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PSA: Problem with BigLaw is not the work...

It's the people. This dawned on me today. The work can be...
at-the-ready sooty stage
  03/04/15
are all practice groups equal when it comes to shitty people...
soul-stirring deranged windowlicker
  03/04/15
all the non-annoying people left to go elsewhere
Bearded National
  03/04/15
...
Startled Wild Juggernaut Center
  12/22/16
...
Spectacular Space Masturbator
  07/10/20
"The irony is all of the annoying people were juniors o...
amber appetizing jew abode
  03/04/15
I duno bro I've basically turned into an asshole whereas I w...
Bespoke Stock Car Theatre
  03/04/15
You're a manager in a profession that places no value on man...
Sticky Flirting Kitchen
  03/04/15
To be fair, I don't really manage anyone. It's not like I ha...
Bespoke Stock Car Theatre
  03/04/15
completely fucking wrong. this is - in large part - an inte...
Titillating fishy rigor
  03/05/15
whoa dude this is really harsh about northwestern
Razzmatazz glassy garrison pervert
  12/22/16
This is wrong, but generally the common thinking.
Talking forum
  12/22/16
Then why do it?
big native
  03/04/15
"The work can be interesting at times," It's ra...
Bespoke Stock Car Theatre
  03/04/15
Anyone who finds biglaw work truly interesting needs to have...
big native
  03/04/15
Deal work can be interesting at first in the same way a puzz...
Bespoke Stock Car Theatre
  03/04/15
Same thing in certain types of litigation. Obviously large-s...
well-lubricated talented jap
  03/04/15
cr.
Purple tank nursing home
  03/05/15
transactional bros who left biglaw: at what point did the no...
Bat shit crazy site
  03/04/15
Yep. The work is dull as fuck. You'd have to be a pretty pas...
Hyperventilating hell
  03/04/15
(Guy who doesn't work in tax)
hyperactive senate
  03/05/15
Drafting sucks. Telling other people what to draft isn't nea...
Flickering Parlor Haunted Graveyard
  12/22/16
It's the people and the work, hth.
razzle-dazzle violent immigrant property
  03/04/15
and the hours etc.
Curious Bawdyhouse
  03/04/15
It's not the seamless though
razzle-dazzle violent immigrant property
  03/04/15
Idk sometimes food that's good at restaurants comes out all ...
motley point antidepressant drug
  03/05/15
I like the people and the work a lot. My problem is the bus...
Umber Naked Potus Locale
  03/04/15
Yeah the the fatal flaw is biglaw is the billable hour. The...
motley point antidepressant drug
  03/05/15
FLAME ITS THE UNPREDICTABILITY
Mauve karate
  03/04/15
IN BALANCE ON BALANCE
Mauve karate
  03/04/15
...
Maniacal Swollen Public Bath Roommate
  12/22/16
...
passionate sound barrier wagecucks
  12/22/16
Can't speak to all legal work, but corporate/m&a work su...
Heady tanning salon
  03/04/15
god corporate sounds awful. but at least you have exit opps
bearded cerebral queen of the night
  03/05/15
I can deal with most of them--and in fact, many are decent. ...
hyperactive senate
  03/05/15
gridding 100 deals out is pretty bad regardless of how chill...
Rusted cowardly laser beams rehab
  03/05/15
At least you're at a preftigious firm
Flickering Parlor Haunted Graveyard
  12/22/16
um, it's the work (which includes the hours, pressure, on-ca...
Purple tank nursing home
  03/05/15
yea look researching the law and writing up your "findi...
Curious Bawdyhouse
  03/05/15
yeah, and your happiness is very variant based on what you'r...
Purple tank nursing home
  03/05/15
the people in biglaw probably started out OK slowly but s...
marvelous lilac liquid oxygen lodge
  03/05/15
As soon as the period began which had produced the present I...
multi-colored giraffe
  12/22/16
I never really understand why people complain so much about ...
Arrogant pearly institution
  03/06/15
Weird post. The reason people conplain about then is because...
hyperactive senate
  03/06/15
yea i think this is backwards...i find that most people in b...
french orange school cafeteria philosopher-king
  03/06/15
the people are 180. the work is 180. but people who don't un...
Laughsome drab mad cow disease piazza
  12/22/16
I get a fucking RUSH when I start hitting the ground on that...
Razzmatazz glassy garrison pervert
  12/22/16
...
cerise field international law enforcement agency
  12/22/16


Poast new message in this thread



Reply Favorite

Date: March 4th, 2015 7:52 PM
Author: at-the-ready sooty stage

It's the people.

