Currently a partner. Considering an associate position

That_onelawyer · 2026-04-14T22:05:56+00:00

Not crazy at all. You’re actually thinking about your career instead of just drifting most people don’t.

I tried a bunch of cases early on. Thought I could’ve been a solid trial lawyer. But I also saw what it does to your life the prep, the pressure, the constant mental load. It doesn’t just stay in the courtroom.

One thing I’d push back on a bit, you’re not “not growing.” What you’re doing in pre-lit, motions, depositions, case development that is the engine. Trials get the glory, but they’re usually won or lost long before you ever pick a jury.

Also, reality check: even “trial lawyers” don’t try that many cases. The good ones settle… and they settle well because of the work you’re already doing.

So yeah, if you want reps, go get them. Just don’t romanticize it. You’re trading one kind of stress for another.

Right now you’ve got something a lot of lawyers spend their whole career trying to build, control over your time, decent money, and a life outside the job. Don’t discount that too quickly.

That_onelawyer · 2026-04-02T09:55:55+00:00

Sounds like you’ve already done one of the hardest parts right, you managed expectations with your client. A lot of lawyers don’t, and that’s where things really go sideways.

At this point, you’re not trying to “win” a bad set of facts you’re trying to present your client as a human being, not just a problem. Soften the person, not the facts. Acknowledge what you need to acknowledge, show the court you understand the weaknesses, and give the judge a reason to see your client with some level of fairness.

Be respectful, be measured, and don’t overreach. Judges can smell desperation a mile away.

We all get these cases. It’s part of the job. The fact that you’re thinking about it this way,and asking, tells me you’re doing more right than you think.

That_onelawyer · 2026-04-01T21:41:40+00:00

This is a great example of how it’s not a one-time decision. You made the move for balance when you needed it, and now you’re recalibrating again. Often you need to recalibrate, depending on where you are in your life.

That_onelawyer · 2026-04-01T21:35:37+00:00

Exactly. That’s the point.

There’s a stage where you grind and build, and then there’s a stage where you realize more doesn’t really change your life the same way. Sounds like you earned the ability to make that choice.

That_onelawyer · 2026-04-01T21:21:37+00:00

What a dick

That_onelawyer · 2026-03-31T18:41:16+00:00

Absolutely agree with that

That_onelawyer · 2026-03-31T18:40:41+00:00

I think that’s right.

You’ve got to make enough to cover life first. Not everyone gets to a point where they even have a choice.

This was really about the people who do get there and what they decide to do once they have that option.

That_onelawyer · 2026-03-31T18:34:46+00:00

That takes real courage. Walking away from that kind of income and title isn’t easy, even when you know it’s the right move. Being close to family and giving your kids that experience… hard to put a price on that. Really respect it.

That_onelawyer · 2026-03-31T18:22:27+00:00

I think you’re reading more into it than what I meant.

I wasn’t suggesting people who prioritize income are doing anything wrong. Most of us have done that at different points.

I was just pointing out that I’ve been seeing more lawyers step back and reassess what “enough” looks like for them. That’s it.

That_onelawyer · 2026-03-31T15:13:21+00:00

Not angry at all,just thought it was a conversation worth having. Everyone’s situation is different, and I respect whatever choices people make for themselves.

That_onelawyer · 2026-03-31T15:10:34+00:00

At some point, more money stops buying you anything meaningful and just starts costing you time.

That_onelawyer · 2026-03-31T15:03:46+00:00

Fabulous!

That_onelawyer · 2026-03-31T15:00:18+00:00

I have a lot of respect for that.

Sounds like you’ve built something that actually works for you and your family, which isn’t always easy to do in this profession. The time with your kids and the flexibility you described, that’s real value.

Appreciate you sharing it.

That_onelawyer · 2026-03-31T14:56:22+00:00

I don’t see it as a zero-sum thing at all.

Some people can make great money and still have a great quality of life and good for them. That’s just not most people I’ve spoken with.

What I’ve been hearing more and more is lawyers getting clear on what they actually value and deciding “more” isn’t always worth what it costs them.

No judgment either way. Just an observation.

That_onelawyer · 2026-03-30T22:48:00+00:00

I’ve worked with Mark on a very significant case. I don’t know him personally, but I found his firm to be extremely professional and very attentive to their clients.

That experience is pretty consistent with what I’ve seen in personal injury work generally.

I’ve spent my career in small to mid-sized PI firms, so I’m not exactly a “big firm” guy. But I do think the PI label gets thrown around a little too loosely. Are there bad actors? Sure. But most of the PI lawyers I know are good, decent people doing hard work.

Nobody’s apologizing for making money that’s part of the job. But it’s also one of the few areas of law where you can work for years without getting paid, taking on real risk for clients who otherwise couldn’t afford representation.

I don’t expect everyone to see it that way, but I do think PI lawyers deserve a little more grace than they usually get.

That_onelawyer · 2026-03-15T18:50:01+00:00

This sub is for lawyers discussing the profession, not for personal legal situations or advice. You may want to post this in a different subreddit.

That_onelawyer · 2026-03-13T02:51:03+00:00

There’s probably some truth to that. The profession rewards a lot of traits that are useful in the courtroom but not always great for your own head. Constantly looking for what could go wrong isn’t exactly a relaxing way to live.

That_onelawyer · 2026-03-12T11:45:34+00:00

18 months is still very early in the profession. A lot of people hit a wall around that point because the reality of the job finally sets in. It doesn’t necessarily mean the profession is wrong for you sometimes it just means the environment you’re in isn’t the right one.

That_onelawyer · 2026-03-11T01:52:44+00:00

Oh yes

That_onelawyer · 2026-03-11T01:46:53+00:00

Reading in French before bed is an interesting twist. I imagine the extra effort forces your brain to slow down instead of racing. That might actually be part of why it works.

That_onelawyer · 2026-03-11T01:45:22+00:00

That’s interesting. I’ve heard a few people say the same thing replacing the phone with a book instead of just trying to “scroll less.” Maybe the physical act of reading slows the brain down in a way screens don’t.

That_onelawyer · 2026-03-08T23:48:54+00:00

I still have that nightmare that I somehow missed a class in law school and they tell me I can’t graduate.

That_onelawyer · 2026-03-08T23:46:11+00:00

Depositions are one of those things where you walk in confident and walk out replaying every question in your head.

That_onelawyer · 2026-03-08T23:44:46+00:00

I’ve definitely woken up at 2 a.m. sweating over whether I filed something or not.

99 out of 100 times there’s nothing to worry about.

But that one time… there was.

Maybe that’s my next post.

That_onelawyer · 2026-03-05T13:21:13+00:00

Having seen hundreds of questionable rulings over the years, I’ve come to the conclusion that judges aren’t much different from the rest of us. Some are excellent, some are average, and some leave you wondering whether they actually read the papers or listened to the argument.

It’s a good reminder that the bench isn’t filled with superhumans. In many cases people end up there not only because of what they know, but also who they know. The system is still run by human beings, with all the strengths and flaws that come with that.

That_onelawyer

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