous]

*like

[Anonymous]

He's about 33 yo? Make the switch to government and work for 30 years, retire early 60s and collect a nice pension and health benefits.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Lawyers do disgusting things thats why the money is high. Did you see devils advocate.

You're aware that was fictional, right?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Lawyers do disgusting things thats why the money is high. Did you see devils advocate.


You're aware that was fictional, right?

If it is on the big screen it has to be true, doesn't it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP--it depends on what you mean by "better." If you mean fewer hours, surely not, at least not a first. As others have noted, a big change is the need to develop business which in BigLaw usually means travel.

But the people I know who left BigLaw for government generally feel that they're working the same jobs, with less support, for a quarter of the money. So there aren't a lot of panaceas. Either way, if he's thinking of leaving, I'd wait out the two years to get across the line (if he's really a shoe-in). The world of in-house (often, not always, more family friendly) is MUCH more open to people with a P after their names.

OP, this poster is spot on. If he can make partner in a few years, he should stay and get over the line. He can always leave after a year or two and go into government, but if he wants to transition out again to the private sector, he will get a better deal coming out as a former partner. It is like getting tenure in academia, once you join the club it is easier to stay in the club as you move around.

[Anonymous]

It is shoo-in, not shoe-in.

Lucky you SAH...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It is shoo-in, not shoe-in.

Lucky you SAH...

As a lawyer, this is why people hate lawyers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When I read these threads about big law, in some ways I am jealous. I don't think I would prefer that level of work-like balance, but to stay in something with that level of time commitment, I can't imagine what its like to really like or love your profession that much, its impressive and I wonder if I'll ever feel that kind of calling to a profession.

Honestly I wouldn't assume they all like or love their jobs that much.

I am a lawyer and I like my job but I hated being a big firm lawyer.

I agree. Some of us do like the work: I left Big Law for govt because the hours were ruining my relationships and my health, not because I disliked the day-to-day practice. There are some who thrive on competition or on the thrill of winning a client/case/whatever, and they seem to be happy in a wound-up, looking-for-the-next-crisis way. But in my experience most of the people who stay do so because they feel financially trapped by all the spending PP mentioned and they don't know how to get out. And a lot of them, particularly the really senior male partners, appear to just not want to spend time at home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thanks to everyone for the input. Honestly, it's what I've expected to hear. We are in a fork in the road as far as the future so this was helpful. DH is likely a shoe in for partner (although I certainly know there are no guarantees in life). We plan to buy our dream house in a few years, so this would hopefully make that easily possible. However, he has also been contacted by a couple of government agencies that are interested in him (he does a very specialized area of law that is a hot topic right now). So we shall see what lies ahead.

DH and I were both biglaw partners. Here's an observation: if you buy the "dream house" and a couple of nice cars and send a couple kids to private school, it may be nearly impossible for your DH to ever leave biglaw.