For anyone who is burnt out and looking to leave big law and go to a midsize, do your research. I was one of those people and I can tell you the grass is NOT greener on the other side. It’s a myth. In retrospect, I should’ve stayed and set better boundaries and not have taken this 35% pay cut.

likesmarthelpful
Posting as :
works at
You are currently posting as works at

I left small law for biglaw and couldn’t agree more. Lots of smaller and mid smaller firms have zero or less resources, training, and benefits.

like

Another small -> big law transplant and I also agree. In a much better environment now with more pay. Win, win.

like

As someone who lateraled from a midsize to a larger firm, I fully support this post. At the midsize firm I was fed a lie of “work life balance” to justify the significant pay cut. I left after two years, went to a national firm, and work the same hours for significantly more money!

like

Are we from the same place lol

like

Ditto. Midsize firms with interesting work run like big law firms with half the pay!

like

Do we work at the same midsize firm lol

likefunny

Go back! It can be done, I did it and so have lots of people on this app. But thanks for the PSA, this cannot be said enough.

like

I meant it’s an announcement in service of the public that people should be very careful about going to a smaller firm in search of better lifestyle, since most of the time it’s a lie and you’ll end up working just as hard for way less money.

like

I’ve been in both, and I actually enjoyed my smaller firm. We got paid like 90-95% of market (including bonus) and some people literally billed 1000 hours a year. You have to just choose wisely.

like

I left the firm. Didn’t realize how good I had it until afterwards

Related Posts

Can anyone tell me the difference between a senior and lead validation engineer( no direct reports in both cases) in Pharma/ biotech ? I am not sure what’s the hierarchy and which level must get a higher salary. Or is it just referenced interchangeably in different companies ?

Would you take a pay cut to move from an on-site to a fully remote position? If so what % of a cut and where would you move if anywhere?

like

Hey Accenture fishes, what’s the average salary for a senior manager in S&C? Anyone internally transferred to London and if so, any financial support for relocation?

like

What do I do?

Just switched to a gud org with gud perk,pay,project work but My boss is the epitome of a**h*** reasons-
Onboarded me on a huge project (12 phase proj) with no KT, only gave docs to read from.
He was handling this proj till phase 4 but has completely withdrawn out without proper transition.
I can't make decisions as he overrides/turns them
I have 2yrs experience & it's now my onus to negotiate with PPL in VP,EVP position and also handle testing & dev team
He called me BC on call

like

What is the salary range for Grade 9 in India in data management department or operations of Market Intelligence?

How much CTC can expect from NielsenIQ with 8 yrs of experience for band 6.1 ?

like

What does compensation look like for corporate bankers at associate/vp/director level at BB banks (think Citi/JPM/BAML)?

like

How do “commissions” on top of base salary typically work for pre-litigation associate compensation?

like

What is the salary range that Salesforce offers for SFMC consulant role?

like

Anyone know the salary range at Regeneron for Director, Development Program Management?

like

Greenberg Traurig or Fisher Phillips for L&E? Greenberg pays more, but people seem happier at FP...

like

Is 75k good for a tax senior 1 in Seattle?

like

In house insurance defense comp. What’s the highest paid and lowest paid companies? Which companies give bonuses? Please provide yoe and salary.

like

Curious how much a senior writer can make in Orlando? Interviewing with Disney and I’d love to make it work. Also, any great calculators to compute what my NY salary would be in Orlando and vice versa?

like

What is the average annual hike in paytm

like

How is BNP Paribas as a company for a senior BA with yoe 6 years ? Heard a lot about good WLB , but also got to know that yearly hikes are not good enough. Are all this factor depends on your team which I will be joining ? Is it worth choosing BNP Paribas over Big4 like PwC and EY ?

like

I'm thinking about starting with a new company. I'm a commercial workers compensation underwriter with almost 3 years of experience. I currently make around 38k but I'm hearing that this is low for the market. Thinking about going to Travlers or Hartford. Anyone have experience there? What was your salary?

like

Hello folks,

What is good package for sap basis folks?
Package in range of 25-30 lpa is possible for 9yoe in service based companies?

like

Advice on negotiating salary in LA? Brand side opp - senior level. COL calculators provide harsh revelation of how expensive it is to live there. Sheesh!

