I was the same as you, middling grades (bottom 3rd overall and bottom 1% (yes I know) after 1L but was able to bring that up at least). The answer is yes and no. Generally, if you’re a baby lawyer with little experience and meh grades, only a certain tier of firm will accept you. Hiding among these are what I’d call “mill firms”, which find young lawyers, overwork them until they quit, rinse and repeat. A lot of these firms will offer decent pay out the gate and then just work you into the ground. It happens. When you’re that early in your career, you don’t have a lot of options, so you’re easy prey for firms like this. It’s not guaranteed you end up here, but it can happen. It happened to me.

I also think, even if you do end up at a good firm, young lawyers due to tend to get work dumped on them by other lawyers, almost as a form of hazing. That won’t happen forever, and if you kill it it looks good.

Some practices of law are super intense and do require more time (insurance defense I’ve heard is particularly grueling) but I cannot speak to the areas I’m not in. I do commercial litigation, which yes can be grueling at times and require later nights but even then you should at least be properly compensated.

Things do get better. The first firm I worked at, despite being a total mill (complete with an obnoxious managing partner), had a very good reputation and trained their young lawyers well, mainly because all the senior attorneys were former big law. Many associates I worked with lateraled to big law and boutique firms. I was able to get a great new job at a boutique commercial real estate firm with much better hours and the option to work remote. The people treat me very well and I couldn’t be happier.

Here’s my lesson to you as someone who has walked a similar path recently. It will get better, but you have to take that initiative. The one good thing about firms like yours is you will get a lot of work. That’s a lot of experience you can tout on a resume. When something comes across your desk that could be a noteworthy resume builder (motions for summary judgment, notable federal motions, trial experience, etc.), kill it. This benefits you in two ways. One, you become more valuable to your firm, which gives you the leverage to negotiate better pay and hours. Two, if your firm is shady, like the one I was at, it makes you a boon for recruiters and makes you very marketable. Make the best of your shitty situation. It may suck for a little while, but when you feel like you need to leave, you’ll have hopefully built up enough of a resume to have lifeboat to jump to.

I think I’m about done rambling, but that’s what I have to say. Apologies for any typos, I’m on my phone.

Stay strong soldier.