Big law advice. This is NOT a forum for legal advice.
Big law advice. Yes, I can’t underscore enough this type of advice.
Big law advice W. When choosing a firm, consider the firm’s practice areas, This article looks closely at Big Law in the two countries by highlighting how these firms have become dominant in the legal landscape, what kinds of challenges they are facing, Interview coaching is a tailored process that helps law students and lateral applicants strengthen their interview skills, develop succinct stories that amplify their best qualities, and receive Big Law refers to large, prestigious law firms that handle complex and high-profile legal matters for corporations and wealthy individuals. 5 hours yesterday, Note that this forum is NOT for legal advice. So 190,000 is big law for me, regardless of how many attorneys the firm has. I’m currently preparing to take the lsat in January and was wondering if you guys have any tips and advice on what’s most important to focus on for someone striving to While Big Law was once thought to consist largely of elite Manhattan law firms, more than half of the nation’s leading firms are now based outside of New York, including in areas such as Houston, Seattle and Denver, says Eli Wald, Charles W. Can’t hurt to look but you’re right, someone who struck out at big law OCI is in absolutely no position to count on a clerkship. Pay attention and you may be surprised by what you learn and what types of law end up interesting you. No one really likes being a first year, so do give it a chance—it gets better, at least for some. Same if you need legal advice. Hey all. I feel like a sell out for even considering it, but i didn’t like the civil rights gig. The firms with big teams recruiting in London are Latham, Freshfields, Allen & Overy, and Skadden. I go by money, “big law” being a proxy for the level of work the firm does. Management is awful, the clients are insane, and the cases are repetitive. I am now actively trying to leave my current small firm. Best. Others will limit big law to firms that pay Cravath scale. Market for a 4th year is $275, last I checked; and I make just a hair over $245. You could have a slow week then Friday at 3:30pm someone gives you an assignment they need that night or by Saturday afternoon. I attend a school ranked in the 60's that places a decent amount of students at big firms in TX and NY. I interviewed for an IP legal assistant position at a lower level big law firm that had stollen a partner from a v10 firm. 60% is definitely self selection. I was reading about Kirkland & Ellis opening offices in Miami and other international law firms planning to expand in Florida. These questions should be discussed directly with your physical therapist. As I’m getting closer to becoming a senior associate I’m starting to think more about the next couple years. Do I have any chance at big law? I’ve been looking at Akin and Alston & Bird but I just think they’re a stretch and I don’t wanna waste my time. I was slightly below median at the time. She is experienced in providing advice on legal issues regarding commercial property affecting clients. So I’m worried about performing once I’m here. I do not have any particular advice other than you're not on an island by yourself, so hopefully you can find some sort of support network and adopt some healthy habits that will help you protect what you value in life. But there are a lot of legitimate issues with Sylvia Lopez is solicitor at Big Law in Brisbane. If the firm pays below that I usually call it mid law. For young lawyers who want to take on the Big Law refers to the largest and most prestigious law firms, often characterized by their size, global presence, and high-profile clientele. The Law School Admission Test (LSAT) is the test required to get into an ABA law school. Placing high in 1L and using that GPA to get a 2L summer Biglaw job through OCI is the straightest path. These firms typically employ hundreds to thousands of attorneys, operate across multiple continents, and handle complex legal matters for Fortune 500 companies, government entities, and wealthy individuals. or other therapy-relevant topics. I am at a firm this summer that isn't quite the right fit, and looking for something more in line with my interests (IP), but unclear how to begin, or when to even reach out to My biggest advice for current 2Ls is that callbacks aren't just about personality fit. Hello all. I also know that I am hardly the first kid to go into law school with dreams of the ACLU to wind up looking at big law; I just feel gross and naive and all I want to say that this post is in no way trying to show off or rub my success in people's faces, but to give some advice to the incoming 1L's and current students who are wanting to break into big law. After one semester of grades, I'm now comfortably above median. also your school doesn’t empower you, you empower you. Obviously there are really small elite firms that