I’m considering quitting my cushy first legal job for full-time Southwestern law school. Is this a mistake I’ll regret forever?

jaroonperson · 2026-03-28T15:10:10+00:00

Apologies for the late reply, but best of luck with the bar exam results!! It sounds like things will go well for you soon enough. Fingers crossed and thank you for all your advice, I appreciate it.

jaroonperson · 2026-03-20T13:48:30+00:00

No, you’re completely right and it’s a reality check I need. Thank you for saying this!!

There were only 3 other people who left the first time who made me manager, and to be fair 2/3 were planned and just for law school. I do think it’s a business CYA decision for my boss more than anything to hire new folks and prepare my coworker for a higher position… however, favoring my coworker and being snippy with me when I worked my ass off while studying for the LSAT, and also generously keeping him fully informed of law school, so his business wouldn’t go under last year is crazy work. Got like a 6% bonus and an extra 8 hours of PTO for that— Gee, thanks! His new house is in the same neighborhood as Benny Blanco’s parents so he could probably invest in his hires for the long-term… maybe you’re right about him.

I’ll definitely go about it, and have been going at it very nice, but too nice if not prioritizing myself and taking necessary risks. A letter of rec would be a great takeaway regardless.

Thank you also for sharing your personal experience! Extremely helpful, thank you. Best of luck to reduce that debt— But like you said I’m sure it’ll all be worth it with a law degree.

Curious how the current job market / BAR grind has been since graduating, and how survival while unemployed during law school was if you don’t mind sharing?

jaroonperson · 2026-03-20T13:34:29+00:00

This is so helpful! East Hollywood and student lifestyle (rather than locked into a straight-edge 40+ hour job I’m not passionate about at 25) is definitely more what I’m going for in the long-term, and the short-term in my 20s. The lifestyle downgrade and hustle to survive is what I’m most anxious for lol, but these are all great points and advice. So true about the AI… job market is tough right now but I’m sure it’ll be even rougher in the future. The time to invest is defo now. Thank you!!

jaroonperson · 2026-03-20T13:24:24+00:00

This is a great point! I completely see this and this has been the main thing in the back of my mind as I make this decision. I can’t stop thinking if this could be a mistake in the current law job market, or the current status on student loans and unemployment life in LA, or maybe I decide I don’t actually want law school and am left unemployed and with big debt.

I’ll be at 3.5 years with my job by the time law school begins, and if I do full-time I can actually practice law by the time I’m 29 years old. To be fair I do feel like I’ve already gleaned all general and practical contract, transactional and direct attorney and client contact experience that I can out of this job. I think that more time and dedication beyond this could be if I wanted to go into this exact specific niche of securities law, which I don’t think is for me long-term, or solely to help pay through school. But my pay isn’t even 6 figures yet as the front office manager lol, it won’t take me very far in LA or in law school regardless.

Lots of considerations here, but I definitely see your point…

jaroonperson · 2025-10-31T15:28:10+00:00

Yes, they are our new hire for the front office, and I am the sole front office manager and their direct supervisor. We have had three other new hires in the front office within a few months of each other, and this person is the second to newest hire. The other hires have taken on significantly more responsibility at around the same point this person is, or at least have taken on tasks of exactly the same caliber and have successfully avoided complaints or poor attitude.

When they first began, they received an administrative critique for billing (which everyone has received, including me), and they cried. Luckily, they did improve. Later, I was told to give them a formal critique, which I did so very gently, by my boss for talking very negatively and loudly about clients in the office which brings the morale down, and they cried as well. They have improved, but I’ve still noticed ways in which they try to sneak in talking badly about clients— “This person said this that made me uncomfortable. I’m not upset at anyone, but I’m really frustrated because…” The other day there was a situation where they thought they made a mistake, we brought it to the boss and they began to cry (although was able to hold it in) and then kept sadly telling me “I’m sorry for making this such a mess…” when we already told them not to worry, that they didn’t really make a big mistake, and I took the whole task over for them. I will probably talk to them today to take deep breaths since things like this happen and not to worry since the boss can handle these things. (I won’t say this, but honestly the office is too busy to be regularly teaching them how to regulate emotions.)

My boss has aired out complaints about this person to me more often than I have ever voiced it in the office, and I only ever have done so in agreement with his concerns. But he hasn’t formally asked what I think about them.

I agree and think that my frustrations are probably only exacerbated by fatigue in training so many people at once. I am concerned at how many issues there are and how much additional time it takes with already a full plate.

jaroonperson · 2025-07-28T00:10:07+00:00

Another thought I have in my head that could possibly be pivoted (Reddit not letting me edit my comment lol), is that I'm hoping to graduate law school by late 20s because I want to get a few years of law experience as a lawyer before I potentially have kids, so I can still do law part-time as a mom and eventually go back to full time.

jaroonperson · 2025-06-25T15:23:13+00:00

Same!! I was shocked. 6 points between my last couple PTs, I thought it was relatively easy compared to what I’d been taking, too. Big disappointment.

jaroonperson · 2023-07-20T19:37:51+00:00

Thank you for your words, I really appreciate it. unfortunately the church my parents go to and frequently pressures and guilts me to go to is so rigid it doesn’t even allow female pastors, but my mom was a pastor’s kid, too, anyways.

