Biglaw Associates Drowning in Workload
12 posts across 2 communities in the last 90 days; 83% from r/biglaw.
“I cannot imagine ever inviting a partner to my wedding, full stop. That's just me, but I don't think it's weird to not invite them.”
“I’m currently at Paul Hastings in the finance group and am considering offers from McDermott and MoFo’s finance groups. I’m a midlevel associate in NY. Looking to maximize lifestyle. Where would you recommend?”
“Is the work life balance any better outside of big 4 or is it all the same crap?”
Several posts express frustration with demanding workloads, partner behavior (including unsolicited commentary), and navigating firm culture within large law firms. Concerns about work-life balance, career progression, and the pressure to conform are evident.
SOURCES (28)
“Anyone working in a Manning Elliot Hows this firm ? submitted by /u/Capable-Bar-6776 [link] [comments]”
“I’m currently at Paul Hastings in the finance group and am considering offers from McDermott and MoFo’s finance groups. I’m a midlevel associate in NY. Looking to maximize lifestyle. Where would you recommend? submitted by /u/James_sveck [link] [comments]”
“Is the work life balance any better outside of big 4 or is it all the same crap? submitted by /u/Recent-Pangolin-3344 [link] [comments]”
“Hi everyone. Incoming first year associate. Looking for insight about when the firm usually schedules headshots for the firm website. I ask because my financial situation is a bit strained at the moment and I would love to have my first paycheck to buy a decent suit for the pictures. Totally understand it’s likely very firm dependent, but just looking for a general consensus! Thank you. submitted by /u/duragzzz [link] [comments]”
“Thinking of applying to an opening but frankly don’t know much about them since from SD. Are they true biglaw or just big in Boston? I feel like I’ve seen them on some capital markets deals. submitted by /u/Frosty-Fondant6294 [link] [comments]”
“It seems like there’s been so many associates lateraling out of Latham’s Houston office over the past couple of years, and almost nobody has anything good to say about that office. I’ve also weirdly heard that most of the male partners are super young and handsome and look like they could be A-list celebrities (such as Glen Powell or Collin Jost). Idk but I find that so unusual for biglaw. Are they actually openly favoring handsome attorneys in Houston while intentionally bullying any unattracti”
“Does Skadden have a transactional office in Boston, or is it all litigators? (I am aware Skadden has a Boston office, but I heard it’s all litigation people but I wanted to make sure that is true.) submitted by /u/Automatic-Emotion945 [link] [comments]”
“Does anyone have experience switching from one office to another (Boston to New York)? Is this frowned upon? What if the practice group has people from lots of different offices and some people even work fully remote? submitted by /u/LopsidedDrink8387 [link] [comments]”
“Seems like the place to be for ECVC work. Is anyone at the firm who can speak to culture, hours, etc.? submitted by /u/ImpressiveSpend7189 [link] [comments]”
“Law student in NY considering the practice group and wondering what the pros and cons are. submitted by /u/youwannaknowwhat [link] [comments]”
“People at NY big law firms - could you discuss how you learn how to do what you’re doing? Trying to figure out if it’s common for teams to just email you without ever meeting in person for months submitted by /u/ConnectWind1133 [link] [comments]”
“There are a couple of female partners with kids at the big 4 that I used to work at. Two of them had a client base in the non-profit sector though (which is usually a lower workload), except for one who was promoted when she was pregnant with her first who had clients in the financial sector. So it can be done. I think they all had husbands that are less ambitious so they were more involved in raising their kids than the average dad.”
“It is possible. The senior partner of my firm is married to a big shot CFO. Their children were raised by nannies”
“I am interested in corporate generally speaking but I was wondering if there are firms in Boston with this focus. I have heard Wilson Sonsini and Cooley come up. I am trying to see which place would give me good reps in for the work they do. I think CM and PE M&A would be cool, although I am leaning towards the former, as I feel like the late night grind times are more predictable in CM than in M&A. submitted by /u/Automatic-Emotion945 [link] [comments]”
“Junior getting married in the near future. What is the ethos for inviting colleagues/partners? The whole office knows, and one partner sorta assumed they’d be getting invited. Smallish satellite office. submitted by /u/Dull-Research-4407 [link] [comments]”
“I work closely with a partner at my biglaw firm that has decided he's now our in-house World Cup analyst. Every conversation somehow turns into football, despite the fact that he appears to get all his information from airport TVs with the sound off. Today he confidently announced, for at least the fifth time this week , that "Holland is having an amazing tournament and will be a beast to deal with against England in the next round." I politely mentioned that Holland (er, the Nethe”
“I cannot imagine any partner becoming close enough with the junior associate in less than three years to expect an invite.”
“This really depends. I invited 2 partners and 1 came. I left the firm not too long thereafter, but recently reached out to the one who came asking for his thoughts about my next lateral move. I consider him a trusted elder. I recently talked to the other one who I invited but didn't come, as well. I like both of them and want to keep in touch with as the years progress, so it made sense to include them!”
“I cannot imagine ever inviting a partner to my wedding, full stop. That's just me, but I don't think it's weird to not invite them.”
“Same. I invited a handful of other associates who I socialized with out of the office and considered actual friends.”
“Yea the one that assumed I don’t even work with in any capacity—different practice groups lol”
“I personally wouldn’t, but I’m also from a fairly humble background, as is my now spouse, and was worried about my wedding and family being judged in a way that would color partners’ perceptions of me going forward. I invited a handful of associates in my year but that’s it. If it’s a smaller office and you feel close with colleagues, your mileage may vary.”
“I mean, there are definitely a handful of people at work (peers and partners) that I wouldn't feel compelled to be "on" for. I've seen them hammered as well; and It's my wedding. If they really were squares I wouldn't be inviting them.”
“Why would anyone want to be ON during their wedding?! Have some boundaries for christ sakes”
“Don't do it. I had a colleague do it years ago - invited the whole office, including the named partners. I wasn't particularly close to this colleague but felt obligated to go because everyone else was. And she ended up getting fired less than 6 months later anyway. Talk about awkward.”