pay market, I call those boutiques. gg/jobs Members Online. by D. After my first semester, I had a better understanding of how most professors grade exams. Has anyone made the transition from big law to a position as in house counsel? Anything not specifically related to development or career advice that is _specific_ to Experienced Developers belongs elsewhere. I’ve been in practice for 3 years and am considering switching due to finances and emotional burnout. I’m currently a 2L associate with a medium-sized firm (35 attorneys) in the South East practicing workers comp defense. Potential employer asking for college transcripts despite me having 7 years of directly related work experience Hi! I am in law school now and want to go into corporate law but do not want to go into big law. Large companies with specialized transactional matters or complicated litigation can benefit from Big Law’s expertise and scale. Big Law firms play a crucial role in the corporate world by providing legal advice and representation in A part of me is excited but I have heard of plenty of scary stories about Big Law from the insane stress, lack of sleep, large amount of work, etc. Some in the top 30% are going big law as well though it definitely seems a little more difficult. Big N and remote work Any and all advice is much appreciated from this community. Big Law firms need to maximize profits or eventually the gap between themselves and competitive firms will widen to the point they risk losing their rainmakers. Anyone have any big advice either on the pros or cons of certain firms? I’m definitely going big law but I need some honest opinions from anonymous strangers. What advice would you give someone going into an interview with a big firm? Thanks so much! At my big law firm, I work for 4-5 attorneys but the work I do is simple and most of them handle the major things. Everyone I know or have met who went Berkeley law and wanted to get big Law got it. The Reddit Law School Admissions Forum. I am a 2018 graduate from a T60 school coming from a clerkship with a US Court of Appeals judge. The fulfillment isn’t always there. What is the culture like in Baker Botts’ Houston Corporate department? What about V&E? I am trying to place my OCI bids, and I am interested in Texas specifically Houston because I have family there. I realize how lucky I am to suddenly get an offer with Big Law. She gives awesome advice on using networking etc. Below is what I've found are common career paths starting with big law. I actually think the obsession with Big Law in this subreddit and law student communities is super unhealthy. How do people survive the stress of big law? Again, I see how this advice can sound ridiculous when you’re in the middle of a toxic work environment and are made to feel like a idiot peon. What distinguishes Ask questions, seek advice, post outlines, etc. HEDGEFUNDIE as a Big Law associate) tend to be involved less, especially at larger companies where pay scales are higher. Head to our discord for live support: discord. As others have stated, your career is yours to own. I have 3 interviews next week for big firms and I’m honestly shocked. Seeking some career advice. Not saying these are the top schools for big law but it seems pretty achievable through WashU if you’re not dead set on a single market. First year big law litigation associate in San Francisco (V30 firm). Venting and nerves for networking at a Top 100 big law event as a small time, transactional associate with little ambition. Learn how to bill quickly and automatically, . so their “advice” in this instance is more for their benefit than for yours. I don’t think there is any other realistic outcome to what is currently happening. Know your worth I and some friends (all recent law graduates in BigLaw) have been spending some of our downtime to create guides on BigLaw recruiting and 1L preparation. Companies . I have two internships this summer, one with a judge and the other with a government agency. I billed 12. While in house, my corporate skillset broadened significantly. Very hard to justify slaving away for Big Law with There's lots of good advice here. It would be the shame to go in-house to finally become the legal translator between the direction and the outsourced lawyers. professor of law at the University of Denver Sturm College of Law. ADMIN MOD Law clerk - Big Law . Looking for some advise for a lateral to big law. But I struggle with seeing why big law>boutique lit firms like the ones I have mentioned Reply reply more replies More replies More replies More replies More replies. However, at the end of the semester when things died down, I got my crap I spent about 5 years in big law (2 firms), and am coming up on 5 years of being in house (2 companies). I've seen all kinds of examples (boutique to big firm and vice versa, big firm to suburban firm, exiting law, transfer overseas). Idk if this is good advice for everyone, but this is what worked for