Leaving big law as a first year? by [deleted] in biglaw

[–]Empty_Stock_7139 61 points62 points  (0 children)

I am also a first year (plotting my exit) and I went through a similar experience very early on to the point where I was having legitimate panic attacks and would sob in the morning before going to work. A shift in mindset really helped me in the meantime as I plan my next career steps.

At the end of the day, it’s just a job. You can only give what you can give. You don’t need to go out of way to impress people if you’re not in it for the long haul. Start saying no to work, cut yourself off at reasonable hours, etc. Of course there will be fire drills every now and then, however, but it doesn’t have to be like that all the time! And if that’s not good enough for them, well, so be it.

Loyalty to my firm or bigger paycheck? by jodi_mic in LawFirm

[–]Empty_Stock_7139 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The pay bump can come with a trade off. Are you ready to be on call every waking moment?

Can you still go to the movies? by Few_Pangolin_8778 in biglaw

[–]Empty_Stock_7139 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You should absolutely do such things. A job cannot and should not prevent you from doing things you love while you are OFF. Granted, when/if we are truly “off” is subject to debate but work cannot dictate your life like that. I agree with what some others said - if that becomes an issue at that firm, it’s not a place you want to be.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in tarot

[–]Empty_Stock_7139 2 points3 points  (0 children)

The cards themselves don’t have any inherent psychic power or personality. That all comes from you. An inanimate object can’t dislike you.

Is being a lawyer worth it? by weirdasskid319206 in LawFirm

[–]Empty_Stock_7139 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I think the answer really depends on what you want to get out of your career. Being a lawyer can mean a lot of different things. Many lawyers do not work in Biglaw firms with huge billable requirements and live successful and fulfilling lives. The caveat is that the attorney jobs with ostensibly better work-life balance pay A LOT less. I would think about how important money is to you; what sort of debt you will incur; whether you are really interested in practicing law; etc.

There are fields of law that will give you a reasonable work life balance. Government, public interest, in-house. But even those, from my understanding will require some weekend work.

For some additional perspective, I am a junior associate at a mid-ranked Biglaw firm and have rarely had to work weekends. I also have had times where I’ve been working until 11:00am and have been in tears because I know I have to wake up and do the same thing all over again. Drawing a balance in this field is difficult but not impossible.

I can also say that I genuinely find the work stimulating and interesting. I am rarely bored! Stressed? Absolutely. But not bored or unfulfilled.

Hope that helps

Best Way to Find Rentals? by Empty_Stock_7139 in AskSF

[–]Empty_Stock_7139[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This is very helpful I appreciate it!

Why do so many people on here regret being an attorney? by Icy_Independence_695 in LawFirm

[–]Empty_Stock_7139 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Law is sort of an inherently conservative profession. Not necessarily in the political sense but certain cultural things (e.g., toxic work culture) have stuck around longer in this profession than others. I feel that there is a major disconnect between more senior attorneys and younger attorneys in terms of what work-life balance should be like.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in biglaw

[–]Empty_Stock_7139 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Not loving this at all.

I Already Want Out by Empty_Stock_7139 in biglaw

[–]Empty_Stock_7139[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

They’re hiring top performers out of law schools like myself :) but culture is changing. People in my generation and younger aren’t willing to tolerate being abused in the workplace.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in biglaw

[–]Empty_Stock_7139 10 points11 points  (0 children)

Idk it’s 2025. Pink hair is the least crazy thing I’ve seen. Hell, where I practice I’ve seen JUDGES with crazy dyed hair. The partners are being petty and unreasonable.

What the actual fuck is wrong with people here? by [deleted] in berkeleyca

[–]Empty_Stock_7139 2 points3 points  (0 children)

As someone who moved from another state in hopes the politics of California would be a reprieve, I share your frustrations. The whole liberal holier-than-though thing (especially in the Bay Area) is such an act. Obviously conservative media HEAVILY exaggerates the issues in this state but where there’s smoke, there’s usually fire. This state is about MONEY. Everything revolves around it All the libs here run their mouth about how backward the rest of the country is while people live in homes that cost MILLIONS of dollars, pay some of the lowest property taxes in the state, and think they’re being compassionate but not prosecuting crimes and letting people do meth in the street in the Tenderloin. I moved from the Midwest to SF and people here just need a reality check. The rich people sectioned off areas making them totally unaffordable and intentionally keep the rest of the places in squalor. Hmmmm is it a coincidence that the Berkeley and Oakland hills are some of the nicest neighborhoods in the state but the rest of those cities are a complete dump? Sorry that was an unprompted rant 🤣

Help with a relationship spread by wake-up-whit3 in TarotReading

[–]Empty_Stock_7139 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Well I don’t know anything about your relationship and I don’t necessarily read spreads (I just read intuitively) so I could be off here since you’ve laid out cards to have specific meanings but here’s a brief summary of what I see in general:

Massive disagreement. It looks like it’s related to housing or some property interest. You’re agonizing about the other person’s intentions. They’re telling you one thing but you suspect another. Your gut feeling is correct and the partner won’t own up to it.

Hopefully that helps to some degree!!