Are any lawyers happy at work?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Anyone work in nonprofit law? No money, but is there job satisfaction in helping impoverished people?

Working for no money and all your colleagues graduated in the bottom ten percent of a tier two or three school? No thanks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anyone work in nonprofit law? No money, but is there job satisfaction in helping impoverished people?

Working for no money and all your colleagues graduated in the bottom ten percent of a tier two or three school? No thanks.

How does your colleague's law school affect your job?

[Anonymous]

My kid is about to graduate from a Top 6 law school (CCN) with honors (Order of Coif is up in the air, leaning toward not getting it) and no debt thanks to a full scholarship, then moving onto a COA clerkship

After that, wants to be in NYC for at least 1 year as their partner finishes law school. Didn't do OCI as the idea of BigLaw was a total turnoff at the time. Is going to apply for DOJ Honors in NYC, as well as federal district clerkships, but is now coming around to the idea of NYC BigLaw for a year or two, to secure a clerkship bonus and make as much $ as possible before moving on to a more personally rewarding career track.

Does this sound like a reasonable path? It does to me - particularly since they're committed to being in NYC for at least one post-clerkship year - but I have zero knowledge of this world

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am happy enough

I dunno, most attorneys at my agency are miserable. Either they are full blown alcoholics, or seven feet away from a serious alcohol dependency problem.

[Anonymous]

From boredom and lack of work?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid is about to graduate from a Top 6 law school (CCN) with honors (Order of Coif is up in the air, leaning toward not getting it) and no debt thanks to a full scholarship, then moving onto a COA clerkship

After that, wants to be in NYC for at least 1 year as their partner finishes law school. Didn't do OCI as the idea of BigLaw was a total turnoff at the time. Is going to apply for DOJ Honors in NYC, as well as federal district clerkships, but is now coming around to the idea of NYC BigLaw for a year or two, to secure a clerkship bonus and make as much $ as possible before moving on to a more personally rewarding career track.

Does this sound like a reasonable path? It does to me - particularly since they're committed to being in NYC for at least one post-clerkship year - but I have zero knowledge of this world

DOJ Honors through the US Attorney’s Office of SDNY should really be the top option, but it’s very hard to get. NYC BigLaw would be okay too for a year or two, and may be preferable to government if your child wants a transactional practice or to be a private sector in-house lawyer. I’d also encourage them to cast a wider net and apply to AG Honor’s Program components in DC. A year of DC-NY long distance is very doable, and they will get excellent early experience in DOJ Honors.

[Anonymous]

PP here — a fed clerkship in NYC would be an excellent option too, even if at the district court level. Wishing them luck!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP here — a fed clerkship in NYC would be an excellent option too, even if at the district court level. Wishing them luck!

Thank you! I agree DOJ Honors in NY would be a big stretch, “even” fed district clerkship would be, though maybe prior COA clerkship would help. They know it’s tough, which is why NYC BigLaw (at least for a year or 2) has entered the conversation

[Anonymous]

Very few of my law school friends are happy in the legal profession and MANY left it altogether.

I am a hiring official for me fed agency and there are SOOOOO many private attorneys -making a lot of money- who apply for our grade 14/15 jobs.

I'm fed. I don't HATE it but I don't love. I'm good at my job and career, which is why I did it and continue to do it. But, I wish I could go back 30 years to do the other path I was considering (a stem path) but I had to work much harder at. Oh well. I'm about 10 years out from retirement so I'll not be making a switch now.