I started in Big Law and heard nonstop that it was “the best training ground” and that if you could survive here, you’d thrive anywhere. But most of my “training” was trial by fire. It was all late nights with little guidance, learning on the fly, and being told “figure it out” more times than I can count. Yes, I got exposure to high-stakes deals, but I also burned out before 30. Is Big Law really the best way to train lawyers, or just something we say to justify the misery?

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

Big law is great training for big law. In house is a totally different world and only so many skills and lessons actually transfer. There's definitely a tendency for those in big law to inflate the usefulness of it. I'm at a F100 tech company and some of my best attorneys came from smaller firms.

like

What are some of the skills that are hardest to transfer to in house?

I think it’s undeniable you get the most formal trainings. You also get the most amount of reps in just by sheer hours of work. You’re also, consequently, working alongside people who have the most amount of experience. So yeah, I think it’s the best. You get unlimited resources, formal training, and projects. It’s like you’re learning how to swim, you get all the YT videos and manuals, Phelps is in the pool already, there to save you if you’re about to drown, and you’re just thrown in the pool and forced to stay there.

So I would say yes. I think (and this is all from my limited experience), government can be a good training ground, but people just care less. There’s also a lot of bureaucracy. In-house, people care, but too many people care. Want to get anything done? Well, have fun discussing with Accounting and Marketing why you’re right about this piece of law! You spend way more time managing people than you actually practice law in-house. Again, in my limited experience.

like

It’s several that we’ve had issues with, won’t name names here. I’ve of course seen some great work product as well from a couple firms, so we try to stick with those when we need big law. I’ve found it’s mostly only worth using big law for niche work that midlaw may not have a practice group for or a deal that just needs input from several niche groups. Midlaw’s work has been consistently better overall for cheaper, so I definitely disagree with the point that biglaw gives the best training.

On the second paragraph, it’s less about the internal management than about client management. A lawyer can have all the substantive knowledge in the world but it’s useless if it can’t be translated to business impact or if the partner can’t interface with someone who isn’t a nonlawyer. Again, lawyers almost entirely offer services to nonlawyers, so so being able to communicate with the business is key.

like

I’m going to be honest, I think it’s absolute nonsense. I say this as someone who started my career at a competitive trial public defender’s office and has also spent time in Big Law - the public defender’s office has substantially better training and supervision, and I learned a LOT more. Transitioning to Big Law was wild because although I had to learn some things (mainly ins and outs of civil discovery and managing partner relationships), I was stunned at how much better the training was at the PD’s office. In BL I’ve basically taught myself on the fly, and it’s been fine.

Public interest can certainly have problematic attitudes as well, but I think everyone in Big Law tells themselves that it’s “the best training” as a way to justify the ridiculous (and frankly unnecessary) hours and expectations. Sure, it provides some training, but at a lot of BL firms you can literally make partner without ever trying a case. Most of the best litigators at my firm all spent time at the USAO, SEC, or a public defender’s office, where they actually got to be in court. The ones who spent their entire career in Big Law are noticeably weaker litigators who have trouble adapting when crazy things happen.

like

OP, totally agree with your sentiment.

like

I am a 25 year resident of Davis Islands am looking for Dogs to walk here on the Islands Please

Related Posts

What’s the best way to summarize multiple amortization schedule. I have each schedule on a separate tab. On a master sheet can I do something where I can input a specific month and show my ST/LT ...

like

Does PWC dubai offer mobile phone as an IT asset to senior associates?

like

I need guidance - was able to sell work through relationship. All I have is my LLC and a bank account. No infrastructure, no HR set up, no legal document. Who should I reach out to get help?

like

I have my last working day at IBM GBS in the month of july. Wanted to ask what documents should I carry to the office for asset return, what documents I will receive on my last working day and which ones I will receive after my lwd? Any action item to be done before my lwd apart from returning id badge and laptop ? IBM

like

Hello

I am looking for Job change serving Notice period
Qa automation with4+ years of experience

