Anonymous
07/08/2023 13:35
Subject: Why do people here prefer Law over tech for $$$?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Tech is not on most graduating students’ radar. It’s my number one advice to high school seniors though. We got into it late, thank god we did though. I think it would be hilariously stupid to get a law degree after being in tech, like a PP suggested. If you’ve been in tech you’re *very* hireable, and no signs of that slowing down.
As someone in tech, you are flat-out wrong with the bolded. Those lawyers are far and away some of the most highly paid lawyers there are, and they have career longevity that engineers often don’t have. Plus, often excellent quality of life because there aren’t many people like that and they are always in demand.
Yup. This is DH. Former SWE -> top law school -> COA clerkship -> printing money now.
Anonymous
07/08/2023 13:31
Subject: Re:Why do people here prefer Law over tech for $$$?
Tech has had a very good run but I think DCUM is overconfident about how much money you can make consistently over a long career. DH and I have both done much better than $300k and very consistently. Also we got on the property ladder immediately by being logical and cool-headed about student loans instead of irrationally paying them off as quickly as possible.
Anonymous
07/08/2023 13:27
Subject: Re:Why do people here prefer Law over tech for $$$?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Law requires different skills than does tech.
+1. You don't have to be smart to be a lawyer. Much easier path.
Yeah, and most lawyers don't go to top schools, don't work in big law, and are lucky to break $100k a decade in.
Anonymous
07/08/2023 13:16
Subject: Re:Why do people here prefer Law over tech for $$$?
Anonymous wrote:Law requires different skills than does tech.
+1. You don't have to be smart to be a lawyer. Much easier path.
Anonymous
07/08/2023 13:14
Subject: Why do people here prefer Law over tech for $$$?
He basically landed the tech equivalent of a big law job. The tech workers at the defense contractors and retail banks are making good money but not FAANG money. The alt comparison would be big law vs FAANG. Tech workers don’t have as much opportunity to break past $3XX,000 but seem to be able to stick around there longer. And the work seems closer to 40-50 hours (not sure what roles get hit hard with crunch). We also saw that FAANG isnt afraid to lay off SWEs en mass if things slow down.
In big law, you have the opportunity to make 7 figures but you have other downsides. You work more hours, have a smaller chance of getting to 7 figures (and inhouse seems to start between $160-200k if you bail), and you have to pay off your student loans so you associate big law salary isnt as big as it appears on paper. Lastly, law seems to have the biggest delta between what you think you will do based on how its presented to the public, what schooling teaches you, and what its actually like. Tech seems pretty straightforward in what to expect
In big law, you have the opportunity to make 7 figures but you have other downsides. You work more hours, have a smaller chance of getting to 7 figures (and inhouse seems to start between $160-200k if you bail), and you have to pay off your student loans so you associate big law salary isnt as big as it appears on paper. Lastly, law seems to have the biggest delta between what you think you will do based on how its presented to the public, what schooling teaches you, and what its actually like. Tech seems pretty straightforward in what to expect
Anonymous
07/08/2023 12:51
Subject: Re:Why do people here prefer Law over tech for $$$?
People are either good at math and tech or they are good at other things.
Also all of these software engineers will be out of jobs soon because of AI and CahtGBT which is why so many tech companies are going through lay offs. Tech has a lot less stability than law.
Anonymous
07/08/2023 12:49
Subject: Re:Why do people here prefer Law over tech for $$$?
I’d rather chew off my right arm than to write code and do tech work.
-signed big law lawyer.
-signed big law lawyer.
Anonymous
07/08/2023 12:39
Subject: Why do people here prefer Law over tech for $$$?
I work in tech and I don’t think it’s boring, having the skills to build any kind of software I want is amazing. Knowing how to build web apps, games, automation, use databases, program simulations, program robots, AI, manipulate graphics, reverse engineer things, exploit or harden against vulnerabilities, write mods for video games, etc is so much cooler than legal work. You can build entire worlds and systems from the ground up if you’re a talented programmer, it almost feels like being a god. Law seems so freaking boring to me, any time I happen to read through legal text I wonder how anyone can enjoy being a lawyer.
Anonymous
07/08/2023 12:24
Subject: Why do people here prefer Law over tech for $$$?
Some people like going to office, dressing up and working with other people, some people rather dress casual and work online in peace of their home.
Anonymous
07/08/2023 12:21
Subject: Why do people here prefer Law over tech for $$$?
Fed and non profit are purpose and calling, big law isn't.
Anonymous
07/08/2023 11:59
Subject: Why do people here prefer Law over tech for $$$?
Anonymous wrote:Tech is not on most graduating students’ radar. It’s my number one advice to high school seniors though. We got into it late, thank god we did though. I think it would be hilariously stupid to get a law degree after being in tech, like a PP suggested. If you’ve been in tech you’re *very* hireable, and no signs of that slowing down.
As someone in tech, you are flat-out wrong with the bolded. Those lawyers are far and away some of the most highly paid lawyers there are, and they have career longevity that engineers often don’t have. Plus, often excellent quality of life because there aren’t many people like that and they are always in demand.
Anonymous
07/08/2023 11:53
Subject: Re:Why do people here prefer Law over tech for $$$?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I am lawyer - why did I prefer it over tech? It's my interest.
Same. I’d be miserable in tech but I love being a lawyer.[/quote]
DH is a lawyer and so are many of our friends. None of them "love" being a lawyer so this is interesting. What exactly do you do and do you have a family?
Anonymous
07/08/2023 11:49
Subject: Why do people here prefer Law over tech for $$$?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Tech is not on most graduating students’ radar. It’s my number one advice to high school seniors though. We got into it late, thank god we did though. I think it would be hilariously stupid to get a law degree after being in tech, like a PP suggested. If you’ve been in tech you’re *very* hireable, and no signs of that slowing down.
It's not? That is not my observation at all?
IMO, people on this board may 'prefer' law because it can be perceived as a higher calling and more socially prestigious in the DC area. Tech is so new money, you know.
This. It lacks the traditions of law.
Tech can involve chronic layoffs, some people prefer more stability. And there are so many family-friendly GS-15 and SES jobs you can get here with a law degree.
Anonymous
07/08/2023 11:39
Subject: Re:Why do people here prefer Law over tech for $$$?
Because you don’t have to be nearly as smart to go into law. And math & science are intimidating.
Anonymous
07/08/2023 11:38
Subject: Re:Why do people here prefer Law over tech for $$$?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I am lawyer - why did I prefer it over tech? It's my interest.
Same. I’d be miserable in tech but I love being a lawyer.
And, I have to call the help desk for tech support and I know they think I am an idiot but they're nice about it - it keeps them in a job
