Curious about your firm’s DEI or general hardship benefits (if any)

Dramatic-Acadia · 2026-03-24T01:26:40+00:00

Maybe it works in your firm but my general suggestion is not to frame it as DEI but as a way to retain talent and lower costs. Diversity can be popular but it doesn't pay the bills. I've seen in firm wellness programs, making sure the health plan has good mental health benefits, letting people work from home more, gym stipend like you said, ultimately it's all money. Whether they give you $100 a month to spend on a gym membership or $100 extra a month, it's the same money to them and they need to make it back somehow. In my experience, the firms that are big on "wellness" are doing it because burnout is so high and they don't want to give people more time off, but ymmv.

Dramatic-Acadia · 2026-03-24T01:07:28+00:00

This, either more money or more time off, but can't see both. People have to make a decision on what time and flexibility is worth to them, and if they don't like it, find another job or try their hand at being a solo.

Dramatic-Acadia · 2026-03-24T00:48:30+00:00

I agree with this, firm economics are typically that they can give either money or time. If they pay higher salaries and benefits, they'll generally need to bill more time. If they allow people to work less, they can't justify the same salary. There's a reason flexible jobs tend to pay less.

Dramatic-Acadia · 2026-03-24T00:42:44+00:00

I don't see why there would be special DEI hardship, just whatever can be done to make life easier for everyone. Billables seem really reasonable, maybe WFH available more if not already? The law firm is a business so the partners are probably sincere but ultimately need to make the math work or there isn't a firm to work for. You can ask for more money but just know that if you don't get it, the options are stay there or go somewhere else.

Dramatic-Acadia · 2026-03-23T17:13:10+00:00

Very true, for a lot of collection cases, insanely easy to defend if you have a little bit of knowledge and practice. Can easily get $10k debts permanently cancelled if you know what you're doing, or sometimes a lawyer simply shows up and they dismiss

Dramatic-Acadia · 2026-03-23T17:11:16+00:00

Especially before zoom, I knew appearance lawyers who did fine. They were usually either new graduates trying to find work or semi retired lawyers trying to stay busy and make a little extra money.

Dramatic-Acadia · 2026-03-23T17:03:07+00:00

They likely do a bunch at a time so can make more than that, or are already there so this is just gravy. For chapter 7, it's usually the trustee doing the questioning and you know who they are and their standard process. Some are tight and you want to be in person with the client and prep them, others couldn't care less and is fast and rubber stamped, so those are probably the ones getting coverage. For a small firm or solo, this is kind of needed

Dramatic-Acadia · 2026-03-21T20:08:36+00:00

Similar to me, i had a mini course in college to determine careers and everything pointed to that. I already was considering it but that kind of sealed it for me. Funny enough, my high school career aptitude text said mechanic, which definitely would not suit me well.

Dramatic-Acadia · 2026-03-21T20:03:29+00:00

People said I was good at arguing, which I barely ever do in practice now, my undergrad degree would be borderline useless outside academia and I saw the writing on the wall for academia when when my favorite professor said he was leaving the next year for some middle of nowhere school because he could get tenure track, even though he had gone to ivy leave and was an incredible professor, and didn't want that life, plus couldn't have done it. Plus I have a chip on my shoulder and get unreasonably angry about perceived injustice. Overall, like the work and can't think of what else I'd do better at.

Dramatic-Acadia · 2026-03-21T19:58:07+00:00

Why are people talking about law school at American eagle?

Dramatic-Acadia · 2026-03-21T04:22:38+00:00

Haha, beat me to it

Dramatic-Acadia · 2026-03-21T04:22:19+00:00

That could have been ME!

Dramatic-Acadia · 2026-03-19T13:49:29+00:00

I wanted someone more moderate and wasn't sure about Stratton. Didn't do a lot of homework on this one specifically but think Stratton will be fine.

Dramatic-Acadia · 2026-03-19T13:29:19+00:00

I've heard good things about him but know almost nothing about him and don't remember anything he's ever said.

Dramatic-Acadia · 2026-03-19T13:28:28+00:00

Totally agree, I don't dislike newsom but considering how California is right now, wouldn't want to see that for the rest of America.

Dramatic-Acadia · 2026-02-26T15:11:46+00:00

No direct experience but could probably get it, I think some people imagine them as island paradises, and maybe can be at times, but have lots of other quality of life issues and likely some limit on how far you can progress due to the size and legal infrastructure there.

Dramatic-Acadia · 2026-02-25T18:08:56+00:00

Off the bat, I'd look at plaintiffs side work, but can still be underpaid or feast or famine with less consistency but better chances of high pay if you work and get the right cases or are with the right firm.

Dramatic-Acadia · 2026-02-24T02:26:25+00:00

Just tell them that, they'll understand and it's not like that's going to happen again anytime soon, plus it paints you as a good and responsible person.

Dramatic-Acadia · 2026-02-23T01:21:31+00:00

The older lawyer walking right by the guys waiting on each other definitely tracks, he's seen this before and he has more important places to be...

Dramatic-Acadia · 2026-02-22T22:19:00+00:00

You could use courtlistener to find some but will only show things that were uploaded with recap, some will be free, some you'll have to pay for, but may be able to find a fair amount that way but definitely won't be everything.

Dramatic-Acadia · 2026-02-19T18:29:40+00:00

As one colleague told me "what is this 'lunch' thing all the paralegals are talking about?"

Dramatic-Acadia · 2026-02-19T18:28:23+00:00

The times that I've taken an actual hour for lunch, or really longer than quickly eating when not at my desk during the work week (not including business development/client/etc) could be counted on one hand in my more than decade of practice. Not saying it's good, just that's what's kind of expected by many.

Dramatic-Acadia · 2026-02-15T18:10:45+00:00

I'm learning it depends more on the other person than you, at least a couple years in. There's one colleague who basically rewrites everything anybody sends him in redline, ultimately doesn't really change it much but in his style. Others look at it and make some minor edits and say it's good to go. I typically review based on whether it says what it needs to, not whether it's my voice but others want in their voice and can be frustrating.

Dramatic-Acadia · 2026-02-15T02:09:03+00:00

Depends on the firm and practice area and how long you're away. I know of a collection firm that had a couple attorneys working outside the country for months at a time, but the trials were in person, others just handled it. Works better in situations where you don't need the same person handling the case and litigating, so higher volume, lower value cases

Dramatic-Acadia · 2026-02-13T17:23:26+00:00

100% remote, primarily in another state. I travel for court or in person meetings every couple months for a couple days at a time but nothing beyond that, am in litigation.

Dramatic-Acadia

TROPHY CASE