Reply to Junior associate at Big Law -- help!

Forum Index » Jobs and Careers

Reply to "Junior associate at Big Law -- help!"

Subject:

Emoticons





More smilies

Text Color: Font: Close Marks

[quote=Anonymous]Adding my 2 cents:

- OP if you want to try and stick it out in Big Law for a few years--or forever--I disagree with posters saying you are done, leave now, the sky is falling etc.  There is still time to correct and evolve.  I was terrible in my first law firm job.  It took me time to learn how to do it (and a firm switch).  And you will be amazed on how much you can be capable of doing.  Each year I am more able to balance work demands and still be present in my family's life.  But it was a shock in the beginning.

- That being said, you are going to have to make some changes/corrections, and that is a hard pill to swallow.  I agree with the advice to get some input stat from a more senior associate on how to improve.  In terms of balancing life and work, what I have found works for me: be relentlessly focused while in the office on billable work.  Try and do the minimal non-billable you can until you get your hours up.  Be hyper focused, i.e. no social lunches, little chit-chat.  To pull off 2K per year, you either need to come in super early or work after kids go to bed or work some hours on the weekend.  You can do it though.  Manage your expectations outside of life.  I prioritize my family and working out, so I have basically given up on a social life.  I also don't do things that I used to do like cook.  We have outsourced so many things, or I have given up those hobbies.  There are lots of discussion on here as to how to do this.

- BigLaw may not be for you...and that is understandable.  it is a very difficult life.  But I wouldn't assume you can't make it work for some time just because the first year has been very difficult.  It is a learning curve.
[/quote]

Options

	Disable HTML in this message
	Disable BB Code in this message
	Disable smilies in this message

Review message

Search Recent Topics Hottest Topics