I feel insecure that I never did biglaw. Anyone else feel that way?

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I turned down an offer from the big law firm I spent a summer at to go somewhere where I could get experience in a specialized field. People told me I was committing career suicide.

A few years later my current boss hired me over various biglaw applicants because I had more relevant experience and because he didn’t want to train a biglaw associate in a specialized area. An area that many biglaw associates are desperate to get into.

Focus on the work you want to do and it will work out. Everything else is BS.

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Probably because they don’t know any better lol

I know people who work for big law. I feel like I dodged a bullet.

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I never did, came from what many consider to be a crap law school - I am 8 years out and work with and am senior to attorneys that went to Harvard and worked at am law 20 firms (Guess what, they are insecure too). - it’s all about what you can bring to the table. Focus on building experience. Smaller in house roles allow junior attorneys to get way more deal exposure. Don’t focus on salary to start- my first job paid me $65k out law school. I now make over $300k. I took a new job in house not too long ago and was also interviewing with a few AmLaw firms with big signing bonuses. I turned those down and couldn’t be happier. Also, big law salary is sexy for 6-8 years, then it’s either partner, staff counsel or time to leave.

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🙋🏻‍♀️

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I was in a firm for six months and hated every single thing about it. I managed to get in-house through a very non-traditional route, but I’m happy it turned out the way it did. I think big law trains attorneys in a rigid manner that doesn’t allow the flexibility to see outside of the legal box, which in-house work often requires.

Y’all dodged a bullet, I’m in big law. I want to be you lol

What kind of biglaw tho

Nothing to feel insecure about.

I have felt the same. I see my peers making more money than me, but then I see I have a life and it all makes sense. I am sitting on an offer from big law which I am very proud to have got, but uncertain of accepting it. It's close to an 80% increase in salary, but the red flags are too many 🚩🚩🚩🚩

All depends on what you wanted. I didn't do big law but biglaw certainly wanted me later in my career. Sometimes I think the $ would've been nice but I like the hands on experience I got ultimately.

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