Big Law

Is anyone dealing with summer associates whose entire work product seems to be AI generated? (And the work product is not good.) What are your firm’s policies on summer associates’ AI use (already ass… more

Thoughts on joining the OCC/Fed/FTC/SEC type agencies as a lower level staff attorney at this time under this admin? Not sure I can do 2.5 more years in biglaw

Would I be insane to give up a full remote reduced scheduled gig in biglaw to go in house for better WLB? Ideally, a gig that pays $300k cash comp and where night and weekend work is rare that’s remot… more

Think I made a mistake in lateraling - nothing is particularly bad, I just find myself realizing that my situation at my former firm was better for me, all things considered. I left on good terms and … more

Moved to Bay Area for BL. Very bored and isolated. Anyone want to hang?

Im planning on taking a minority ownership stake over a small real estate venture (10% equity w/ voting rights). I obviously wont represent the entity but may weigh in on some legal issues / talk wi… more

I feel like we're just turning into AI prompt engineers at this point.

7th year M&A associate and for all intents and purposes purposes a good associate (all my reviews have me at “exceeds expectations” in some areas). This year I’m annualizing 2800+ and that is 400+… more

How strict is Goodwin’s 4 day RTO policy? Any flexibility at all?

Why is CoCounsel/WestLaw Deep Research so slow?

I feel like other AI tools (e.g. CoPilot) can draft a SCOTUS brief in like 8 seconds. WestLaw’s tools are really good, but why does it take 10 minutes to… more

Other than taking ownership and having little oversight, what makes a good counsel for a specialist group? In my current group, the partners are all service partners so there seems like little need or… more

Working with a counsel who I absolutely hate working with. Always tries to make me look bad with the partners or make me feel stupid, like she has it out for me. Also insists on giving me crappy assig… more

As a funds associate when are you supposed to feel like you know what you’re doing. Like as a 4th year, are you getting light mark-ups and able to run an entire process with minimal help?

Has anyone at an under market firm actually been successful in negotiating a higher salary leveraging an offer from somewhere else? If so, how did you go about doing so?

Any insights into Latham Chicago Capital Markets?

I just had a thought… does a recruiter ever work with you and the firm you are looking to leave at the same time or shortly thereafter? Has anyone heard of this happening?

Anyone have a recruiter they would recommend in the Bay Area? Looking to move from the east coast.

Micromanaging seniors, who hurt you? Did you have a bad experience (or multiple)? Or is it a personality disorder? Please seek therapy.

In litigation, how can you actually become a share partner if all the cases you work on are for big firm clients (i.e., seems improbable that you’d bring in new business or become that noticeable to t… more

Would you agree that if you’re operating above your class year, you’ll be hit the hardest? I have the former, but I don’t want the latter. Any advice on how to be excellent without becoming the go-t… more

Senior associates who have given up so much of their life for this job and then are shocked when a mid/jr practices boundaries. Im not turning something at 11pm for a closing a month out. Sorry not s… more

These days I get bored when cases linger on and on. On my way home, yesterday evening, l saw two older attorneys walking out of the courthouse with their attorney gear. They didn’t look very healthy a… more

I would love to hear how people were recognized as good juniors? Other than being available, taking initiative etc what did you do to truly make things work? How did things “click” for you? Just recei… more

I’m a junior associate and a very well-regarded mid level has taken me under her wing. She’s really nice and is a great mentor, but also bills near 3k hours every year and expects everyone is always o… more

How long did it take you to fill in the conflicts questionnaire when lateraling?

Cravath/DPW: please note that Susman has raised their base scale past Milbank. They used to pay market base before.
So, in our eyes, their base scale is the market scale now. Please match or beat that!
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Lateraling to a new firm and will be truly RTO for the first time since I was literally a first year (went almost fully remote during 2020 and just never ended up going back in). Having massive anxiet… more

Has anyone gone in house and regretted it? Would you share your stories?

Should I go to Gunderson or Orrick for ECVC?

M&A actually kinda sucks for in house opportunities. Every M&A associate I see just keeps lateralling, or exits into an in house role that a different group (tech transactions or privacy) woul… more

Partnership question — I’m currently a midlevel associate. Will my hours impact my partnership odds? When do your billable hours start to matter for partnership? Assume I hit my required billable hour… more

I am a senior associate (v5 if helpful) looking to lateral in the major markets in project finance. What are the signing bonuses y'all are seeing in the market if I lateral as NEP or counsel? W… more

Those who have unlimited PTO - how many days to you take off every year?

Anyone have good ways of automating signature packets? Feels like an easy AI or other tool usage.

Think other firms will match Susman’s reraise?

So we investing in the SpaceX/ openai IPOs? Clearly way overvalued but I have fomo about missing quick high returns.

Should you follow up with HR for the offer letter when you were given verbal offer a week ago lol. Just antsy bc this firm is soooo slow

Just me, or is this crop of summers especially bad?

Is there a time where you’re too senior for AUSA/SEC positions? I don’t want to leave during my 7-8 year and take a pay cut but I don’t wanna miss the door by trying to leave after year 10-12.