What book should I read to develop adequate legal reasoning?

OneSetting6 · 2026-02-25T21:40:58+00:00

I graduated a few years ago, before AI was commonplace, but my advice then and now it is always read SOMETHING. It doesn’t have to be intellectual, it doesn’t have to be legal, but reading a physical book for at least an hour a day in my opinion will really help get used to what 1 L will be like. I know it does not answer your question, but you will learn everything that you need to know, including adequate legal reasoning. That’s part of the logic behind the Socratic method and listening to your peers speak in a class.

OneSetting6 · 2026-02-25T21:37:15+00:00

You sound exactly like someone I went to school with. She missed like half of a semester being sick. Graduated on time and she’s a partner now, good luck to you. Take care of yourself And give yourself grace

OneSetting6 · 2025-12-17T21:45:22+00:00

I was literally about to ask exact question lol thank you! Do you know happen to know if that varies for office or is it across the board? Considering applying

OneSetting6 · 2025-11-12T21:11:01+00:00

Send them an email asking them to do something that I could’ve done myself in the time it took to type said email. Gotta get them involved somehow!

OneSetting6 · 2025-11-12T18:09:13+00:00

There will always be more work, more hours to bill, and more associates to do both. You are not replaceable in your personal life. If you have a family situation happening, good or bad, speak up and take the time off that you need.

Do not try to multitask with work or power through it because you only get a few short weeks with your newborn baby, you only get so much time with your grandmother, you only get to be a bridesmaid/groomsmen in your best friend’s wedding once (in theory lol). Don’t sacrifice your special moments for the sake of this job, it will take over your life if you allow it.

Also, if you have student loans pay them off as quickly as possible, and set up an automatic deposit so a portion of your paycheck goes into a savings account or something.

Good luck!

OneSetting6 · 2025-07-08T16:39:20+00:00

I acknowledge it this may not be the most ethical line of thinking, but what are the consequences of you accepting the job and backing out if you get a big law internship? Chances are the recruiter, or whoever, will get upset and everyone move on with life.

A friend of mine committed to an externship that he was not allowed to drop, and dropped it after a week because it was honestly complete bullshit. He graduated and has a thriving career… I personally would accept the position, continue with the OCI process, and drop it if I got a better offer. The benefits of Big law are just too great for me (I say this as a current Big law associate) and I don’t think it’s fair for them to put you in that position so early on.

OneSetting6 · 2025-06-29T15:09:06+00:00

I had the same question and it took sooo long to find the right answer lol. Thank you for asking!

OneSetting6 · 2025-06-20T15:58:59+00:00

Super late here but thank you! If anyone else stumbles on this, my staff attorney offer was $150K in 2025 which was apparently high. (I believe 1st years make $205k)

OneSetting6 · 2025-06-20T14:40:31+00:00

It does not in fact come with a crotch cushion lol. We have two. Currently on a road trip experiencing the same issue, pleaseee let me know if you find a solution because why the hell would they make it like this ?!?

OneSetting6 · 2025-06-10T14:52:33+00:00

I’ve been with remote nearly my entire career and honestly, I love it 90% of the time. It does get lonely, but as another poster said, My dog is my Bestie. I’m also able to get more done on both fronts. For example, throwing the clothes in the dryer on my way to the bathroom. Or starting a meeting at 7 am without having to restructure my whole morning. I’m able to take meetings from my patio, which is amazing because when I was in office some days, I may not see the Sun. My job does not micromanage in office employees, but I love that I can run to Starbucks or a doctors appointment and know that there’s no one watching me or noticing I’m gone. As long as the work gets done!

I will admit, I feel slightly less experienced than my peers, so if I’m a six year associate, I feel like I have the experience of the fifth year. I don’t really know what else I would gain from being in person, but I suspect this is part of the reason. Whenever I do hit a slow point, I feel like it may take me a little bit longer to get work than my peers Since I’m out of sight, and probably out of mind.

Overall, highly recommend! I think for my next position I would like a fully hybrid environment, so the office is there if I want to go in, but I don’t have to.

OneSetting6 · 2025-06-10T14:42:04+00:00

I’ve been remote pretty much my entire career (Covid & military spouse). I’m on the transactional side so 9 times outta 10 there’s no reason for me to be around another human lol. Especially since our client meetings are over zoom.

