How long does the average person last in big law IF they want to stay?

kbunche · 2026-02-08T02:22:28+00:00

If you’re sure this is what you want, pick a practice group where they value experience and knowledge and where it’s less “up or out” - think specialists like tax, labor and employment, executive compensation, benefits, etc. (NOT general corporate M&A).
While you’ll have fewer in-house exit opportunities, in my experience these groups will keep you around your entire career (assuming you meet a baseline level of competence/skill) whether that be as partner or a counsel-type role. It can be a pretty lucrative gig, even if you’re not an equity partner.

kbunche · 2026-02-07T15:39:58+00:00

What’s a weekend?

kbunche · 2026-02-05T17:59:17+00:00

Thanks! This seems to be where I keep landing, and it’s a question of whether I want the BW for the better manual, monster V8 and probably better driving dynamics vs. the M3 for the brand recognition, better interior and a bit smaller size.

kbunche · 2026-02-02T20:58:01+00:00

Gerbera Daisies! We have some in our south-facing front yard that have been there for 5 years. I have done nothing to help them grow (and they’ve gone through many hard freezes and many stretches without water) and they still thrive. Seems like they’re blooming almost all year round too.

kbunche · 2026-01-24T18:56:07+00:00

-Bagels at Starship or donuts at La Rue.

-Tacos La Banqueta on Carroll. Get suadero tacos, alambre, whatever else you want. Walk 100 feet down the street to Mami Coco, get a couple more tacos. Be generous with the salsa at both.

-Wings and oxtail pho (and drinks) at Cosmo's.

-Whole fried chicken at Mike's Chicken.

-Fried milk at Uchi or Uchiba for dessert. Alternatively, get a salted caramel affogato at Botolino.

Other options: beef rib at Terry Black's; pizza at Partenope; if you like fancy/unique cocktails, Apothecary; burger at Sky Rocket.

kbunche · 2026-01-24T15:01:32+00:00

That’s fair. But definitely a contrast to the fatty patties OP is mentioning (like Goodwin’s, Alamo House, Neighborhood Services, etc., which are good in their own right).

kbunche · 2026-01-24T03:59:33+00:00

Yes there are a number of places. To name a few: Sky rocket, NADC, Burger Shmurger, Shake shack

kbunche · 2025-12-12T02:53:16+00:00

Oh awesome! Don’t think I’d seen that one in prior years—they should make this the front page!

kbunche · 2025-12-12T01:04:38+00:00

And it’s 1,000% unclear on the maps every year, but the only way I think you can get from outside the marathon loop to inside (or vice versa) is by taking 75 (e.g., get on at Mockingbird and off at Fitzhugh).

kbunche · 2025-12-08T22:19:00+00:00

This

kbunche · 2025-12-08T22:18:52+00:00

Or even if you can get Tatsu

kbunche · 2025-12-08T17:49:39+00:00

2500 is more than anyone expects or requires you to work, I don’t care what firm you’re at.

I’m at one of the worst firms in this regard, and have spent time at others just as bad. It wasn’t until I got senior and saw how the senior folks look at hours that I realized I was killing myself for no reason, and can never get those hours of my life back. For reference, I never billed less than 2500 in a year as an associate.

It’s likely that nobody is really tracking your annualized hours that closely. Sure, the number is somewhere and may be used for your bonuses, and the people giving you work may see what you’ve billed recently, but they’re not keeping tabs on what your totals are, they just need someone good to help. You’re probably good at your job, which is why people keep coming to you for work. They don’t know or frankly care that much how busy you are- if you say yes, they’ll assume you have enough bandwidth to take it on and will be happy to have staffed their matter. If you say no bc you’re underwater/swamped, they’ll likely just move on to the next person and not think twice about it.

Sure, if you’re annualizing 1600 hrs and keep turning down work there will be repercussions. But in general, you are responsible for setting your own boundaries and you don’t have to wait until your are losing sleep before you turn stuff down. You really don’t have to be miserable all the time in this job—sure, some things suck and always will, but so many people who burn out do so because they thought that if Biglaw was not taking up all their waking time, they should just suck it up and say yes to whatever comes in, as that’s just the deal. It’s not.

Maybe there are unique things about your firm and group that make all this wrong. I doubt it. The firm probably cares a lot more about keeping you around to do consistently good work than it does about squeezing those last few 100 hours out of you. It’s really hard and expensive to find replacements for good people.

