06-10-2003, 02:10 PM
tufchic,Jun 10 2003, 03:52 AM Wrote:also having been around lawyers 17 years plus, i can say that not all of them are pigs so it's ok if some of you want to do that. just be aware of what you are getting into esp. when working for one of the bigger firms. try to avoid them wherever possible. the money is not worth the toll it is on your personal life.I think most young (read as "new") attorneys gravitate toward the larger firms is due to the $$ involved. It's the only way they can pay off the loans they take to go to law school! Not all of them do, and not everyone scores a decent paying job with a larger firm. Most of the high end firms (at least as I understand it from talking with some attorneys) tend to want the "cream of the crop" of the graduating law students.
I don't really know that "hanging your own shingle" is a way to cut down on the amount of hours worked. It's very tough to make it as a private practice. I have a friend that is going that route (with another buddy of his). It is truly feast or famine for them. He says it's been a good learning experience, though. He never thought he would spend all that time in law school to be a bill collector.............. :lol:
Having worked as a paralegal for both large and small firms, I'm of mixed feelings. I like having all the support benefits of the large firm (high tech, training, etc), but I dislike the regimentation that goes along with that. So do some of the other paralegals that I've talked to. Working with a small firm is nice, but I miss the high tech goodies.
Finally, most of the lawyers I've worked with have been pretty cool. I can only think of a couple of real trolls. :P
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