me. Hi! I spent a few years in Big Law! I’d say typical day I’d wake up at 5am, workout, head to the office by 7am, spend the first hour responding to emails that came in overnight and then I would try to schedule any client calls for the day. The networking way of trying to meet the people at a law firm and maybe get an interview, is just leading me to dead ends. While the experience has been valuable, I'm considering making a switch and would love some advice from those who have been in similar situations. I have a mediocre resume and am not well connected, or traditionally diverse, but I was raised by a single mother and faced economic and legal hardship 46 votes, 26 comments. Success requires resilience, adaptability, and strong interpersonal skills. Building a Successful Career in Big Law: Tips and Advice. i have no intention of Same if you need legal advice. And I’m tired. Partners at big law law in my practice group were very receptive to letting internal deadlines lapse if you were working on an important pro Bono case. I’m in the Midwest right now and want to get out (big law here really isn’t big law). It's okay if you don't like big law. to achieve your career goals even if you didn't go to a top tier school or graduate at the top of your class. I’ve been working in big law (V20 firm / Tips for Law student networking into big law. And yes, I’m aware of the hbcu admin issues! During August of 2019, I struck out at OCIs and thus did not get a Big Law offer. Sure, money and prestige is nice, but really there are few places outside big law or maybe working as an AUSA, where you'll get the same practical experience at an exceptional level. Not technically big law but they do the same kind of work and it’s similarly competitive. In short, the advice for a young Big Law associate is not that different from others starting out their careers, with the difference that they will make more money and work longer hours: 1) Max out the 401k 2) Build up the emergency fund 3) Save a big chunk of every paycheck in a taxable account I got a 2. we got acquired by a big national firm a few months ago and i hate it so much lol. Everyone is gonna have a different idea of what satisfies them morally. Decided to apply for 2L OCI even though my grades this semester were slightly lower than expected (I had some serious family stuff going on). Open comment sort options. About Us. I did big law and moved to a small firm. I mass mailed everywhere and finally got an offer at a midsize firm in my home market in November. I'm a 1L at a T3 for almost sticker price. I struck out with the big law firms but if you’re better at interviewing than I was, you’ve got a decent chance. Delaney Jr. I’m here to rant about how I feel like I can’t live up to the big law expectations. ) but those things alone do not make a firm Big Law. But, I'm also feeling imposter syndrome since I've never worked in Big I went to a tier 2 law school. Big law interview Friday. I know this is crappy advice because you already have so much to do but do make time for pro bono. It is much more accurate to say that their big law placement is around 33%. 3L hiring is just that bad, and from what I can tell, almost everyone who gets hired had a big law SA with another firm and is switching. End goal is inhouse at a Google or Facebook (or comparable big tech company). I left consulting because of a desire to go to law school but most importantly because the hours were too much for me and I started having physical reactions to the stress. Members Online. It gets better because you’re no longer the bitch that gets stuck with every research project, memo, cite check, someone is curious and wants to find out some random thing that happened in another case 2 years ago project. I got to control a lot of briefing that way, and my writing really shone. Big law. Please do not post any personal/general medical questions or ask for medical advice on this forum. I actually think that Berkeley had more of a big Law focus than I expected when I went to ASW. 35% and 40% are NOT low chances, especially when the majority of law students at both of these schools have public interest concentrations (criminal, family, environmental, etc. I’m about to start in big law and my SO has previously expressed surprise at me working past ~7pm. You get to manage your own files, priorities, and day-to-day, Advice and questions welcome. At the end of the day good lawyers are good lawyers bad lawyers are bad lawyers. Your firm probably won't match. General corporate practice. this might be the minority for most big firms - but they do exist! It is a very small minority in my experience, but you are right - they do exist. If you are interested in tax, I’ve also heard a lot of success stories of people who go work for the IRS straight out of law school transitioning to big law tax (particularly, tax litigation). That's okay! You should still Everyone here talks about graduating from a T14 and then going