Hi Everyone!
Could someone refer me to Spotify in Program Mgmt? I have 3 yrs of experience. Please let me know 😬

like

So is being an in-charge sitting around doing stuff all day but still feeling like you got nothing done?

likefunny

Investing beginner here. How did you learn? Any resources that I could read/watch would be helpful. Thanks

like

My client - doesn't it feel like slap in the face when you get review notes from the partner ? I'm like - what about when I send your schedules back that don't tie, how do you feel, bitch?

like

common staff one mistakes?

like

Does anyone know of any other programs that convert complex ppt decks to new master formats? The only one I've found is UpSlide. Thanks!

like

I'm so happy to finally join this thread!!
I'm a step closer to my dream :)
Nice to meet ya all

like

What kind of comp could I expect for corporate strategy at a MF?

like

Need Likes !

like

How bad is Yosemite on 4th of July?

Looking for a referral for Meta, Google or Amazon for supply chain or logistics or even program management.

likefunny

Hi! I can provide global referrals for Accenture and Accenture Federal Services. If you’re interested then please DM me. I will need a job requisition ID and resume. I can also refer you if you’ve already recently applied to a role.

like

Additional Posts in Law

Is there a market for lawyers to add expertise In crisis management or reputation management? My goal is to counsel clients on how to respond to media inquiries without saying or posting something detrimental to a potential litigation while still maintaining communication with their client base. If so, how to break into that industry? Courses? Books? Certifications?

like

If I leave big law for ADA will I get canceled?

like

Noob plaintif-side L&E lawyer here—how long should I wait for defense counsel to stall on a demand letter before I start getting ready to file?

like

FLORIDA: can an attorney accept services as payment from a client? (E.g: drafting a demand letter for a client in exchange for web design services)

like

Is it a redline, or blackline? I know what Google says but my practice experience says otherwise.

like

Me. Every single day. Since I started practicing.

Post Photo
likefunnyuplifting

Any advice on how to deal with a partner/boss who is shifting all responsibility to me with zero guidance, no mentoring, and an unwillingness to discuss the issues? (Small firm, only associate under this partner and have been working at the firm for 2 years). There are an increasing number of passive aggressive comments from the partner who expects to be completely hands off once the case lands on my desk. Wants me to figure it all out despite cases being from different areas of law.

like

Worried about potential recession and layoffs...

like

Mid-senior level transactional folks: how do you originate deals? The only deals I originate come from when one of my corporate clients randomly decides to sell a business. There has to be another way to land more deals, right?

like

Orally accepted a job offer that I’m excited about, but have another interview this week for a different job. I didn’t realize the first offer would come so quickly! Should I cancel the interview this week or go through with it? Small legal community- people talk.

like

Workout before (4:30 am) or after (6:30ish) work?

like

I finished undergrad in Texas this year and just started a staff/paralegal job at a V10 firm in NYC. Will having this on my resume help me get into a good law school? Is law school even worth the $?

like

Firm announced flexible come and go as you see fit approach to coming back to office. Partner I work for said I need to be in office 4-5 days a week anyway. Thoughts?

likeuplifting

Does your firm give you credit for hours that were written off? Sometimes I feel if you don’t lose anything for hours cut from the bill, you have incentives not to be 100% honest w/ your timesheet.

like

Family law litigator looking to transition to in-house? Any tips?

like

Have a call on Friday with the CEO of an environmental entrepreneurship non-profit. It could lead to a professional opportunity and maybe even billable work I can refer to my firm down the line. I’m going in with an open mind but little concrete information on his entity and goals and ways I could get involved. What questions would you ask such a person?

like

How do you respond to friends/family/strangers who ask for legal advice?

like

How many bonuses come around in a year at the average law firm? Number of occurrences more importantly, but y’all can provide amount too if you like

like

What is the lateral hire process like?

like

Curious to know what other firm's bonus structures are, particularly those with billable requirements of 1900 and below. Trying to understand what the norm is and figure out if associates at my firm are getting screwed. thanks

like

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