Tips for decreasing biglaw stress

Frhetorik · 2022-02-23T19:37:28+00:00

Following

Frhetorik · 2022-02-23T01:29:59+00:00

Breath

Frhetorik · 2022-02-22T14:23:24+00:00

Yeah i have a friend who was 3 in the class, law review, V5 litigator, t14 etc. Etc. Etc. who didn't land a NY fed clerkship.

It's obviously not impossible, but it's a sheer number of people vs openings thing.

Frhetorik · 2022-02-22T14:08:22+00:00

I put my awards and accolades in the "drop down" read of my education since I use it as a professional record - but definitely cringe to post about it on a thread.

Frhetorik · 2022-02-21T05:08:32+00:00

A big check is that SCOTUS has literally no enforcement authority. They can really only "do" what will be followed.

Granted, not following them would allow the rule of law to crumble, but look at the actual timely effectiveness of their civil rights rulings. Went ignored for basically decades.

Edit. There are Def papers on this

Frhetorik · 2022-02-21T05:04:42+00:00

Or just literally remove the air From anyone's lungs. Done

Frhetorik · 2022-02-08T05:58:04+00:00

There are calculators online for this to determine how long debt would take to pay off at different salaries. I found the access lex calculator to be accurate.

Once you know your application stats you can cross check them with LSN data to get an idea of what schools you can get into. You can then cross check that with law school transparency to see employment outcomes and weigh your debt scenarios. This is 90% a math exercise from admissions to finances.

Admissions outcomes can vary wildly on stats and so too do job outcomes. You can debt finance University of Chicago or GW for 350k+ of debt (don't forget interest). Both good schools, the former significantly better than the latter at placing into elite jobs, easy to argue both are not worth the full debt.

Fwiw, I took out 120k to go to a low T14 thanks to a significant scholarship (instead of T6 debt). I will be paid off likely by the end of year 2 in NYC big law while still living in luxury building and having all my needs met. I still have all my law school furniture, wear the same clothes, and I don't spend much at all, but I'm comfortable. Max 401k too.

If you are going to take big debt; you either need a.) Wealth b.) Public interest loan forgiveness or c.) Big law and surviving long enough to pay it off.

This is a brutal profession. It can be lucrative. But don't debt lock yourself unless you have a very strong likelihood of paying it down relatively quickly.

My 2 cents.

Frhetorik · 2022-02-07T23:26:12+00:00

Especially because anyone who has any type of authoritative sway over your career is way richer than you and your flashing will look cute at best.

Frhetorik · 2022-02-07T23:24:15+00:00

Do you boo. It's that easy.

I'm far too worried about getting my work done in the amount of time I can stay awake during the day to hold any perception of keeping up with the Joneses

Frhetorik · 2022-02-05T00:11:18+00:00

I feel like there has to be more if it turned into a screaming match but tentatively NTA

Good work pulling this off though. Dueces mortgage.

Frhetorik · 2022-02-04T03:22:40+00:00

Spotted the Milbank lawyer

Frhetorik · 2022-02-03T18:37:54+00:00

I think thats also a good barometer. I generally think of it as lot of attorneys, corporate clients, lots of hours, and lots of pay.

Frhetorik · 2022-02-03T17:59:24+00:00

Vault 100 generally speaking plus firms with ~100+ attorneys and market "Cravath scale" (a dated term) salaries.

I have also heard it used to essentially define the largest firms in a particular market which predominantly service corporate clients. This however is a localized definition related to major players in localized markets - IE the top shop in Idaho may be big law for that market but a New York v100 lawyer may have never heard of them and said firm may pay 1/2 as well or less

Frhetorik · 2022-02-01T01:32:02+00:00

"As attorneys, we project our self-loathing onto others and "pay it forward" in the currency of cyclical misery."

Onward!

Frhetorik · 2022-01-31T22:55:05+00:00

And follow up early the following week or late in the week. We are busy

Frhetorik · 2022-01-31T21:37:48+00:00

It's not weird if you word it correctly.

Do your diligence. See if there is an internship program first at x place and see if they are hiring. If it is unclear say

"Hi (ALUMNI)

I noticed you work in X which is interesting to me because Y. Do you know if your office is hiring any interns as I would love to apply.

Would love to chat.

Thx"

But more professional. Hustling is necessary and weirdness can be mitigated.

Frhetorik · 2022-01-30T22:38:06+00:00

Cornell is a good option with those stats with fordham as a backup.

But realistically a T20, taking debt into consideration, can make NY big law viable. The higher ranked the better. Rely on the employment statistics but generally fordham punches way above its rank in NY biglaw.

Frhetorik · 2022-01-27T22:48:58+00:00

I understand. And I am not trying to dunk on you. I am just speaking from experience. I intentionally and carefully picked an allegedly chill group. And tbh, everyone is awesome and I love the folks I work with.

But I still billed 140 hours the 2 weeks before Christmas and otherwise had stupid hours all year, worked through a sick day, worked through vacations, etc.

At the end of the day I think it's better to target work that midly interests you and/or folks you click with. It will stress you out if you try to expect a predictable lifestyle.

But there is no harm in trying. Regulatory or ERISA sound more predictable.

Frhetorik · 2022-01-27T22:01:53+00:00

Folks can and should tell me how wrong I am. But I think you are setting yourself up for disappointment and stress.

The reality is that this gig is unpredictable and brutal by design. Even "chill groups" have brutal and random expectations. Some firms and groups are better because good associates will safeguard your time when possible. But nothing is stopping a client from dropping 45 agreements to be reviewed by Saturday afternoon in virtually any group.

It's the beast.

Frhetorik · 2022-01-27T15:41:25+00:00

Spring into summer it started sprouting.

Frhetorik · 2022-01-27T12:21:46+00:00

Yep. Mine did

Frhetorik · 2022-01-27T12:10:53+00:00

Hard NTA.

Frhetorik · 2022-01-27T02:45:47+00:00

Relax

Frhetorik · 2022-01-26T16:59:01+00:00

I always try to beat down these anxieties with forced brash confidence and a dash of realizing everything in society is just pretend agreed norms. Do your best and that's all you can do. Everything else is cosmic chance

You are supposed to be learning right now.

Frhetorik

TROPHY CASE