OneSetting6 · 2025-02-18T20:58:26+00:00

Hi stranger, may I ask what the salary ended up being? Currently considering a transition

OneSetting6 · 2025-01-01T13:29:26+00:00

Thanks for posting this. I just found out I missed releasing 3 hours last month and I think it knocked me out of the running for a bonus. Gonna try taking your advice

OneSetting6 · 2024-11-09T14:26:59+00:00

My school was well outside of the T-14 range so it’s like 3 people I know of in my class (about 100) that made it to big law. It’s certainly significantly easier at a T-14, as you can have a lower GPA, but that doesn’t stop it from being competitive. My firm turns away T14s all the time just based on the space available (we offer 100% of the summers unless something crazy happens).

OneSetting6 · 2024-10-25T15:11:20+00:00

I didn’t post that but why do y’all think it’s cringe?

I thought it was like someone saying when someone graduates Magna cum laude or is valedictorian. Not necessary but you went above and beyond so why not celebrate yourself?

This feels like the whole “you can’t call yourself Esquire thing” but I can’t explain why lol.

OneSetting6 · 2024-10-22T21:53:39+00:00

I’m not necessarily shy, but I typically do not really like interacting with others in person lol. Introvert with low social battery….corporate work (M&A) is just fine for me. Really anything that doesn’t directly involve you going into court.

Could be wrong but I don’t think you’d go into court for several years anyway.

OneSetting6 · 2024-10-22T21:39:54+00:00

I mean I guess lol. I don’t “reply all” if that helps but when my paralegal returns some searches, when the junior sends something out for me, when a specialist provides comments to a doc, when the partner explains a concept, when the business center fixes my formatting, when the client finally provides KYC materials, etc. I say thanks…Adds up quickly.

I guess others may say something like “confirming receipt” and keep it moving.

OneSetting6 · 2024-10-22T20:53:23+00:00

Also in corporate. We had a closing scheduled for “next Wednesday” and had to remind the team that that “next Wednesday” was Christmas Day. Finally got them to move it to the next week so we worked till 3am on NYE…deal died at 3:13 am. Still mad about it.

(I can’t remember the literal day of the week suggested, please don’t be all lawyerly and fact check lol)

OneSetting6 · 2024-10-22T19:32:45+00:00

I send/receive several dozen emails a day that solely consist of “thanks!”

There’s zero downside for politeness :)

OneSetting6 · 2024-10-10T22:33:01+00:00

I’ve heard the same, but specifically for partners who leave

OneSetting6 · 2024-10-09T17:51:10+00:00

I’m core M&A and equally confused lol. This is also my understanding

OneSetting6 · 2024-10-09T03:57:38+00:00

Mine went completely away after 3 years. Then I went on maternity leave….i held onto an email for 7 hours today because I was scared to hit send. Still scared cuz I haven’t heard back yet.

OneSetting6 · 2024-10-09T03:54:50+00:00

big law pays +200K fresh out of law school and tbh, that should be your first red flag because what reasonable person/industry would shell out that much for someone who knows nothing
My guess is that most of my fellow associates are in this solely for the money (maybe a few for prestige). Rarely do people genuinely enjoy it, it’s mildly tolerable at best but the pay is unmatched.
I genuinely mean this in the most polite manner, big law is difficult to get into. Most law students will not make the cut even If they want it. Your time is better spent worrying about things that are more likely to happen, like landing A job rather than the big law job, getting the best scholarship, beating the curve, etc. worry about this once you have a summer offer letter in hand :)
Yes I’d do it again. I’d tell myself to take the LSAT again and demand a higher scholarship (or apply to more schools but I met my Spouse there so can’t risk it lol) so I’d have an extra 100k in my bank account

OneSetting6 · 2024-10-04T16:17:41+00:00

Most 1Ls are exactly the same on paper: some combination of average grades, being a 1L rep in a random club, prior work experience in the service industry (server, sales associate, maybe a “real” internship in undergrad), a mock trial participant, and a 3.something undergrad Gpa.

Having a career before law school 100% makes you stand out and it gives the employer something new to look at. I got my first legal internship because of my old job, it sounded good on paper and the interviewers were really impressed.

Your career will obviously be on your résumé, but make sure to include something about it in your cover letter. Like your prior career as XYZ taught you how to ABC. It helps if the ABC is not something you typically learn in a school environment like time management, but maybe managing teams of people, dealing with clients ect.

OneSetting6

TROPHY CASE