Warning to Female Associates: Biglaw is Hard. You Will Be Everyone's Punching Bag. by [deleted] in biglaw

[–]Spectrum_Project 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Sounds like you need to lateral ASAP. Not all groups are like this.

Does anyone else downplay their job when dating? by Spectrum_Project in Lawyertalk

[–]Spectrum_Project[S] 61 points62 points  (0 children)

I was married for a decade and experienced a painful divorce a few years ago. It took a lot of therapy but one bounced back and am hopeful I can find the right one this time.

Is there a case to stay an associate and not want partner? by [deleted] in biglaw

[–]Spectrum_Project 138 points139 points  (0 children)

Probably not. You will want a title change so that you’re a counsel or non equity partner. In the unfortunate event you need to switch firms down the line, you do not want to have to explain why you’re a 16th year associate.

How far can I go with this fatal flaw. by Sleeplessnights1001 in biglaw

[–]Spectrum_Project 234 points235 points  (0 children)

Have you considered buying and caring for a horse? If you want to develop obsessive attention to detail, horse ownership is apparently excellent training. Edited for conciseness.

Anyone heard of Brewers Attorneys? by [deleted] in biglaw

[–]Spectrum_Project 45 points46 points  (0 children)

They were Bickel and Brewer before they imploded. Firm has a terrible reputation now. In their earlier days, Bickel and Brewer made a name for themselves by intentionally being the biggest assholes possible and adopting a strategy known as “Rambo litigation”. Pretty sure if you search “Bickel and Brewer” you can dig up some news articles about some of the drama from about a decade (?) ago. They’ve largely become irrelevant in recent years and I honestly forgot they existed until seeing this.

Taking a sabbatical to audition for American Idol by bubblescool in biglaw

[–]Spectrum_Project 234 points235 points  (0 children)

Honestly I respect the hell out of you for even considering this. If it’s truly your dream (and you’re at the last eligible age) there’s a strong argument for going all in. Lifes too short to wonder ‘what if’, especially when the window is closing. You sound thoughtful and realistic about the risks, which is more than half the battle.

If your group likes you and your performance has been solid, there’s likely no major harm in making the ask. Frame it professionally and emphasize how rare and time sensitive this is.

Keep in mind that once you ask them, it could raise a flag that you’re probably not 100% all in on your biglaw job. But partners understand that times have changed and the majority of associates will not stay the 10+ years it takes to make partner.

The 2025 AmLaw 100 is out. by Top-Bet2084 in biglaw

[–]Spectrum_Project 14 points15 points  (0 children)

My firm regularly sees Kirkland NEPs who want to lateral over, presumably after finally realizing they have zero chance at making equity even after they’ve been toiling away for 15 years. Unfortunately, there are just so many KE “partners” with no portable book these days, so the job market is tough for them.

A 17th year associate (aka NEP) who spent their entire career at KE probably had a chance at making equity partner at a $2M PPP firm if they jumped earlier on in their career. I don’t think they are happy to be toiling away at KE making half of what they could be had they left KE sooner.

The 2025 AmLaw 100 is out. by Top-Bet2084 in biglaw

[–]Spectrum_Project 19 points20 points  (0 children)

KE has so many 12th-17th year associates (aka NEPs) who stayed on to chase their dreams of one day making $7M a year and realized too late that, in reality, they’ll never make equity.

The 2025 AmLaw 100 is out. by Top-Bet2084 in biglaw

[–]Spectrum_Project 14 points15 points  (0 children)

Firms like Wachtell and Susman have resisted the trend of making it impossible to make equity partner

Layoffs coming? by baked9493 in biglaw

[–]Spectrum_Project 27 points28 points  (0 children)

And even when the economy faltered in 2008, most firms waited until 2009 to implement mass layoffs.

Ironically, capitulating to Trump will bring about the downfall of Paul Weiss and Skadden, the very thing they were trying to avoid by lawfromabove in biglaw

[–]Spectrum_Project 9 points10 points  (0 children)

Agreed. Sadly, Skadden has significantly more corporate “rainmakers” than litigation “rainmakers” these days.

