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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I was a corporate and securities associate.  My advice is to work there for two years then go to the SEC.  Big law is a soul sucking way to pay debt.  The people I worked with had the must f'ed up home lives you could possibly imagine.   I stayed too long.[/quote]

Agree with this if you're not planning to try to make partner.  I stayed too long and should have left after 2-4 years for the SEC or an in-house job.  Although most in-house jobs want more experience - maybe 6+ years.  Also wish I'd picked a different focus - I loved the work but corporate and securities transactional work is not family friendly. would have been better to pick a specialty and then I think I could have stayed at a firm without the hours being so brutal.  But having kids was not on my mind at the time I graduated.

If you're looking to stay in big law, try to work with as many different partners as you can -- the more people who know you and can advocate for you, the more chances you will make partner.  If you're good, one partner may try to monopolize your time, but it's important that many people know you and the quality of your work.

All of the following is obvious advice, but not all associates seem to know it: take the time to proofread your work before giving it to the associate or partner above you (I hated catching stupid mistakes that the associate should have caught if they'd actually read their work); return calls as promptly as possible -- if someone sends you an assignment or emails/calls about something you need to do and you can't do it right way - email them or call them to let them know that you're on it and will do at X time if that works for them  (another pet peeve of mine was sending emails with assignments and not hearing back as to whether they were doing it or not); have a great attitude - don't act like something is beneath you (yes - due diligence is not fun, but someone has to do it and your the low man/woman on the totem pole); be nice to the support staff, know their names, etc.; try to make a great first impression - it's true what they say about first impressions so when you start definitely put in the extra time, be visible, don't take a bunch of sick days -- reputation is very important; and try to maintain/expand your network - stay in touch with law school friends, go to occasional events/conferences, etc.[/quote]

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