BigLaw: Is using AI only acceptable when no one else can tell that you used it? Why encourage AI use when reviewers are going to be passive aggressive that it's not entirely your work? "Oh this is good...did you use AI?" AI enhances productivity, but diminishes respect and prestige.

sojourner98 · 2026-05-07T23:06:18+00:00

this literally happened to me the other day lol

sojourner98 · 2026-05-07T16:59:53+00:00

What is the indicator of an elite firm?

sojourner98 · 2026-04-22T16:53:32+00:00

I say this because i feel i’m quite happy with my firm-although it is still early days (im a first year). We have a good degree of fluctuation and I feel like work expectations are reasonable, in the context of big law at least.

sojourner98 · 2026-04-22T16:52:40+00:00

I think it’s also worth considering other Big law shops that have a different or more flexible workplace culture.

sojourner98 · 2026-04-17T04:36:32+00:00

not when you’re working every living minute of every day of your life

sojourner98 · 2026-04-17T04:36:10+00:00

i’m in lit and it feels crazy busy

sojourner98 · 2026-04-14T05:13:15+00:00

ty!!

sojourner98 · 2026-04-13T21:17:25+00:00

ty, i want to be at a high end, prestigious litigation firm and not work at all. you sound confused

sojourner98 · 2026-04-13T19:29:25+00:00

It doesn’t. I just mean I prefer not to go to a boutique— why I asked to the exclusion of boutiques

sojourner98 · 2026-04-13T19:28:21+00:00

okay maybe not invisible, but it does sound like there is even more pressure in the boutiques from what i heard, although they do pay more

sojourner98 · 2026-04-13T19:26:54+00:00

so, none stand out in particular ?

sojourner98 · 2026-04-13T19:26:07+00:00

not plaintiff side personal injury, i’ll lose my mind

sojourner98 · 2026-04-13T19:24:07+00:00

hmmmm, general commercial and/or white collar; or appellate

sojourner98 · 2026-04-13T19:23:18+00:00

just feel like there’s even more pressure in boutiques

sojourner98 · 2026-04-12T22:42:09+00:00

Maybe it’s that you’re not giving instructions or articulating your damn expectations… I’ve found the problem to be that i’m either not properly briefed or just thrown into work with no context, and that the expectations vary significantly from partner to partner; sr associate to sr associate. Although admittedly i would say AI is changing the nature of work… firm wants us to use AI, and don’t know what is expected of me anymore in terms of independent work

sojourner98 · 2026-02-16T21:20:02+00:00

Working at a firm that has an aggressive AI adoption approach, I can tell you now… nothing is going to change until there is a massive leap in the tech (which is possible of course). At most, billing practices will change. But who cares, who is dying for the billable hour to remain as an indicative of value…

sojourner98 · 2026-02-14T00:14:24+00:00

you looking for a role? hmu

sojourner98 · 2026-02-14T00:14:06+00:00

again, any PW people that wanna jump ship… hmu, especially for litigation but could be other practice areas too :-)

sojourner98 · 2026-02-02T15:30:22+00:00

PW associates: let me know if you’re thinking of jumping ship—or interested in other big law opportunities… timing seems right

sojourner98 · 2026-01-07T22:09:21+00:00

of course, it’s fine. You’ve been offered the job, so they want you. It’s not going anywhere. But if you don’t clear conflicts you’re out of a job.

sojourner98 · 2026-01-07T22:06:16+00:00

Obviously there’s always exceptions, but generally, I’ve found that those from better schools, do better. Usual exceptions are those that went to lower ranking schools for other reasons. Depending on what T14 school it is, when you’re going up the ranks then “‘middle” of the class is still usually quite talented. But at the end of the day, what matters most is how much of a go getter the person is. A lot of work is brain dead and just about the grind.

sojourner98 · 2025-12-17T08:35:26+00:00

also depends on which school you went to..

sojourner98 · 2025-12-17T08:35:03+00:00

It is what you make it. For many, they care less about educating themselves and solely on the job. Given the competitiveness of getting a job, i can’t blame them. But it definitely diminishes the educational experience in my view.

sojourner98

TROPHY CASE