This dawned on me today. The work can be interesting at times, if you're interested in the subject matter. But it's the people who make BigLaw unbearable.

The irony is all of the annoying people were juniors once and probably felt the same. Why did they turn out into the same annoying people they once hated?

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2822531&forum_id=2#27430228)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 4th, 2015 7:52 PM
Author: soul-stirring deranged windowlicker

are all practice groups equal when it comes to shitty people?

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2822531&forum_id=2#27430232)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 4th, 2015 8:40 PM
Author: Bearded National

all the non-annoying people left to go elsewhere

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2822531&forum_id=2#27430495)



Reply Favorite

Date: December 22nd, 2016 10:57 AM
Author: Startled Wild Juggernaut Center



(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2822531&forum_id=2#32204383)



Reply Favorite

Date: July 10th, 2020 2:11 PM
Author: Spectacular Space Masturbator



(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2822531&forum_id=2#40580944)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 4th, 2015 8:01 PM
Author: amber appetizing jew abode

"The irony is all of the annoying people were juniors once and probably felt the same. Why did they turn out into the same annoying people they once hated?"

The chill people who felt the way you do all left biglaw. Sounds like you will too. The annoying people who are within a couple of years of your class year? Breakfast, at this or some other firm, then the cycle begins again.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2822531&forum_id=2#27430270)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 4th, 2015 8:11 PM
Author: Bespoke Stock Car Theatre

I duno bro I've basically turned into an asshole whereas I was a chill bro when I started. I get extremely, extremely annoyed when some clueless lazy person under me isn't doing their job or tries to get me to do their job. And I do remember being a junior and feeling that seniors were assholes for treating me like that. But it's so hard not to when you feel like you ate so much shit and jumped through so many hoops being a little manservant bitch and then some dufus under you acts like he isn't being paid a ton of $$$ to figure shit out and actually do work, not get me to do it for them.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2822531&forum_id=2#27430337)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 4th, 2015 8:35 PM
Author: Sticky Flirting Kitchen

You're a manager in a profession that places no value on management skills, so no wonder you suck at it.

My immediate boss is a former biglawyer and she's a godawful manager. Mba types at least have the basics down

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2822531&forum_id=2#27430460)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 4th, 2015 8:39 PM
Author: Bespoke Stock Car Theatre

To be fair, I don't really manage anyone. It's not like I have my own team or I have any personnel input. I'm in-house.

I have my doubts about how good the normal MBA shit is. It's just a bunch of corporate speak and "great job!" and issue avoidance and "that was a productive 3 hr meeting even though we decided nothing except that we'll talk about this more in the future" type of shit. I see it all the time in inhouse how absolutely worthless employees get to stick around getting paid almost the same or even more than useful people. At least firms are largely a meritocracy.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2822531&forum_id=2#27430486)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 5th, 2015 7:58 AM
Author: Titillating fishy rigor

completely fucking wrong. this is - in large part - an intellectual profession that requires long hours and responsiveness. there is no "managing" that solves for stupid grads of northwestern or northeastern or suffolk, and/or lazy fucks from anywhere.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2822531&forum_id=2#27432848)



Reply Favorite

Date: December 22nd, 2016 10:34 AM
Author: Razzmatazz glassy garrison pervert

whoa dude this is really harsh about northwestern

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2822531&forum_id=2#32204188)



Reply Favorite

Date: December 22nd, 2016 11:40 AM
Author: Talking forum

This is wrong, but generally the common thinking.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2822531&forum_id=2#32204747)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 4th, 2015 8:07 PM
Author: big native

Then why do it?

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2822531&forum_id=2#27430311)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 4th, 2015 8:09 PM
Author: Bespoke Stock Car Theatre

"The work can be interesting at times,"

It's rarely interesting after you've done it for a handful of yrs. You are looking at the same shit you've done over and over again. I agree though that the worst part of it is the people, by far.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2822531&forum_id=2#27430324)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 4th, 2015 8:10 PM
Author: big native

Anyone who finds biglaw work truly interesting needs to have their head examined.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2822531&forum_id=2#27430327)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 4th, 2015 8:15 PM
Author: Bespoke Stock Car Theatre

Deal work can be interesting at first in the same way a puzzle is interesting. But then it's like being forced to sit down and put the exact same 50,000 piece puzzle together every single day and it sucks balls.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2822531&forum_id=2#27430355)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 4th, 2015 8:32 PM
Author: well-lubricated talented jap

Same thing in certain types of litigation. Obviously large-scale lit with tons of doc review is bullshit, but I've definitely been on some smaller cases that wound up having some pretty interesting legal issues.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2822531&forum_id=2#27430444)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 5th, 2015 10:30 PM
Author: Purple tank nursing home

cr.