straight to Big Law. Big Law firms play a crucial role in the corporate world by providing legal advice and representation in major business transactions, regulatory compliance, and litigation. By: Law school teaches you a great deal, but this is your chance to learn about what practicing attorneys really do. With FIU jumping Umiami in the rankings and being south Florida’s best ranked school is it possible to do big law in Miami. Check out the sidebar for intro guides. Opinion on 3L reneging on one big law firm offer from 2L SA to accept another big law offer in same market Share Sort by: Best. Modmail in your proof of being a lawyer/solicitor/law student and get flair! I’ve secured a job at a big law firm that will start paying me 225k a year I've been in biglaw for about 5 years now, and here's my advice: Max out your 401k every year. 96 first sem at UM law (T75 with a 20% big law employment The best place on Reddit for admissions advice. 21 GPA, ranked 112/176 in my class. We would suggest /r/AskDocs. New. 0000001% of getting hired. I was outside of their usual criteria for grades but I genuinely believe that networking and connecting got me the job. I'm applying to law schools next cycle and I was wondering what schools (other than Upenn of course) would be best to get a big law job in Philadelphia after graduation. ) as well as general You’re not expected to know anything as a 1L summer. Ideally Chicago (defining my Interview Advice from a Current Big Law Associate . I wouldn't be surprised if the work life balance ends up being comparable to big law. Edit: Thank you all for the contributions!! I'm gonna aim for Penn and if not, I'll probably either go to Temple or Nova depending on who will give me more $$$. My goal is big law and I wanted to know if anyone had any advice on what I should do to land a 1L big law sa at any firm, anwhere in the US. These firms typically employ hundreds to Big Law refers to large, prestigious law firms that handle complex and high-profile legal matters for corporations and wealthy individuals. Looking for advice from anyone that has started in big law with a significant other in a career with a far greater work/life balance. BU and WUSTL are great law schools, I was just asking for advice for which one has better prospects for BigLaw. As a 4th year in litigation in Big Law, I can say that it gets better and worse with time, in my experience. com to be a good resource, but there's a lot of good personal financial advice online. I know that the two ways to get a big law job is either by summering or Big law has a lot of hours grinding towards nothing for you except money. I think that is particularly elitist, but oh well. WashU is the higher ranked school by a considerable amount, but I’m thinking Fordham would be advantageous for nyc big law. My advice is to spend less time on Reddit more looking up the female partners and trying to see if any have kids let alone 3 of them. Big law offered me the opportunity to do 15 cases about widgets in the same time period. If you want to do it, go for it. I was also top 25% at a T50, got like ten big law screeners and ten screeners at mid sized firms. Stand-alone tax advice on weird tax planning/structures is actually my favorite - usually there isn’t a specific timeline and you really get to dig into the Code. Finally creeping up on 170 for my LSAT PT’s but thinking I may not like the life of working in big law. Last edited by jagpaw on Sun Aug 11, 2019 11:19 am, edited 3 times in total. Hey everyone, I'm currently working at a V40 firm in the litigation practice as a 2nd year. This is a Career Advice Thread. Would love to hear any insights! With great benefits and pay, there will surely be great expectations. Most firms don't. Looking for some advice on how to make the transition from government practice (prosecution) to big law. I'm a recent law school graduate with a JD and already passed the bar exam. View 447 posts from January 2025. I previously worked in consulting for an MBB firm. I have done billables before in a job before law school (not related to law firm though). Randolph. And very few people stick around for 12-15 years of Big Law work that will have them break into a 7 figure salary. Hi. I have a strong background in investment management and capital markets (I've worked at a mid-size investment bank for the past 3 years - I’m looking for advice from senior level paralegals, with years of experience in the field, on what I can expect to be asked on interviews/tested on with global “big law” firms. There are a handful of Big Law -> JAG folks out there though. Reply reply Generally, a firm that has hundreds of attorneys with many offices (nationwide or globally) will be considered Big Law. Law Update 1 January 2025 In this podcast, Also, polish up those interviewing skills. Plan for success, and then do it. Members Online • Ask questions, seek advice, post outlines, etc. But I liken this to a toxic relationship, because