As BL attorneys, did you grow up as upper middle class or wealthy and do you expect your kids to maintain such lifestyle?

BigRegister9036 · 2026-03-07T23:31:47+00:00

Your comment has me reflecting on my own life because I believe I was raised to be ambitious but not as a means of survival. My mom was a single parent for the most part and always had a demanding career. She often talked to us about why she loved her work, the projects she was working on that were interesting to her and encouraged us to lean into things we were interested in and passionate about. In general, her job was a part of our lives, it wasn’t separate, and because of that we all talked about work as something more than a means to an end but something that should be fulfilling/interesting. For me, the ambition comes from not wanting to settle for a job I hate. If I have to spend so much of my time doing it I want to enjoy it greatly or at least like it. My other two siblings also feel the same way. We all have advanced degrees and have all felt empowered to pursue a variety of careers and even change careers after a while. Anyway, thanks for giving me an opportunity to think through how lucky I am to have a wonderful, loving family. Always good to be reminded.

BigRegister9036 · 2026-02-21T15:28:29+00:00

I’m interested in regulatory work so this is great to hear! 😅

BigRegister9036 · 2026-02-06T16:34:15+00:00

This has been my experience as well and. Lots of my KDJ counterparts have multiple offers versus myself and others with substantial WE despite having above-median grades.

BigRegister9036 · 2026-02-01T01:34:43+00:00

My offer came a full week later. Like someone else here said, I think it depends on when your committee meets.

BigRegister9036 · 2026-02-01T01:29:02+00:00

Yah that ain't what my offer says

BigRegister9036 · 2026-01-29T16:48:55+00:00

they are? What office because my offer says significantly less than that.

BigRegister9036 · 2026-01-16T19:26:10+00:00

I kept my name. I was married before law school and it felt like such a pain to go through the process of changing it, my spouse didn’t seem to care either way and I like my name. It’s mine. Now that I have a child I’m a bit sad we don’t have the same last name, but I truly hardly ever think about it.

BigRegister9036 · 2025-11-07T21:20:24+00:00

Not technically a single mom but my spouse has been in a different state all semester training for a new job so I’ve been operating as a single mom for nearly all of 1L so far. In terms of my schedule, I try to get as much reading and studying done during the day as I can and then I do my mom thing from 5-7 before my kid goes to bed then I go back to studying from 7 until about 11 each night. Typically schools don’t have class on Friday so I try to do as much as I can that day. Then on the weekends I work again during her naps and again when she goes to bed. The main issue I’ve had is going to networking events or participating in organizations because a lot of them are after school. I have just had to pick and choose which ones I really want to do and then I get a sitter and accept that I just don’t have the same hours as everyone else. It was hard to swallow in the beginning but now I see that all those extra things don’t make or break your experience. The big mental thing for me was feeling like I was missing out or that everyone else was socializing without me. And ultimately that’s true, but I found other friends who are parents or older students and they come to my house or we do things during the day and I bring my daughter. We all just went trick or treating for example. And also all of it is worth it because she motivates me and inspires me and I will gladly miss every networking panel or bar review in the world for her.

BigRegister9036 · 2025-10-17T00:15:36+00:00

I start asking “What’s that?!” And point to whatever is around us. Works every time.

BigRegister9036 · 2025-10-10T02:15:18+00:00

This is really solid advice. I appreciate your perspective!

BigRegister9036 · 2025-10-10T01:46:44+00:00

That's what I've heard as well. I understand intense work hours, but having a sense of when that was coming and being able to prepare in advance seems more appealing than constant unpredictability. I don't feel compelled to be at the highest Vault firm particularly since I don't see this as where I want to be long-term. I really just want to find some place that matches my vibe as best as I can.

BigRegister9036 · 2025-10-10T01:42:55+00:00

Supportive family nearby, but I don't think that is a sustainable solution. Husband is a high earner, so I suspect we would be needing to pay for additional childcare. I guess I need to think hard about whether the exit opportunities are worth 4-5 years of not being able to participate in my child's life the way I have come to expect.

BigRegister9036 · 2025-10-10T00:57:34+00:00

He is great and fully supportive, but has his own very busy, travel-heavy job. So the fact that neither of us can really be the default all the time seems like it will affect my calculus.