(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2822531&forum_id=2#27438169)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 4th, 2015 8:51 PM
Author: Bat shit crazy site

transactional bros who left biglaw: at what point did the novelty wear off?

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2822531&forum_id=2#27430565)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 4th, 2015 9:32 PM
Author: Hyperventilating hell

Yep. The work is dull as fuck. You'd have to be a pretty passionless human being to not wish you were doing anything else.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2822531&forum_id=2#27430879)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 5th, 2015 8:58 AM
Author: hyperactive senate

(Guy who doesn't work in tax)

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2822531&forum_id=2#27432969)



Reply Favorite

Date: December 22nd, 2016 9:17 AM
Author: Flickering Parlor Haunted Graveyard

Drafting sucks. Telling other people what to draft isn't nearly as bad.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2822531&forum_id=2#32203675)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 4th, 2015 8:31 PM
Author: razzle-dazzle violent immigrant property

It's the people and the work, hth.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2822531&forum_id=2#27430438)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 4th, 2015 8:36 PM
Author: Curious Bawdyhouse

and the hours etc.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2822531&forum_id=2#27430469)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 4th, 2015 8:54 PM
Author: razzle-dazzle violent immigrant property

It's not the seamless though

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2822531&forum_id=2#27430585)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 5th, 2015 6:38 AM
Author: motley point antidepressant drug

Idk sometimes food that's good at restaurants comes out all soggy when I get it from seamless.

Plus eating dinner at your desk makes you a fat.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2822531&forum_id=2#27432773)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 4th, 2015 8:46 PM
Author: Umber Naked Potus Locale

I like the people and the work a lot. My problem is the business of law: client demands, poorly run organization, hours, lack of incentive to bill honestly.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2822531&forum_id=2#27430521)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 5th, 2015 6:41 AM
Author: motley point antidepressant drug

Yeah the the fatal flaw is biglaw is the billable hour. The only way the firm maximizes profits is if people are working all the time, so the partners aren't happy unless people are working all the time. Hence the 5 pm fire drill calls on Fridays etc.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2822531&forum_id=2#27432775)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 4th, 2015 9:34 PM
Author: Mauve karate

FLAME ITS THE UNPREDICTABILITY

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2822531&forum_id=2#27430888)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 4th, 2015 9:35 PM
Author: Mauve karate

IN BALANCE ON BALANCE

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2822531&forum_id=2#27430894)



Reply Favorite

Date: December 22nd, 2016 8:53 AM
Author: Maniacal Swollen Public Bath Roommate



(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2822531&forum_id=2#32203556)



Reply Favorite

Date: December 22nd, 2016 1:46 PM
Author: passionate sound barrier wagecucks



(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2822531&forum_id=2#32205857)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 4th, 2015 10:37 PM
Author: Heady tanning salon

Can't speak to all legal work, but corporate/m&a work sucks. If you're working on a big deal with sophisticated clients, even the partners are mostly taking orders from the business people. And a lot of it is complicated, but not in an exciting way, in a shitty, it's hard to keep track of all these trivial details that are constantly changing kind of way. If you're working on small deals and the firm is more in control of the deal, the deal isn't interesting and the client just wants you to 'paper' whatever stupid transaction they think they've agreed upon and they don't understand why the 'legal stuff is so complicated and expensive.'

The people are often terrible too. Most of the lawyers in my office are decent enough, but the clients suck and the firm lawyers are going to do whatever the clients ask and let shit roll down hill.

The hours aren't always terrible, but they're always unpredictable.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2822531&forum_id=2#27431331)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 5th, 2015 10:13 PM
Author: bearded cerebral queen of the night

god corporate sounds awful. but at least you have exit opps

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2822531&forum_id=2#27438060)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 5th, 2015 12:43 AM
Author: hyperactive senate

I can deal with most of them--and in fact, many are decent. The only folks that routinely get on my nerves are certain mid levels in shitty practice areas, who can be hostile and imperious without knowing much of anything. Don't usually get that sort of deadly combination with more senior folks. Junior associates can be annoying at times, but usually it's understandable (e.g., they are just trying to figure out how to do their job and what that job is).