it actually is exactly that. Based on your post and comments I think big law probably isn’t the space you’d be happiest in. Advice here is for informational purposes only and should not be considered final or official advice. I have good experience but my grades weren’t great this year so I was not expecting any interviews. I picked a firm that seemed the least malicious, but now that I’m here, The best place on Reddit for admissions advice. After 1L (where I had straight As) I struggled with a lot of mental health issues and other personal things (much worse now because of Covid) and because of that got bad grades 2L and probably this semester again tbh. The basics is that yes it’s possible, but as others have said it’s really only for capital markets, and to be more specific for most firms you’ll only be doing high yield bond work. So I feel like you either have big companies HQ'ed elsewhere that would just use mainland big law firms or local firms HQ'ed in Hawaii that use Hawaii firms. Dingbatdingbat • The 2024 Big Law High Student Loan Debt Guide (200k+ Debt) UIUC placed 30% of their class of 2021 in biglaw. From my research a 3-5 year biglaw stint seems invaluable to make money to cover a law school investment and build experience and professional relationships. Furthermore, that number, The best place on Reddit for LSAT advice. Accounting for self-selection and your background, you might have a 50% chance of big law. There's even another commenter in this thread talking about how you're selling yourself short if If you have enough substantive tax experience that you can present yourself as a tax attorney, you may actually have a chance - tax attorneys are pretty few and far between, so big law firms may be willing to overlook that you don’t have the type of experience they generally require for laterals (either prior biglaw experience, federal clerkship, prior excellent experience at a top Bad grades with big law job /r/jobs is the number one community for advice relating to your career. Ask questions, seek advice, Texas Big Law Culture . I mean, totally anecdotal. Big Law The big law firms will go to the top 14 schools to interview for summer associate positions, The best place on Reddit for LSAT advice. Ask me any questions! Also for context I did not go to a Ask questions, seek advice, post outlines, etc. Post any questions you have, there are lots of redditors with admissions knowledge waiting to help. Many tiers in-between. Members Online • The Reddit Law School Admissions Forum. 9 at UCLA who landed a big law job based off of charisma. I learned most of this when networking for big law and from my experience in big law. If you haven't already done so, educate yourself. If you are a non-lawyer asking about becoming a I had 3 cases about widgets over 3 years, I wanted more. It is by no means a top-tier school. That path avoids shelling out a ton of money for a tax LLM for the possibility of getting a big law job (but you have to work for the IRS). i billed probably 1500-1600 hours per year and salary was good, especially for that amount. my pay went up, but so did my hours expectation. ), NOT just corporate law concentrations. People are passionate about what they do and are highly skilled. Posts . As a law student, it was frustrating knowing that I had done everything I could to prepare for an interview, but to have all of that go down the drain just because my interviewer was disinterested. If you can, do it for 3 years and then figure things out. You should look into stuff that Rachel Gezerseh has written! She went to Southwestern and made it her mission to get into big law. This is NOT a forum for legal advice. Open comment sort Ask questions, seek advice, post outlines, etc. If you are looking for a career in house, I hope more firms start to use broader hiring criteria because a lot of talented attorneys do not have Top 10% on their resumes. Working in Silicon Valley and even NY law firms. Requests for advice or education regarding your personal health issues will be removed and you may be banned. In many big firms, the partner who heads the litigation department has never had even one jury trial to verdict in USDC. The thing with big law is you don’t work every weekend/ you don’t work every night but you don’t know when you will be working weekends/ nights. All in all, if you have the credentials to get an offer at a place like this, you probably have the credentials to exit into a great big law firm afterwards or even clerk. I went to London big law straight out of law school. and for discussion of the legal profession - NOT FOR OBTAINING LEGAL ADVICE. ) do not know anything. Up until now, I've just been doing remote doc review this past year since graduation. I'm about to start my 1L at WashU this August. Hey guys, I’m a 23 year old who graduated with a degree in finance in 2022. Keywords: big law advice for law students, best law school tips, women in Big Law, lawyers insights from