Anonymous wrote:Don't people who work at the UN don't have to pay income taxes? So that $190K is actually even more in your pocket than assumed...what are you thinking OP? stay.

Folks, read the thread. OP stated the $190k is the equivalent GROSS salary she would have; her actual tax free salary and her net salary is much lower.

Don't people who work at the UN don't have to pay income taxes? So that $190K is actually even more in your pocket than assumed...what are you thinking OP? stay.

If you feel underutilized, why not pick up a gig or two? A friend of mine who is a government lawyer teaches a class at Strayer U. There's all kinds of legal gigs you can explore. Write articles. Make presentations. ENJOY what you have. I am a comms officer at the WB with a PR agency background and NO WAY will I ever go back to the world of billables. Never.

OP---as someone who has done big law and in-house (with a life/balance similar to yours in a "unicorn" job I really enjoy)---my suggestion is to take the advice of the PP above. But instead of teaching---go for writing articles and making presentations---if you make enough of a name, then if you decide you really want to go for the money back in BigLaw in a few years, you'll have laid the foundation for building a book of business. Is your UN job in a "niche" type area? I think the big law partners in DC who can command the highest $$ and still have a reasonable life are the ones who are the absolute expert in some arcane area of international or federal regulation which is of critical importance to high-value industries.

And in terms of career satisfaction---there are other barometers of success---having a job that is unique, highly competitive to get, more interesting---all of that can be as satisfying as $$$$. Yes, sometimes it is tough to watch the colleagues who stayed in BigLaw trading up their houses, easily footing the bill for multiple kids in private school, but just remember that all of that comes at a huge cost to having any type of outside personal life.

Anonymous wrote:doesn't the UN have a really great pension as well?

This! another thing to consider. Understand OP on not feeling super challenged. I guess it depends on what matters to you more. Stability, a pension, and a good work life balance, or...whatever you get from big law.

Anonymous wrote:OP here--I do have a personal life which is very important to me. I'm leaning against going back to big law (already did a few years right out of law school--although I woder if it would be better now that I'm more senior).

No. It will not.

If your personal time matters, stay put.

OP here. Part of the problem is that I feel underutilized. I'm a hard worker and can do more than I'm doing now. As one person mentioned, working much harder here will not result in more success because a lot is based simply on seniority. I have a couple of junior partner friends who are doing quite well financially (although working 24/7 and under intense business development pressure) and have very dynamic, albeit stressful, careers. Maybe the grass is just always greener . . .

Look if you have not done it for a few years, it is really hard to go and do the hours again. You had a tasted of life where you get paid well and still have a life. If you add up all your hours working, you will most likely be paid more per hour where you are and you have security. Answer this question: How much business do you think you can bring in and for how long?

Anonymous wrote:Definitely not cold calling. More like relying on your networks of who you know, making free presentations at industry events and hoping an attendee could be a future client, holding seminars, lots of public speaking at conferences, writing articles that are published on industry publications, etc.

Ugh, cold calling seems at least more direct. This seems like so much... Theater.

Since OP is coming from UN, what kind of network could she leverage?

You have no idea how blessed you are to live in a world free of billable hours and pressure to generate business. Stay. STAY.

If you feel underutilized, why not pick up a gig or two? A friend of mine who is a government lawyer teaches a class at Strayer U. There's all kinds of legal gigs you can explore. Write articles. Make presentations. ENJOY what you have. I am a comms officer at the WB with a PR agency background and NO WAY will I ever go back to the world of billables. Never.

AND having all those activities turn into real clients or at the very least, new business with existing clients that otherwise wouldn't have happened.

Definitely not cold calling. More like relying on your networks of who you know, making free presentations at industry events and hoping an attendee could be a future client, holding seminars, lots of public speaking at conferences, writing articles that are published on industry publications, etc.

Anonymous wrote:unless YOU can bring in business in a few years, that job will be temporary.

Quick question. Non lawyer here. What does this even mean? Are they cold calling companies to have firm represent them?

unless YOU can bring in business in a few years, that job will be temporary.

How confident are you that you'll be able to bring in business for the law firm? Unless you think you'll be able to develop a sizable book in the couple of years, I would not even consider leaving. Your job with the firm will not be secure.

doesn't the UN have a really great pension as well?

To join the chorus, no freaking way would I leave. $190 net? It's not like you're making a paltry sum for a job with good work/life balance. I don't think things in biglaw for an of counsel/junior partner are much less stressful or demanding than for a junior associate. Also, take note of the amount of firms that have begun laying off folks recently (mostly in litigation). No way should you leave, unless you want to offer me your job.