When Ogletree announced its modified associate bonus I heard it also announced a one-time bonus for non-equity shareholders in addition to NES’ standard bonus program. Any insight if associates can also expect a one time bonus in addition to the standard bonus program?

like

More Posts

New to option trading, trying to create a protective put (cont)

like

Love that in true form I chose the 1 red meme stock. 😂💎💎💎

like

What is the Expected Salary for 12 yoe Java aws developer?

like

How are things at Zenith these days? Recruiters have been reaching out to me frequently regarding roles there - that can either be a good or a very bad sign.

like

Gotta keep the Omega ready for that 1 time a year when I'm ready to wear it. My wife thinks I'm a pshyco 😀

Post Photo
like

I recently switched to a developer role in a product based company from a support engineer for past 4 years in a service based company. I got a good hike as well.

Since I did it I think anyone can do it. Let me know if my experience can be of your any help.
Happy to help!

likesmart

hearing there was massive layoffs at concentric today. in the dozens. can someone confirm or refute?

like

Are there any specific resources (books, articles, individuals, courses) for someone who wants to focus on being a Group Product Manager?

like

Anyone in Kearney’s healthcare practice open to chatting?

like

Hey everyone. I found out we are expecting our first child and I’m really nervous. I got into consulting one year ago and I’m up for promotion this year. With timing of our performance conversations I would have to inform I’m pregnant before outcomes - then shortly after the promotion effective date I would go on a leave for due date. I’ve worked really hard and I’m worried our wonderful news will throw chances with this :(- also if I don’t get promoted pretty sure it’s up or out. Any advice?

like

Has anyone found an online ED support program that’s sliding scale? Working with a therapist hasn’t been enough but a full outpatient or inpatient program is too expensive.

like

C3A grade employee in tcs. I have an offer from a company for onsite role and placement is in UK as permanent employee but the role given in offer is an entry level one. With almost 11 years of experience, is it good to accept this offer only for the on-site opportunity?

like

Can we all agree that the wardrobe department for the new (and original) “Coming To America” slay it? I wish wardrobe on production could be as killer as them.

like

I have a ctc of 18 for 7 yoe at EY GDS and expecting a 10% hike on sept 30.

Got an offer for Mindtree, asked for 24 fixed, he said will get back to you, but hasn't yet

Is it too much a package??

like

So abhi diwali gift bangaya ltimindtree gift.
Seems We get advantage club link to select gift of our choice. Same link provided for welcome gift also. Probably one more bottle and cup coming up

likefunny

Hey friends! I’m looking for some recommendation for a 2-3 days trip (ski, cross country ski, or anything in nature) around the Northeast (drivable from Boston). Would prefer to rent isolated cabins over hotels, but open to any rec at this point. Thanks!!!! :)

like

Please help. I’ve moved up the ranks pretty quickly at the company I work for to become a Principal SE. My manager thinks the best next step for me is to move into management and leadership and has started pushing me to apply for an engineering manager role. They say that I will be a good fit because of my strong technical background paired with the leadership and people skills I display currently.

I’m torn because I do love being an IC but I’m interested in leadership also. What do I do?

likefunny

Finger Lickin' Good

Post Photo
likefunny

Anyone interested in giving me a first job doing remote data entry work? I'm 17 highly proficient in a windows environment a quick learner to new tech and tech concepts and can work 20 h a week with school looking for $16/h+

likesmart

When you sell a dedicated website for a special deal, do you give the CRM for free? Is vTiger CRM your advice? Otherwise, what are your most common recommendations about CRM?

like

Additional Posts in Big Law

Hi! Would anyone be willing to refer to for a role at baker botts?

like

“Absolutely no rush on this today—just send it by 6am tomorrow!”

likefunny

Any insight on Hunton Andrews Kurth Real Estate practice group? Work life balance, type of people in the group etc. Anything at all would be helpful!