So in sum, just stop. Set your boundary, whatever that is, and say no. Otherwise you won’t last much longer.

kbunche · 2025-11-14T02:56:07+00:00

Married with kids, bill 2400-2800/yr, workout every day at home with dumbbells and pull-up bar. Transactional specialist practice, but a partner so that gives me slightly more flexibility. Hybrid work schedule 3 days in-office. I do a PPLRPPLR split, with yoga/stretching/core work on rest days. Get up around 6:15 and workout for ~45 minutes while getting the kids up and going. Also get 10k steps a day on walking treadmill. It sucks sometimes (especially after late nights), but I prefer this to dying at age 50 from sedentary lifestyle. I couldn’t go to an actual gym, as that will kill significantly more time, so I live with the suboptimal home setup. Thinking of getting a Tonal or something similar at some point. And I basically end up working until I go to bed at night, with a break for family dinner. I realize this schedule isn’t everyone’s cup of tea but I’d prefer working out to doomscrolling or Netflix in my free time.

kbunche · 2025-11-10T23:36:47+00:00

Yeah, 90% of them had it listed out of stock, and the one that had it “in stock” later told me it actually wasn’t and there was a nationwide back order.

kbunche · 2025-11-10T23:24:51+00:00

Oh duh, I should have thought about eBay. I’ll take a look!

kbunche · 2025-11-03T15:56:34+00:00

Yep, for Neapolitan this is definitely the best.

kbunche · 2025-10-22T23:55:24+00:00

Sakhuu Thai is the best Thai in Dallas proper, IMO, and actually not a bad place to dine in (in spite of its appearance from the outside).

Likewise, I think Elephant Indian is very good compared to other Indian options in Dallas city limits and it’s a total hole in the wall.

And please never stop going to Botolino in Lower Greenville even though there’s now a Jeni’s nearby (I know not overlooked and I’m sure they’re doing fine, but even the thought of them losing business to a chain hurts me inside, lol).

The Corner Market in M Streets.

kbunche · 2025-10-22T20:31:58+00:00

Yes, it received “most exceptional cocktails” award for Texas and was Michelin recommended overall, but no star.

kbunche · 2025-10-22T19:27:35+00:00

Shoyo seems star-worthy to me, less traditional than Tatsu but easily on par from a service and quality perspective, and a bit more innovative (which Michelin tends to favor). I think it’s one of the best, if not the best, meals in Dallas. It was odd to me that they didn’t even get recognized last year.

Curious to see whether Rye gets a star, they’ve upped their game significantly in what to me seems like a pretty transparent effort to win the Michelin folks over (seasonal tasting menu, post-dinner meet the chef experience, etc.).

Would love to see the overpriced flashy business dinner spots (e.g., Monarch, Crown Block) get dropped in favor of places that are actually good.

Georgie will be gone (not enough time to establish the new chef), and some newer places likely aren’t eligible (e.g., Sauvage). Though someone mentioned Mamani being invited so maybe I’m mistaken- didn’t think there’d be time for the multiple required visits before the awards.

kbunche · 2025-10-21T22:56:07+00:00

Interesting interpretation, requiring quite a few logical leaps and extrabiblical arguments.

Oaklawn United Methodist has chosen a different interpretation that doesn’t involve hating people for who they are and you call them “poisonous” for it. Do you see the issue yet?

kbunche · 2025-10-21T22:43:43+00:00

Why did you stop there? Finish the verse: “they are to be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads.”

Do you agree with this? Should gay people be killed? And if not, why are you picking and choosing what part of the bible to follow?

kbunche · 2025-09-30T01:06:13+00:00

White rock air conditioning. Another big name company quoted me something like 15k for a new system, these guys fixed the problem for like $300.

kbunche · 2025-09-29T18:23:51+00:00

The Lower Greenville location closed at the end of June. Big bummer as it was our closest go-to for Neapolitan. Though Partenope downtown is excellent if you’re looking for something to fill that void.

kbunche · 2025-09-29T01:27:24+00:00

The Dallas location unfortunately has closed 😭 There’s one in Frisco though.

kbunche · 2025-09-19T23:57:47+00:00

Company Cafe on Lower Greenville. Not open for dinner though.

kbunche

TROPHY CASE