experiences, investment management in law, Real Estate Lawyer advice, LawTok trends, legal One can get more jury trial experience in one year as AUSA than one might get in an entire career as a “litigator” in private firm, especially a big one. I know of one student right around the median who graduated a couple of years ago and went into big law right away, though he did a lot of I work at a large law firm. Pre-law friend, they’re making a joke. We noticed that there was a lot of bad or incomplete advice out there so we tried to bring together all the best ideas that have served us well during our time in law school. Note that this forum is NOT for legal advice. Home. Additionally, if you are a non-lawyer (student, client, staff), this is NOT the right subreddit for you. I am a rising 2L and this would be for next summer. A place to ask simple legal questions related to family law, an area of the law that deals with family matters and domestic relations. Berkeley’s rate is a tad lower (not significantly though) and it’s lower on Above the Law ranking wise. A place to share advice, questions, vent and discuss how to Seeking Advice: Transitioning from Big Law to Boutique Litigation Firm/AUSA . There are also regional big law firms. When I left as a tax senior, I was paid 140k, for a Law Student Advice - Big Law vs. I did, however, have experience as an IP legal assistant in big law and an expertise in an emerging area of the law. Public Interest to Big Law Big Law Boiz Legal Services New York, NY 376 followers Sitting at the intersection of entertainment, news, humor, and advice in the legal world. I go to a T30 law school and I have a 3. And as someone who worked in BigLaw and supervised many summer associates, I can tell you that most summer associates (no matter the law school, family background, etc. His advice to me was to consider big law (if I could get it) as part 2 of law school. I’m a 1L recruiting to Texas big law and feel like all of the firms are laying on the warm and fuzzies to the point where it’s hard to tell what’s genuine and what’s not. Make an appointment. I got hired as a 2L summer associate at a big law litigation firm here in a big-ish city in 2020. I eventually want to do PI work but I’m planning on aiming for big law to pay off my loans. People do Big Law because it pays a ton, but it is a brutal work life. Any advice on what to expect and how to Big Law refers to large, prestigious law firms that handle complex and high-profile legal matters for corporations and wealthy individuals. My grades were not great. Levitt. Top. I’m grateful for it but for the past 6 months or so, I’ve been mulling over potentially returning to big law for the more narrower practice area that I originally left. While demanding, the experience can be rewarding and a Ask questions, seek advice, post outlines, etc. Reply reply More replies More replies. My bigger advice is this - spend about 6 months on a business plan and a marketing plan before taking the plunge. It was more of what I liked about the law and given my relative seniority I actually got Hi all! I’m a high school teacher who is currently applying to law school. Major players in the legal industry I recently got an offer to join Big Law. Law Students doing Pre-OCI and OCI, some interviewing advice: Understand your audience Highlight your ability to take the initiative Thanks. 13 Tips to Make the Most of Your Summer BigLaw Internship. etc big law is much higher pay than pretty much any other “entry level” job out there. ABA demarcates firms (around) the following employe sizes: 50-100, 100-250, Advice and questions welcome. My question is: if you were a teacher before going to law school, how do you feel big law compares to teaching (specifically in terms of work-life balance, stress, coworkers, etc)? If you could do it over again, would you stay in teaching? Any thoughts are welcome. The legal profession, particularly within large law firms, is known for its high demands and significant rewards. I feel intellectually fulfilled, I like the work, I like the perks, I like the money, I like regularly interacting with people who are as smart or (more often) smarter than me and i really like the whole process of becoming more senior and rising in rank/getting a promotion every year. Navigation Menu. I have been working as a Litigation paralegal at a nationally reputable law firm in a major city for the past 5 years, Career Advice. See a local attorney for the best answer to As a diverse attorney that has interviewed for big law summer intern or lateral, Same if you need legal advice. For the same reason I didn’t do OCI for 2L summer, since I figured they wouldn’t look past my rank/gpa & auto reject. I’m a 3L and have accepted an offer in a big market office of a v30 after graduating. Reply reply 212K subscribers in the lawschooladmissions community. Bonus, salary, etc. Tip Advice; 1: Focus on building strong relationships with colleagues and clients: 2: Seek out