like

Would love to hear thoughts on this one. Asking your firm to make sure the hotels at retreats stock quality 0.0 beer or other sober-curious-friendly options. Super progressive or super needy?

likesmart

Who is this Alexander Barnett guy in Florida? The FL Bar’s disciplinary action against him is beyond wild!

like

I’ve been unsustainably swamped for months. Partner said they wanted to add an additional, more senior associate to the team on one massive case that went from “stayed” to “on fire” in the span of a month. I said that sounded awesome and the thought of someone else having to take on some responsibilities was such a relief… so why do I feel competitive and threatened now that the senior associate has actually been added? 🙄

like

Any BigLaw tax groups not slammed/understaffed nowadays? We're in middle of our second big wave of departures since January without a single replacement yet, and it's looking like time to escape (unless every tax group is experiencing this).

like

I'm thinking of leaving firm life and applying to the NY SG's office. Anyone heard anything about it (work environment, prestige, etc.)?

like

Anyone here use any recruiters at Springboard? How was the experience?

like

I have “unlimited vacation” at my firm. How much vacation/PTO is given at big law firms that don’t have unlimited?

like

I know that some other associates at my level are approximately 30% behind other associates in hours on a month to month basis. Yet all of these associates say they are “at capacity”, and myself and another associate still end up being assigned work instead of them. How do we handle this? For reference, all associates are around the firms minimum requirement, it’s just that a few of us are 30+% over and it is leading to burnout.

like

What percent do you think big law firms collect on large class action lawsuits? On average, assuming it is all on a contingency basis.

like

Taking an informal survey how many firms (I) have the junior and midlevel summer associates plan the bulk of the summer events (lunches but also evening events) and (ii) count time spent on the summer program as qualified billable work (in that partners see how much you bill to it on your time sheet)?

like

Curious — do people consider billing 200ish hours a month a lot still or is that almost standard now?

likeuplifting

What should your realization rate be as a first year? I have not gotten any negative feedback but my realization rate seems...bad

like

Is esquire CLE legit? They have cheap CLE’s for Florida

funny

it feels like every survey about working from home is (poorly) designed to answer the useless question "would you rather work from home or from the office." I submit that the set of people who prefers to have only one of those two options, always and forever, is the null set. which means it DOES NOT MATTER because the correct answer is always going to be "make both possible." you're welcome, HR departments everywhere.

like

Anyone else just sitting around waiting for the ax to drop? I'm a soon to be 2nd year corporate associate who has seen work completely dry up. My utilization held pretty steady around 50% immediately after shutdown, but August was below 15 billables with no appreciable work in the pipeline. Aside from letting people know I'm available and doing pro-bono/CLE, it's starting to feel like a serious "covidcation" leading to termination.

like

My firm’s holiday party is on a weekday after work. I can just wear what I’d normally wear to work for that day, right?

likefunny

Someone tell me why a partner just took me to lunch as a "Thanksgiving treat" and he took me to Taco Bell

likefunny

New to Fishbowl?

Download the Fishbowl app to
unlock all discussions on Fishbowl.
That was just a preview…
Sign Up to see all discussions
  • Discover what it’s like to work at companies from real professionals
  • Get candid advice from people in your field in a safe space
  • Chat and network with other professionals in your field
Sign up in seconds to unlock all discussions on Fishbowl.

Already a user?
Login here

Share

Embed this post

Copy and paste embed code on your site

Preview

Download the
Fishbowl app

See what’s happening in your industry
from the palm of your hand.

A phone with Fishbowl app

Scan your QR code to download
Fishbowl app on your mobile

Download app

Sign up for free to view this conversation on Fishbowl

By continuing you agree to Terms of Use and Privacy Policy

Already have an account? Log in

Sign up for free to continue using Fishbowl

By continuing you agree to Terms of Use(New) and Privacy Policy(New)
Messaging rates may apply

Already have an account? Log in

For account settings, visit Fishbowl on Desktop Browser or

General

Legal