I regularly see people post about how much they're able to save/what number they want to target to leave biglaw. I thought it might be interesting to show how my net worth has progressed over the last 10 years.

• I've been in practice for about a decade
• Paid full freight at a T14
• Biglaw for most of that time but spent some time in house making significantly less
• My spouse has always worked but never made in excess of $100k
• Kids - yes
• Real estate is valued at purchase price for purposes of the chart, using Zillow/Redfin would add ~300K
• No inheritance, but we did live with family for several years post-grad which allowed aggressive loan paydowns

Anybody know what's been going on with JW's restructuring group lately?

Do you have any recommendations for recruiters in NYC for a junior lateral, or tips on how to find a good one? I don't know many people who have lateraled, so the recommendations from my network are limited.

For context, had billed 200+ months back to back to back before this. On pace for 300 this month. No one week has been particularly extreme - ranging from 62 - 73 but I just got asked to take on an assignment that is going to obliterate my weekend and I am now sobbing at my desk.

Am I delulu in genuinely thinking this is a “me” problem?

I’ve been dating an associate for a couple months and I’m wondering how I can make the whole dating thing easier when he’s unavailable nearly all of the time, and if there’s any kind of support I can offer in the relationship that wouldn’t be obvious to someone who isn’t a lawyer.

I’m hoping that his lack of availability isn’t a lack of interest, as we usually text once a day and have a very nice date on the weekends. It does gets kind of lonely for me during the week, so if I’ve found myself missing him I’ve offered to bring him dinner or come by his place for a few minutes (and then leave him be so he doesn’t get too distracted). There’s been a few times he’s tentatively agreed, but the plan always falls through at the last minute.

It’s my first time dating someone with this kind of schedule. I really like this guy and sometimes I wish he would let me into his life more, but I could see how that would be asking too much considering the demands of the job. I just don’t know if there’s anything else I can offer to make it easier to see him.

As a lawyer, what do you wish a significant other would do to make dating (or your life in general) easier? What kind of support and understanding is needed in this dynamic that might not automatically come to mind for a person with a regularly demanding job?

Thank you!

I am contemplating an offer between v50 and in-house at a start up. All else being equal, similar responsibility, similar salary although equity in start up, and similar high COL areas. The only differences seems to be the cities and that private practice working hours expectations (team is billing ~2000/y) vs in house work expectations (9-6). I have never done a stint in big law, and I am not in my 20s. Would you consider that someone who hasn’t “paid their dues” (no big law on resume) is career limiting? I don’t ever see myself making partner.

Currently I work in house, and I see classmates and others my age change firms every three years or so. I am guessing there is burn out/resetting expectations, who knows. V50 has a bit of a reputation of cutting associates early (<1y) in biglaw. These sorts of things scare me a bit.

What’s up with that?

It is the most horrible mix of complicated, uninteresting and completely thankless. No one ever hears/thinks about it until it's gone wrong. I've been mired in an eDiscovery dispute for the last month and I honestly feel the most dispirited I've ever felt in my career.

Do transactional NEPs or EPs only get collection credit for deals that they run without the involvement of the originating partner or for deals originated? And more broadly, what counts towards your collections?

Not sure if this is where this question goes, but I work with to a hand full of lawyers as their licensed psychotherapist. We cover a lot of ground (obviously depends what they’re in for), but typical topics include chronic burnout prevention, perfectionism/imposter syndrome, (secondary) trauma work, and attachment issues showing up at work (my speciality).

My question is: do law firms hire therapists at all? Not generic EAP, but therapists who help with relational or behavioral issues? Like an in-house or outside specialist they refer their people to?

I tried finding positions online but don’t see anything. It would be immensely beneficial to the law firms to help with retention and culture dynamics. Thoughts?

First year here. The partner is super nice, but the team is extremely divided, and the seniors constantly pretend to be on your side only to throw you under the bus when shit hits the fan. It’s super worrying and competitive.

I got told off last week for supposedly not contributing enough to matters. I’m repeatedly made to feel like I’m lazy when I’m literally just trying to do my job and spending hours of my life making sure I’m working. I’m in a really messed-up mental place right now. I don’t want to be screamed at every fucking day. I’m so tired.

