How do people do this job past mid-level years? 4th year and barely hanging on by a thread after having to be constantly available for 4 years. Is this it? I feel like I’m just surviving.

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Risk aversion and lack of imagination.

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I think it probably depends on the firm and group of people you're working with, but I found it got better by senior associate years (6-7). Once you've earned the respect of your colleagues and people value your work, you start having a bit more freedom to set boundaries without getting judged. Also to be pickier about what projects and clients you take on, which is huge for WLB.

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Aim for 2100 and not much more. Say no to abusive partners / seniors. It’ll make life better.

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I’m a Senior. Refusing to work with poor performing juniors has made this job infinitely better for me.

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What are you billing?

I’m a fourth year and found this job easier to manage than I thought. I bill 2100-2200 every year. Litigation, if that matters.

I thought I would be out by beginning of third year.

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FTR- that really doesn’t stop. The problem often isn’t total hours, it’s not knowing when they’ll come.

It gets better though when you are more directly managing client expectations.

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OP, does it hurt to be available for all people across the board or does availability for some people cause more pain than others? If the later, try to find what attributes make it more enjoyable to work with those people (or client teams, work processes, tasks, etc.) and then figure how to be responsible / responsive for more of the stuff that is tolerable and less for things that are intolerable.

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I think there's a break point where you're senior enough that you have a little more autonomy that brings in at least some predictability you just don't have in the first few years and that helps. Once you start running your own matters and then your own clients I think it becomes a little less hellish.

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