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2822531&forum_id=2#27432203)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 5th, 2015 10:27 PM
Author: Rusted cowardly laser beams rehab

gridding 100 deals out is pretty bad regardless of how chill your supervisor is.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2822531&forum_id=2#27438151)



Reply Favorite

Date: December 22nd, 2016 9:19 AM
Author: Flickering Parlor Haunted Graveyard

At least you're at a preftigious firm

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2822531&forum_id=2#32203682)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 5th, 2015 10:47 PM
Author: Purple tank nursing home

um, it's the work (which includes the hours, pressure, on-call, emergencies, etc.). most people at any job hates their boss.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2822531&forum_id=2#27438356)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 5th, 2015 10:51 PM
Author: Curious Bawdyhouse

yea look researching the law and writing up your "findings" isn't intrinsically terrible. and same goes for "performing" the law in depositions and the like. but the typical biglaw shit makes it all awful.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2822531&forum_id=2#27438382)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 5th, 2015 11:02 PM
Author: Purple tank nursing home

yeah, and your happiness is very variant based on what you're working on. if you're working on a smaller case with interesting issues and getting to do cool stuff, it's infinitely better than working on some hell-hole megacase. so, in that sense, it is precisely the work. it's usually shitty, but it can be good if you're lucky.

also, even if you work with great people, if you're on a hell-hole case, it still sucks.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2822531&forum_id=2#27438472)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 5th, 2015 10:51 PM
Author: marvelous lilac liquid oxygen lodge

the people in biglaw probably started out OK

slowly but surely, large portions of their lives were deleted

now they are old and sad and get really mad if u don't do the same thing

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2822531&forum_id=2#27438380)



Reply Favorite

Date: December 22nd, 2016 10:18 AM
Author: multi-colored giraffe

As soon as the period began which had produced the present Ivan Ilych, all that had then seemed joys now melted before his sight and turned into something trivial and often nasty.

And the further he departed from childhood and the nearer he came to the present the more worthless and doubtful were the joys. This began with the School of Law. A little that was really good was still found there — there was light-heartedness, friendship, and hope. But in the upper classes there had already been fewer of such good moments. Then during the first years of his official career, when he was in the service of the governor, some pleasant moments again occurred: they were the memories of love for a woman. Then all became confused and there was still less of what was good; later on again there was still less that was good, and the further he went the less there was.



(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2822531&forum_id=2#32204103)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 6th, 2015 12:15 AM
Author: Arrogant pearly institution

I never really understand why people complain so much about asshole mid level or senior associates. Fuck them. They probably aren't making partner and if they are that horrible you don't want to work with them anyways.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2822531&forum_id=2#27438930)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 6th, 2015 12:27 AM
Author: hyperactive senate

Weird post. The reason people conplain about then is because they are forces to work with them. It's not elective.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2822531&forum_id=2#27439012)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 6th, 2015 10:39 AM
Author: french orange school cafeteria philosopher-king

yea i think this is backwards...i find that most people in biglaw are super smart hardworking with families and community roots etc...sure theres an asshole here and there but what org doesnt have that...i think its the nature of the work and also the fact that law firm organization makes people compete with one another rather than collaborate on projects etc etc

oh who is this thread kidding its the HOURS

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2822531&forum_id=2#27440264)



Reply Favorite

Date: December 22nd, 2016 8:55 AM
Author: Laughsome drab mad cow disease piazza

the people are 180. the work is 180. but people who don't understand the work is 120. and understanding the work without ur people is 120.

to make biglaw 180 u need to understand the TRUE ASSIGNMENT, then be able to TEACH IT to ur team, or put them on a path so they can get it.

i'm taking over, folks. i'm going to make biglaw 180 for everyone. and i'm going to do it all by just being the best cog i can be and not adding 2 much value at any level. it's 180.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2822531&forum_id=2#32203561)



Reply Favorite

Date: December 22nd, 2016 10:39 AM
Author: Razzmatazz glassy garrison pervert

I get a fucking RUSH when I start hitting the ground on that new deal or when its about to close and you can just feel the seams tightening when you're drafting that purchase agreement. people bitch about the seniors or partners but just do what they say its not that hard. I once heard the joke that "your boss isnt always right but hes always your boss!" Lmao. I think about that a lot and just chuckle a little but its so true. Just relax and keep the engine running because deals HAVE TO CLOSE.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2822531&forum_id=2#32204226)



Reply Favorite

Date: December 22nd, 2016 11:57 AM
Author: cerise field international law enforcement agency



(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2822531&forum_id=2#32204895)