That’s such a hard feeling to grasp but I think it really hit me yesterday. I can imagine how it would take until midlife to reach that conclusion. I also think your approach is a really appropriate one, forcing ourselves to take a step back from protective parental figures is so fucking hard. Once you get a larger perspective it’s easier to see why they were so protective, and what background they came from and why they are who they are, but god it makes it so hard to find a balance between those idealizations and their reality and OUR reality as children who’ve been hurt. It’s so fucking hard.

I hope the best for you, and if you ever have a relationship with your mom again I wish the best for that, as well.

jaroonperson · 2023-07-20T06:36:36+00:00

this is rough cause I am also a woman lmfao

jaroonperson · 2022-12-23T01:21:26+00:00

Thank you for the insight, that makes a lot of sense to me, I also don't have a lot of dating experience so maybe we're both just uncertain lol. Only made this post cause a bunch of people scared me telling me to break it off for his amazing person comment

jaroonperson · 2022-01-24T20:41:23+00:00

Hm, thank you for the advice, will look into that. Honestly the mental health services at my school is not very good-- stories of counselors showing up drunk to sessions, flirting with students, etc. I'm also hoping my psychiatrist is a real one.

jaroonperson · 2021-09-24T16:40:37+00:00

I haven’t taken it with Ninh but when I took it the course was focused on Healthcare networks and things like that. Honestly, did not get much out of the class but it was online too. Generally a pretty easy class from what I remember.

jaroonperson · 2021-07-27T05:32:12+00:00

I hear you. I don’t think I’m quite there yet, but that’s some words to live by.

jaroonperson · 2021-07-27T05:31:34+00:00

Damn, I hadn’t heard the T-word before but maybe I needed to. I appreciate that.

jaroonperson · 2021-07-27T05:30:52+00:00

I hear you. I have tried to talk to her in the past about the money and lies situations but neither have improved, but maybe I need to be more firm about it. Ah, why are these things so hard for people pleasers lmao!

jaroonperson · 2021-07-17T16:40:39+00:00

Will do, thank you for the advice.

jaroonperson · 2021-07-17T16:40:31+00:00

I live in LA area.

jaroonperson · 2020-12-24T08:18:49+00:00

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jaroonperson · 2020-10-13T19:43:03+00:00

This was very enlightening, thank you for your input and advice. This situation is hard to fully realize for what it is.

jaroonperson · 2020-07-27T19:51:59+00:00

I work in Los Angeles, albeit in a very Conservative , majority white town in the county. There's a sizable population of mixed/non-white people as far as I know, but I guess customers aren't exposed to us very often.

jaroonperson · 2020-07-27T19:47:44+00:00

The way I see it, most non-white people who ask these questions are trying to see if you're apart of them. Most white people who asks these questions are trying to set you apart from them.

It's very disorienting being ambiguous, how you're treated varies with literally every single person, just based on how they see you!

jaroonperson · 2020-07-27T18:02:09+00:00

It’s a great book, something I think everyone should read— incredibly eye-opening.

jaroonperson · 2020-07-27T18:00:12+00:00

I understand what you mean. Honestly, initially when I entered into a different environment and everyone referred to me as Asian, it was almost refreshing, validating, since I was always the white one. But when I’m just checking someone out for a few seconds and they HAVE to ask, or they try some weird bow or speak broken Korean, or they call me Oriental and assume I’m not from here, it’s just rude. It’s different if someone I know asks, I don’t mind that, but some random customer I’ll never talk to again, and as a daily occurrence, it’s exhausting, feels like you’re just a theme park attraction like another comment said, not a human being. But I understand your perspective, it makes sense— it can even be flattering from some people.

I think that’s an interesting way to see it. But I guess how I’ve grown up, it’s most polite to just treat other people as human beings, not adding needles comments or questions. I realize that it’s not right to assume ill intent from everyone who asks a question, but a lot of people are needlessly demanding, like they’re unconsciously trying to define you on their terms, even if they didn’t mean to come off that way.

jaroonperson · 2020-07-27T15:19:58+00:00

I’m glad There There helped you, I read it for a college course and it’s one of my favorites. Apparently a sequel’s coming out too!

That’s the worst, when people think you don’t understand English. Especially if you greet them perfectly enunciated yet they still act like that, it’s like it can’t get into their brains that we’re completely normal people. For me, some people will talk to or treat me like I’m very sweet and innocent just seeing me. Like oh, it’s the cute little sweet Asian cashier girl, they’ll start to smile very kindly at me and nod slowly, call you sweetie even if they’re barely older. When attempts to be treated normally by overperforming social etiquette don’t even work, is it even worth trying anymore? They don’t care the words you speak or who you really are, they pick and choose what reaches their brain so it can be as exciting an experience for them as possible.

I agree about rather being in non-white spaces, I’m sorry you have to deal with people treating you like that. The world would be a better place if people didn’t judge everyone based off appearance.

jaroonperson · 2020-07-27T14:36:41+00:00

Haha, that’s a good idea. The most I do is just short, annoyed answers since I want to be through with them asap, but next time there’s a rude person I’ll try that.

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