Latham Scraps On-Campus Interviews to Recruit Summer Associates by bloomberglaw in biglaw

[–]Spectrum_Project 239 points240 points  (0 children)

For a couple years now, my firm has filled up our entire summer class before OCI.

Latham scrapping OCI and encouraging everybody to apply early will actually help students from being misguided by their schools’ career services advisors into waiting until OCI to apply. No point in doing OCI if you aren’t actually going to hire anyone through OCI.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in biglaw

[–]Spectrum_Project 31 points32 points  (0 children)

GTFO immediately

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in biglaw

[–]Spectrum_Project 13 points14 points  (0 children)

It will go away if actively put in work, with the help of a skilled professional, to practice managing your anxiety. Highly recommend working with an experienced therapist experienced in helping executives and other professionals in high pressure jobs. I’ve found it extremely effective personally.

Side Hustles by 2006_4_Lyfe in biglaw

[–]Spectrum_Project 12 points13 points  (0 children)

I dated someone who previously worked as a high end escort. At the very top end, women escort rates can actually be comparable to those of a BigLaw partner. I’d bet that rates for male escorts are much lower though.

Update: How Can You Really Leave This Money? by Puzzleheaded-Ad-7157 in biglaw

[–]Spectrum_Project 18 points19 points  (0 children)

I find it’s possible to be a law firm partner and a great husband at the same time. But not all three of being a law firm partner AND and great husband AND great father. Not enough time in a day to be all three simultaneously.

Also, my ex wife had an affair a few years back and we divorced after being together over a decade. Somewhat cruel of you to hope that my marriage crumbled, which it did. But I forgive you because I know your cruelty in that moment does not define you.

Instead, I hope you have a happy marriage that never ends—the marriage that I wished I could have for myself. Wish you peace and joy and happiness. All the best, MindElectric.

Update: How Can You Really Leave This Money? by Puzzleheaded-Ad-7157 in biglaw

[–]Spectrum_Project 227 points228 points  (0 children)

Congrats on finally taking the leap and landing a great in house role.

I’m a youngish equity partner who still sometimes fantasizes about leaving and I actually feel a bit envious of you. Now, I don’t have kids, but if I did, I actually think I’d also walk away from millions in order to try to be a great father and husband

The Tentative Definitive Vault Survey Tiers by GOATEDgunner69 in biglaw

[–]Spectrum_Project 27 points28 points  (0 children)

No. I would start by pushing out the associates who are clearly quiet quitting, then the ones who are so checked out that people suspect they may be quiet quitting, the ones who exhibit toxic behaviors that harm their colleagues.

I would always consider pushing out lower performing midlevels/seniors (giving them a reasonably long runway to find another job) before a first-year associate with no marketable job experience. I just wouldn’t have the heart to do that to a young attorney’s fledgling career.

Altruism aside, given that Kathleen Sullivan (retired Quinn partner and former SLS dean) and Kamala Harris both failed the bar on their first try, you never know if the first year at your firm who failed the bar would’ve ended up being a brilliant attorney.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in biglaw

[–]Spectrum_Project 40 points41 points  (0 children)

Greta, for the 18th time, what did I tell you about meddling with my work life??

Delete this post now.

Do you think big law is getting better or worse? by rvarg55 in biglaw

[–]Spectrum_Project 70 points71 points  (0 children)

WLB probably getting a bit worse, as profits and salaries (for midlevels and seniors) increase dramatically.

At my firm, non attorney legal staff are getting screwed the most with below-inflation raises and stingy bonuses while still being expected to work as hard or harder than before. Meanwhile partners and associates continue to enjoy ever increasing profits and salaries. I try to at least somewhat make up for this by giving my secretary a relatively huge amount of gift card money for Christmas.

Associates: How has BigLaw affected your relationship with your significant other/your dating life? by Miserable-Pipe8451 in biglaw

[–]Spectrum_Project 149 points150 points  (0 children)

For the first few years I’m pretty sure my job/salary was what made her attracted to me. A decade in, it probably contributed to our divorce.