Reply to Explain to me like I’m five. What do “Big Law” lawyers do?

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[quote=Anonymous]I'm not a lawyer, but I worked to put one through law school, and have sat through ten years of biglaw from the sidelines... These are my stories.

Lawyers are recruited during law school to work as summer associates, which is paid. When I found out how much, I said, "a month?" But no, it was weekly. The ones the firm likes are hired as first years. The year my partner started this process there was like a 50k jump in the starting salary for first years. We, who had been living on ramen and a prayer, were thrilled.

What I wish I'd known then and know now is that while salaries do go up, they don't necessarily rise on that same curve.

My partner is a brilliant lawyer, but not a particularly successful one. They've managed to survive in biglaw by transitioning into an "of counsel" position, although like the poster above, it looks like their book may finally net them partnership. We have mixed feelings. There's a lot to be said for pulling in 250k and working about 50 hours a week, with a lot of those hours put in at home. They're not good at schmoozing, or sales, or acting like a shark. Equity partnership requires cash outlays and paying for our own health insurance (so I've been told). I don't think their group can function without them... But I don't think my partner wants to work more hours, or go to more conferences, or look for more business. They are very happy in their highly technical part of the law, doing what they do. It's not a bad life... But it's not untold riches, either. Have never seen a decent bonus. Haven't had a raise in three years, and before that it was another four. Have changed firms three times, twice due to firm mergers that has nothing to do with them. Still, they are very good at their job and their clients are very happy.

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