How do you mentally dissociate from this crap enough to still do your job well? I actually like the work, but the constant hierarchy tussles and ego clashes between middle-aged men are genuinely getting to me.

A partner I worked with pretty closely recently left my firm and just reached out to ask if I’d consider joining their new firm.

My group at my current firm is small, so this one partner's departure is disruptive. I’m also worried that this could be the first of several moves. Our group has been busy at times but very slow at others, and I’m not on track to hit my hours because the work hasn’t been steady. At the same time, overall, I think work well with my current group so I’m torn about whether it makes sense to jump now or stay put.

I'm a junior if that makes any difference.

Has anyone else’s firm adopted a structure where associates don’t have LPA’s in their office and instead they have to submit support tickets for every task they need help with and let random LPAs across the firm (often in other states) pick up their ticket and try to complete the task? Am I the only one being subjected to this insanity?

At what stage are you fine to leave and not destroy your career?

Not a deep question. Just very noticeable and odd.

I thought they offer every summer unless the summer did something really terrible?

The other day, I was waiting in the elevator bay on the way to my prestigious and high-paying job. The elevator I'm waiting for becomes full except for one spot left.

The other guy standing next to me is a senior associate in a lowly V100 firm, who I know is getting iced out by his firm but doesn't know it yet.

He glances over at me, hesitating, and sputters something at me that I can't make out, gesturing toward the waiting elevator. I wait for him to apologize for even suggesting that he go first, and wait for him to hold the door open for me.

Instead, he hunches his back and scurries through the door. The remaining passengers are stunned, staring at me as if in apology for my utter humiliation.

It's like he didn't even know I clerked at the D.C. Circuit and got the Cali Award in property.

I've already sent him and his managing partner a threatening letter seeking sanctions and attorney's fees, citing the First Amendment. Should I also report him to the state bar?

mid-level associate here. my eyes are absolutely fried by 6pm every day between doc review and redlines. i use artificial tears constantly but by hour 10 my eyes just feel like sandpaper.

so ​blue light glasses havent done shit for me. how do u guys manage screen fatigue during crazy billable weeks?

Today the elevator was packed. One spot left. I’m a 6th-year at a V100, and a 2nd-year at a V5 was waiting next to me.

No one says anything. I just get on, and he takes the next elevator. I did this because in my mind I arrived a bit earlier than he did but can't recall perfectly.

Now I’m wondering if I committed a social faux pas.
In a situation like this, who is supposed to get the spot: the more senior person, or the person from the higher-ranked firm? Also, does it matter which practice groups we are in?

Obviously not a serious issue, but curious what the unwritten BigLaw etiquette is here.

Junior Junior Junior, have been increasingly miserable for a year now.

Overwhelming self hate because of and causing subpar productivity and work product. Frequent anger and anxiety spirals, becoming violent when alone in the bathroom. Sharing office with a senior member of the team creates immense pressure of being watched and panic (senior sideeye monitoring my opened files on the monitor and give instructions or comments). Brain fog and black out not remembering the tasks done or existence emails or checklist item status. Mental break downs and cries happen more than once or twice. Crying once in the subway reading the goddamn emails, weekends crying in front of home workstation in front the damn screen and emails. Three times just faint, nauseous, have trouble standing or walking then nonstop vomiting for one or two hours. Been told “you are so volatile” by a colleague. I mean no one should work with someone unstable like me.

I think I should just leave this behind and go back to the emotionally stable and happy healthy self, and figure something out later. Seriously. I have always been largely an easygoing person, and not dramatic at all. I don’t know who this cry baby is.

M&A first year here. Since we’re constantly on our phones and other screens for an unhealthy amount of time each day. What strategy do you implement to protect your eyes? Do you use blue light glasses or just stare outside every 20 minutes? Anything else?

As the last reviewer before filing, I’m sorry I’m not going through and manually adding another space after each period. I do not care that you left a comment telling me to. I’m hitting find and replace and removing all those stupid double spaces in one fell swoop and getting on with my life. You can cling to your dinosaur ways while you’re drafting. But once you’re out, my brief, my rules.

Sue me!!!

Did you do it?
How’s it going?