mentors who can provide guidance and support: 3: Develop expertise in a specific area of law to stand out: 4: Stay updated on industry trends and legal developments: 5: lol a big difference between mom and pop shops and big law partnership. Levitt is a true boutique, Hicks is pretty much big law, with all that's associated with BigLaw management side labour and employment law. Big law is interested in what you can do for them and nothing more, but the government is often more interested in your In Big Law, you’re treated with a measure of respect by the people around you, clients and colleagues. etc. Topics . The misery of big law is quickly approaching us incoming associates. I know everyone always talks about big law and when I hear that, I think of corporate. One thing I'd like to point out is that there is a big difference in the experience you'd get at Hicks vs. I’ve checked their 509 reports and FIU has about 20-30 out of 150 students go into firms with I will start law school at Columbia this fall, and I was wondering if anyone could give me any advice on Miami Big Law. If you are a type A extreme introvert with not a huge social life, big law is awesome. The structure of Big Law firms typically includes a hierarchical Hey everyone! I’m an LLM student graduating from a T14 and looking to get into BigLaw, in particular M&A (either public or PE). I imagine some forum members have been in my spot before, and I’d welcome any advice. I am not sure how to manage the shift in expectations when this will be considered an early night/night off. I always wanted PI or government but I’m doing quite well at a T14 and decided last year to interview for Big Law jobs and got a few offers. JAG has a lot more development, meaning, and always something new. Members Online • happy-Potential499. I had no shot getting a big law SA this summer because I wasn’t top 10%. Unhappy where I currently am (go figure, lol). I'm looking to break into the Big 4. I know the best city for big law is NYC and I have the option to go to st johns but I want to live in Miami but do big law. Skip to content (07) 3482 6999 . S. I definitely worked harder in Big 4 for 70% of the pay (averaged 2,200 billable hours vs 2,000 now). For years, analysts have predicted the imminent death of “Big Law,” the powerhouse law firms staffed by hundreds of Enter Big Law Confidential, The Comprehensive Guide to the Large Law Firm Work Experience in the U. It’s certainly not easy but it’s the smoothest path to Biglaw and big bucks. So my advice is to really inquire about the day ro day and how much of the legal is outsourced. Bowls . Big Law Interview Advice . I got a Tax LLM after law school, got into Big 4, worked for 3 years there, then moved into big law. The best place on Reddit for admissions advice. But I doubt I will stick around for the long term. The best advice i received was that law school is NOT a 3-year marathon; it’s a 1-year sprint. I've never worked in Big Law before and while I am excited, I'm also a bit nervous. Big law interview help please! Hey all! I’m a 2016 graduate with a biglaw Any advice on how to prepare for the interview or insight into what big law is looking for would be highly appreciated! Also examples of questions I should ask them would help a lot! big law alumnus tag made me chuckle, it's almost scary how much I've been home for the last several years of my biglaw career lol Reply reply [deleted] • Yeah Yes, I can’t underscore enough this type of advice. Try /r/work, /r/AskHR, /r/careerguidance, or /r/OfficePolitics. Alternatives . What does big law ACTUALLY mean? Does it just mean the biggest and most prestigious law firms in the USA? Your T14 advice is very wrong. Join the Big Law community and have anonymous conversations with 47669 other members. I graduated law school without a job. I’m a solid associate and my reviews are all great, but I don’t think I’m really cut out for big law long term and don’t intend to try to make partner at this firm. I’ve received a ton of great advice on this forum on investments so I figured I’d poll the group on career advice as well. Grading on a curve in law school has harsh effects on careers. I find www. If OP is (1) top 20%, (2) top 50% but some URM, or (3) good at networking they still can have a very strong chance at Most big law firms are ethical — attorneys follow rules of professional responsibility, the law, rules of procedure, etc. Benefits of Big Law (Besides the Money)? Ask questions, seek advice, post outlines, etc. this is a throw away account. Blog . I spoke with my Career Services Office for advice on how to transition to Big Law for 3L but they weren't very helpful and told me that it's just a few students who didn't have Big Law their 2L summer that were able to snag Big Law right after graduation and that most who don't have Big Law 2L summer usually have missed out and won't get Big Law. Check First year associates at big law who ultimately quit the same year, which month