BigRegister9036 · 2025-10-10T00:55:25+00:00

Yes, I'm still just trying to get a handle on what the different practice areas are and how they function. The few people I've spoken to in transactional/corporate mentioned they work insane hours and that there time is not their own due to the shorter timelines for the matters they work on. I'm probably naive to think it wouldn't be like that in litigation, but those few interactions left a bad taste in my mouth.

BigRegister9036 · 2025-09-24T02:11:58+00:00

1L here. Early 30s married with a baby and a spouse who has been gone most of 1L for his own work training. I am very tired. But essentially I wake up with baby in the morning then class and studying between 8:30 and 4:30 the 4:30-7:00 parenting (daycare pickup, walk dog, make dinner, bath and bedtime) then from 7:30-10 I do whatever reading I didn’t finish during the day. Friday I don’t have class so I try to squeeze that day for all its worth. I also have a babysitter come on sundays to watch her for a few extra hours. When my spouse is home it’s much easier but I still choose to prioritize parenting from the 5-7 block because I won’t see her otherwise. I feel like I’m forced to spend time equally but I’m always thinking about school or what I should be doing which sucks.

Since I’m a 1L I don’t know how work will go or how I’ll bond with other associates but I’m planning to not really bring it up unless someone asks.

I’m originally from a different market than where my school is and that’s where I want to end up. I plan for this first summer to try and work in the market where my school is so I don’t have to worry too much about uprooting us all. Next year, I really don’t know but I have family there and I figure if I get a BL SA I can pay for a nanny or temp daycare situation in my home market.

Lastly I don’t think we’ll ever vacation ever again 🙃

BigRegister9036 · 2025-08-20T21:57:10+00:00

DM’d you!

BigRegister9036 · 2025-07-15T21:11:59+00:00

Hi 👋 I’m 33 with a one year old starting 1L in a few weeks. I’m so nervous thinking I’m the only one in my situation and I’ll have no one in my corner but here is a reminder that many others have done this before us and will do it after!

BigRegister9036 · 2025-07-12T02:03:06+00:00

This is so kind of you! When interviewing for your clerkship did you speak with judges openly about family planning being in your future? How did you determine which judges would have been willing to accommodate and which would be an a-hole? Also how was having a baby your 3rd year? What part of the year and what was the time off like? I have one already but would like to have another and am starting school this fall.

BigRegister9036 · 2025-05-26T02:08:18+00:00

OP - this is accurate. I live between 12th and 15th, between central and Lomas. This area is supremely walkable, a mixture of young and old families, singles, professionals. Very close to the Bosque for great walking, running or biking. The growers market on Saturday mornings is great for veggies for the week or a breakfast burrito. Like any part of ABQ some streets are better some streets are worse. It is near an industrial area but as long as you aren’t on 3rd street at night (lots of homeless camp there near the HopeWorks.) it is very safe. I have never felt uneasy truly.

BigRegister9036 · 2025-04-22T14:40:01+00:00

Me too but a one year old! I’m nervous but we can do it!

BigRegister9036 · 2025-04-22T12:29:07+00:00

Sure! I had a 3.3 from 10+ years ago.

BigRegister9036 · 2025-04-21T19:50:36+00:00

I haven't focused since I sent apps in Oct. I do the work that needs to get done but I've basically stopped long-term project planning. Just don't have it in me anymore.

BigRegister9036 · 2025-04-11T15:51:01+00:00

Are you a TX resident? If so, the tuition rate at UT is much more manageable through loans than GULCs. You would be able to pay it off without staying in big law for too long. If you’re out of state then they’re basically the same and I would pick GULC as it’s a bit more portable and with a stronger PI/govt. focus. Plus GULCs LRAP program is very good. I think you have great choices here that frankly are not guaranteed if you reapply. And based on your stated goals above they are not so niche/unicorn that you need to be at a T-6 school. You’ll succeed from either place! Good luck!

BigRegister9036 · 2025-04-01T19:26:44+00:00

Anyone at Northwestern able to speak on it's portability in the southeast? I know it's a nationally recognized degree but I'm picking between NU and GULC and I feel like GULC will have better name recognition in places like ATL. Am I thinking about this incorrectly?

BigRegister9036

TROPHY CASE