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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Retired Big Law partner here.  All I can say is that in all of my years I have never - not once - met anyone who left Big Law who regretted the decision to leave any reason other than they’re now making less money.

Current Big Law lawyers will now pipe in and say either it’s not so bad or that it’s actually great and they love it.  And that’s fine.  But, again, they haven’t actually left so they really can’t know.

In my view, the biggest problem with big law isn’t necessarily the long hours, high stress, and ridiculous expectations that often come your way. It’s that it is with you, always. Even when you’re not working, you’re feeling like you need to be or you should be.  It’s just always a huge part of your identity.  At least that was my experience.

I don’t regret having done it, but only because of the money. I sure made a lot of it and it made retiring early very easy.[/quote]

Most everyone leaves big law for less money. That should be the clue on how miserable it is, but people still don’t get it.[/quote]

I only stayed seven years. The money was indeed great. I chose to live well below my means (minus a few mental health vacations in the Carribean) in order to pay off my (substanial) loans ASAP. I then bought a condo with minimum $ down, and made a fortune when I sold it five years later.

The key is to have an exit strategy in mind from the start. On the financial side, it's crucial to avoid the golden handcuffs. On the mental side, it's equally crucial to remain emotionally independent and not allow the job to become your identity. (There's a lot of mental BS, both explicit and implied, that says someone is "weak" or "can't hack it" if/when they leave the firm. Don't buy in to it and you'll be fine.)

As for the benefits, I think there were a few others, beyond the money. I managed to work for some brilliant and good people. Though my seven years included quite a bit of stress and misery, it was the first (only?) time I was pushed to the edge of my abilities and capacity. For someone like me, that experience was priceless.

In addition, I developed phenomenal work habits, vastly improved my writing, and learned to calculate risk and lean in hard when the potential reward seemed worth it.

Finally, I developed a priceless network of colleagues and friends, both within my firm and beyond. My best advice on that is to focus on the RELATIONSHIPS as well as the work. Careers are long. If you invest in your BigLaw colleagues (including those more senior to you, both within and beyond your specialty), the opportunities will be endless once you move on. Do everything you can to ensure you're not just a commodity, cog in the wheel, or a faceless associate.

As for schools, I agree with much of the advice above:

Your choice of undergrad school hardly matters, as long as you come out with a top GPA and LSAT score. Wherever you go, do your best to take as many classes as possible that include a heavy writing component. It's much easier to hone that skill as an undergrad than it is in a legal writing class or on the job.

For law school, T-15 is ideal. Most importantly, do everything possible to get top grades your first year. It's easier said than done, I know. Those undergrad writing skills will help. Also, try to find a 3rd year mentor. Ideally, someone at the top of their class who is willing to take you under their wing and teach you how to study effectively and do well on exams. It's not hard to find out who's at the top of their class. Start with the Law Review Ed Board and quietly ask around. I think I figured this out in less than a week, and he was more than willing to go to lunch periodically and provide exactly the type of advice and support I needed to book multiple classes. Again, it's all about RELATIONSHIPS. 
[/quote]

This is amazing advice - even though I took a different route that circumvented BigLaw, it’s totally on point. [/quote]

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