tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3917175986608222742.post5239538504817556966..comments2023-12-13T06:15:49.447-05:00Comments on But I do have a law degree...: Linked OutBut I Do Have a Law Degreehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06362410549493994038noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3917175986608222742.post-53655766180470089482012-10-07T11:10:58.831-04:002012-10-07T11:10:58.831-04:00I was one of your classmates at Penn though I don’...I was one of your classmates at Penn though I don’t know if we ever met. I’m one of the aforementioned biglaw seniors, which you would have been as well. I have recently had a huge awakening re partnership etc as a few of my friends a few yrs ahead of me are suffering through junior partner hell -- i.e. business pressure, declining profits, not the type of security they expected etc. I’m not suggesting it’s like this everywhere as partnership is still an awesome goal but not at my firm, at least not right now. My conclusion from that and my own soul searching is that biglaw is not the type of place that inspires a lot of different ideas. I’m at a firm where 95%+ of the partners, esp on the lit side, started as summer associates and stayed through partner. These are not the people you want to talk to about in-house, corporate life, business ideas, being a professor/judge or anything “different” because they look at you blankly. Half of them can’t fathom why you would want anything different than what they have bc they frankly make more money than just about any other type of professional - probably other than surgeons or investment banking managing directors. The other half straight out lie about the process and the politics involved and say “I worked really really hard and made it so what’s wrong with you if you can’t make it.” HA - billable hrs have only gone up yr after yr and for anyone to say that today’s seniors aren’t working hard enough to make it is just looking to ignore the politics and economics of the process and denying that in some cases there are better opportunities out there for associates. Would love if you'd respond/share your thoughts.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3917175986608222742.post-53896721788695802432012-10-05T15:36:33.286-04:002012-10-05T15:36:33.286-04:00"It just is a reminder of what could have bee..."It just is a reminder of what could have been - of possibilities. REAL possibilities." You just put into words what I say to myself whenever I hear about former colleagues and law school classmates doing neat things professionally. I immediately start comparing myself to them and think to myself, "I could have done that had I not taken my current job to spend more time with my kids." But, I totally agree with your bottom line, that you wouldn't trade what you have now for those possibilities. I see my kids 2 more hours per day than I used to which has made a huge difference to my happiness level. I also think my kids are better off now as well.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com