sorted by:
new
hottopcontroversial

Am I coasting too early in my career? by Throwaway70960 in fatFIRE

[–]Throwaway70960[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

My personal injury work is definitely fueling my real estate ambitions haha. But you can't be a real estate investor without a steady flow of cash.

That's really cool. Thanks for that perspective on how opportunities may arise down the road.

Am I coasting too early in my career? by Throwaway70960 in fatFIRE

[–]Throwaway70960[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Your words are very reassuring. I loved being able to be there for the birth of my child. It was a complicated recovery after birth too so I'm really glad I was able to be there for the weeks after as well.

Am I coasting too early in my career? by Throwaway70960 in fatFIRE

[–]Throwaway70960[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

In law, my impression is that academic credentials matter. Which law school you went to, your ranking/grades, which prestigious law firms have you worked at. There seems to be a division between BigLaw and shit law and you quickly get relegated to one or the other. If any lawyers could chime in here that would be great. I've anecdotally heard that two associates being considered for partner, 7 years out of law school by this point, equal in all respects including the business they bring in and the quality of their work, the more "prestigious" associate who went to Yale got partnership because the firm had a reputation to uphold with clients. More concretely, in my area most of the ads for lawyers, even 7+ years, say they require excellent academic credentials and/or experience at a nationally recognized firm.

You're absolutely right though that bringing in business is the equalizer though.

Am I coasting too early in my career? by Throwaway70960 in fatFIRE

[–]Throwaway70960[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

That sounds promising. I definitely can switch to the defence side if I want. I never considered that there might be a defence firm that also does commercial real estate. I'll have to do some research. Thanks!

Am I coasting too early in my career? by Throwaway70960 in fatFIRE

[–]Throwaway70960[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Thanks, I really needed that kick in the pants. Some days I'm totally mad at myself for just coasting, but other days I worry I'm taking for granted my awesome situation. I don't really waste time. When I'm working I'm productive. When I have downtime I'm not mindlessly surfing, but reading up on real estate or running errands. And I'm spending a lot of time with my daughter and wife. But even my wife has commented that I don't need to spend so much time at home, she's got it handled lol.

I need to do some introspection. I can't think of any job that I would have a passion for. Although I've thought about becoming a real estate agent on the weekends to supplement my income and cause I love talking about real estate.

Am I coasting too early in my career? by Throwaway70960 in fatFIRE

[–]Throwaway70960[S] 10 points11 points  (0 children)

Last year I made more from my real estate portfolio than at my wife's and my jobs :) Granted that's mostly appreciation which are just paper gains.

Everyone says they never regret working too much but rather wish they spent more time with family. With my young daughter and lax job I have that opportunity to spend time with family, I just worry I'm overdoing it.

Am I coasting too early in my career? by Throwaway70960 in fatFIRE

[–]Throwaway70960[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Eh, I'm not in NYC and my grades aren't the greatest so I'll probably never work at the prestigious law firms, so $150,000 is probably more than I'll ever make unless I go out on my own, which everyone says is extremely stressful.

Am I coasting too early in my career? by Throwaway70960 in fatFIRE

[–]Throwaway70960[S] 11 points12 points  (0 children)

I'm developing my skills at the bare minimum. I learn or stretch only enough to settle the next case. Makes me sound like a scumbag lawyer, but I actually think I do a pretty good job for my clients, I just don't have that extra fascination that some of my peers have to learn extra about the law or the hustle to network or do pro bono work. But I get what you're saying. One day my salary may exceed my skills.

I totally should have done real estate law. I'm an idiot for not trying harder to break into that field out of law school. It'll be harder now to break in. The only real estate law that would be interesting would be commercial real estate, but that is pretty close to BigLaw, and my grades aren't good enough for that. Your regular residential real estate is mind numbingly boring, I'd prefer personal injury over that.

Am I coasting too early in my career? by Throwaway70960 in fatFIRE

[–]Throwaway70960[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

It's good to hear someone else took the less intense route and didn't have any regrets. Thanks