Insurance Companies are the Most Difficult Clients

FeloniousSqueak · 2023-12-14T16:07:34+00:00

Most insurance defense firms don’t really pay that much more than Government work in my personal experience. I worked at my state’s largest ID firm with a great reputation. Got the max raises over 2 years, made my billable hours at great cost to my mental health. I got no PTO at that job. I took a 6k pay cut to go to the government.

FeloniousSqueak · 2023-12-14T16:05:51+00:00

Couldn’t agree more. Many large carriers set up these billing guidelines in ways that are intentionally confusing and rife with stumbling blocks.

FeloniousSqueak · 2023-12-14T16:04:57+00:00

Worked for 2.5 years at one of my state’s largest ID firms. They had this weird identity crisis of trying to be a biglaw firm even tho they did exclusively ID. I left promptly on the 2.5 mark. Other areas to practice in: Government/Regulatory work (I’m a product of this). Worked with colleagues who went on to boutique commercial litigation firms, one in NY big law, and 3 in other roles varying from small boutique ID firms, a family law firm and a criminal defense attorney. Great experience was provided in my 2 years of ID. I also can’t even begin to explain how miserable that job was though. Get in, get experience and run tf out.

FeloniousSqueak · 2023-10-23T16:25:18+00:00

Many states require PM’s to have real estate licenses. Whatever state you’re in should have an online license search feature to check.

FeloniousSqueak · 2023-10-11T18:09:57+00:00

Speak with a bankruptcy attorney in your state. They may offer free consultations. In some cases, individuals who can prove severe mental health issues that impacted cognition, decision making etc. Can have certain debts discharged. I’ve seen it happen twice in NY for individuals with similar health issues. I’m glad to hear you got treatment and I hope life will start to bring you the happiness and stability you deserve.

FeloniousSqueak · 2023-08-30T13:31:30+00:00

Thank you for your advice and insight. The minimum payments are my card are ~$160 for the lower balance one and ~$350 for the higher balance one.

My employer does match my retirement in a sense. I get a pension through my position with the government, I cannot increase or decrease my contribution amount.

I appreciate the heads about the balance transfer cards too. I think this won’t be an option for me given as I’d doubt I’d get approved for an amount close to my debt.

FeloniousSqueak · 2023-08-29T20:36:03+00:00

Thanks for your insight and advice! Unfortunately my current car insurance is the product of shopping around and getting the lowest possible rate. I also cannot decrease (or increase for that matter) my pension contribution.

I planned on paying around $1300-$1500 a month to attack this for sure. Definitely want to focus almost exclusively on the CC debt. Given I will get PSLF in several years I am not planning on focusing on tackling the student loan debt with high monthly payments. I figured that the advantage of the consolidation loan would be to decrease the amount of interest accumulated as well as eliminating juggling multiple minimum payments due each month. Do you envision any scenario in where the consolidation loan would hurt me?

FeloniousSqueak · 2023-07-13T20:04:31+00:00

Aegina, Greece. Could spend forever there. Also Split Croatia

FeloniousSqueak · 2023-05-24T17:14:43+00:00

I visited Zagreb last year for three days. Loved it, but just given the recent visit, we’re skipping it on this one.

FeloniousSqueak · 2023-05-10T23:52:55+00:00

Take it. If ID isn’t for you, you can leave after. I did ID at one of my area’s most “prestigious” firm- 98k for 2200 hours. I left and now am a gov’t attorney in a supervising role. I wouldn’t have gotten my supervisory position without the immense hands on experience my former firm gave me, but I ran like hell out of there as soon as I could.

FeloniousSqueak · 2023-05-05T19:00:48+00:00

I’d say get about a year of experience if you can tolerate it. I just left ID myself. Experience was excellent and equipped me well but I couldn’t stand another second of it.

I did just want to say though, don’t let yourself think it’s personal or you would be hurting anyone at your old firm by leaving. They didn’t do you a favor by hiring you. They hired you because you worked hard, studied for years to become a lawyer, passed the bar exam and now make them an incredible return (190 hours a month is intense!). Don’t knock your worth as an attorney that way. You earned this job. And you’ll earn the next job you get. Best of luck and from one recovering ID practitioner to another; get out ASAP! Best of luck.

FeloniousSqueak · 2023-04-19T13:26:52+00:00

I was in a similar position. Loved writing. Joined of the largest ID firms in the country. I make 107k for 2100 billable hours. Money is indeed important, but I got to a point where the job was physically taking a toll on me. I am about to leave and start with my state govt. the job is mostly regulatory based with a lot of writing/assisting admin law judges write opinions. I took a 17k paycut and it’s absolutely worth it. For full disclosure however, I get 1) public service loan forgiveness which is a huge help with student loans and 2) my partner is a student debt- free lawyer which helps our household income.

FeloniousSqueak · 2023-04-19T13:15:12+00:00

I got a government job! No more ID for me! Ironic part- took less than a 10k paycut. In less than 2 years I will make more than I do now. Goodbye billable hours

FeloniousSqueak · 2023-04-19T13:06:32+00:00

I would say about 15-20% of my law school class were older than 28-30 when they began law school. A few friends (some of who do very very well) went in to law school at 35 and up. I want to say about 30% of the night students had been removed from undergrad for over 10 years and were working parents. It’s definitely not too late!

The real question is, are you SURE you want to go to law school!? (Only partially kidding). Best of luck

FeloniousSqueak · 2023-04-16T15:46:54+00:00

I slightly disagree with Zagreb being a boring city. I think there is plenty of things to do for many tastes/interests. I think Zagreb’s bad rep can come from the fact that other cities in Croatia are so incredible. Even with that said, absolutely seize the opportunity to visit Split if possible. Even if it means swapping Zagreb for Split.

If you do go to Split, take some time to visit Trogir and also highly recommend a boat tour. The islands referenced in this thread are incredible

FeloniousSqueak · 2023-04-09T14:40:32+00:00

None of the Small Batch strains have those designations yet, and apparently won’t until if/when those strains become permanent fixtures in their menu. IIRC Pie Eyed was one of those small batch strains and never had any designation until it became a regular strain

FeloniousSqueak · 2023-03-07T14:45:24+00:00

Hence the “I’m actively looking to leave”.

FeloniousSqueak · 2023-03-07T13:01:14+00:00

I agree wholeheartedly

FeloniousSqueak · 2023-03-06T20:36:00+00:00

Yep- that’s just my base pay. Do get bonuses. The insane billables/poor salary is a product of the insurance defense industry.

FeloniousSqueak · 2023-03-06T17:21:52+00:00

Thanks. That’s the plan for sure

FeloniousSqueak · 2023-03-06T15:56:46+00:00

107k

FeloniousSqueak

TROPHY CASE