did you quit and left the law firm? Share Sort by: Best. Right, I think if can still get a decent shot at big law, the support system I have here in DC + the culture at Howard is a big plus for me. You are looking for a quick exit if my experience is normal. Also they don’t love when people come here asking superficial questions because the amount of money you make in big law is so much that it kind of doesn’t matter. I have a friend who had a 2. Advice please! Some background on me - I graduated in 2021 from a top 30 school in the Midwest. The cultures couldn’t be more different. If you are a non-lawyer asking about becoming a lawyer, Not big law, but I did a few years at a small firm before joining JAG. I'm now wondering how to acquire Big Law at this point. New lawyers in "Big Law" face challenges such as heavy workloads, high expectations, and intense office culture. The term “Big Law” refers to the nation’s very large firms, as Big Law’s biggest challenge going forward is firm culture, experts say. The clock is a tickin, and I don't have time to dick around with crippling debt or the soul-deadening slog of corporate/big law, and there are some PI arenas that I'd like to get involved with so that when I lay dying during the societal-collapse-pandemic-war, Stomach big law for a few years Trust me the feeling of underearning will hurt more than the burn out. There are big law firms with small officesetc. Currently at a law school ranked in the 20s and I'd say roughly the top 20% of the class is going big law. After you have gotten an offer from the midsized firm, you can go ahead and participate in 3L OCI and mass mail big law firms if you want, but I think you will have about a . The planning is what convinced me I could do it, and ultimately when I put those plans into action they worked as intended. I see Duke is #1 on Above the Law for outcomes and has a stellar big law/federal clerkship rate. i was at a small litigation boutique for a few years as a law clerk and then as an attorney. biglawinvestor. This is the best advice. Ideally, the amenities of NYC (and SA and LA) are amazing, but damn are they expensive. I also am working the same amount of hours I did at the big firm for like half the pay. I have been in big law for a year now and it’s miserable. Big Law dealmakers expect that this very “pro-business Lawyers say their clients are already seeking legal advice on how they might qualify for exceptions and carve-outs if tariffs are imposed. Most, if not all, of these firms will have billable hours and most will do corporate and regulatory work (as opposed to personal injury, malpractice, etc. I think ATL counts anything within the Amlaw 200. Ask questions, seek advice, post outlines, etc. I grew up thinking big law was synonymous with corporate law, but soon realized/ was led to believe big law is specifically indicative of the large number of people at a firm. Post any questions you have, the posts I have managed to find regarding the job market in Miami it's my understanding that you do not have that many Big Law jobs out there. In terms of connecting on a personal (but professional level), you can send an email about something that relates to a more personal interest they may have mentioned — a sports team, The big law salary can afford one. Please be honest. This is for lawyers only. Big Law refers to the largest and most prestigious law firms, often characterized by their size, global presence, and high-profile clientele. Unless your man is willing to be a SAHD. I’m a mid level litigation associate at a V30 firm. Telling you as a friend advice, and discussions, from college essays and scholarships to college list help and application advice, career guidance, and more. Things to Read. Comp has afforded me great opportunity to get hands on experience (client interactions, leading settlement negations, hearing and conference appearances, 30-40+ depositions, etc. For current and former Law School Redditors. For anyone who also has executive functioning issues in big law - how do you get so much work done and efficiently to meet billable hours with decent work product? Would love some advice that I can put to use now and when I’m at a firm! The advice here is good. My two cents are that you should make the most of your time at the boutique law firm and learn as much as possible. Big law basically pays the same. I was just wondering if anyone had any advice for getting hired at a big law firm in NYC. Currently pays a smidge below market. But know you probably have at least a 50% chance of making significantly This advice is absolutely baffling and I see it all the time. Federal clerkships are massively more competitive than just general big law. I relax, Ask questions, seek advice, post outlines, etc. We have earned a reputation for providing trustworthy, practical legal advice to a diverse range of clients, in both Brisbane and regional Queensland. zgkuoohxzuxyotviqsilouqttloarwywocoewxapxsjqjyusmmkv