Related Posts
Mentor
Any book recommendations on change management?
More Posts
26 F NYC looking for an exclusive buddy 👀
Let's go Steelers
Additional Posts in Law
Any intel on Peckar & Abrahams?
New to Fishbowl?
Download the Fishbowl app to
unlock all discussions on Fishbowl.
unlock all discussions on Fishbowl.
There is no too old. If you’re older than the people senior to you, you’re going to have to suck it up and be respectful/deferential though.
I was 33 and my closest friends in my class were 33 and 37. We had no regrets and it actually made it easier for us to transition in. We could better manage expectations, knew not how to freak out about little mistakes, and also not take ourselves too seriously. Firms actually seem to like older associates who had careers prior to this.
30 isnt old omg
I was the oldest in my class year, starting at 34. Have had no issues related to age. I know people who started older and are thriving too.
So difficult knowing you have to work on the weekend but also knowing you can’t work until the other person sends you what you need…. On call until it’s time to perform!! Having to perform based on when you are needed to perform vs performing at your chosen time and rested….. so hard!!!! Very grateful for this job and grateful for caffeine but yes being on call/standby is part of being the junior associate!!
Do you start to hate money as you get older? So long as you don't get in your head about being older than people more senior than you, go for it.
Pro
I was 37.
My firm had a 40 year old a few years later.
Go to a firm where it's more common to have older associates.
I agree. I started at 33. Went to a firm that often brought in older law school grads. Worked really well.
I was 30 when I started as a first year and it was difficult. I wouldn’t want to be any older than that. A lot of my peers and superiors were younger and more immature than me and were at a different stage in life than me. I was married, and had a lot of other interests outside of just law and making money. Trying to make it all work was very difficult and it was very very hard.
Thank you for sharing! Congrats on almost paying your debt off as well.
I was 34 when I entered big law as a 1st year. There are benefits: often times by then you’ve worked before so you’re not learning how to be an employee… just a good associate. Easier to spot toxicity and know how not to panic over the small stuff.
I went in knowing I was older than many of the associates but stayed grounded knowing that despite my age, they were more experienced in the law and that’s what I was eager to learn.
Being older though I think made it harder to devote ALL my time to work bc I knew there was life outside of work and had hobbies that I truly missed.
Thanks for the information and clarifying. That was helpful!
One of my classmates (class of 2018) just got a big law position a year ago and she’s 50
That’s awesome. I’d love to know the firm name if possible.
You’re truly never old to do anything, especially this. Firms like having lawyers with prior careers. It often makes it easier to relate to clients.
I was 34. It's fine, except I don't have the energy of a 24 year old. I was also the only junior with little kids.
I was 33. I've done really well in part because of my prior academic, career, and life experience.
It's only been awkward when senior associates years my junior assume I'm younger (I look young) and try to give me random life advice. Lol I know how to buy a car or manage my personal relationship thank you. Or when you make small talk and you realize how many more cultural/world events you experienced. But I'm super humble and I let everything roll off my back.
I think that's the key--you can go far if you are confident in your wisdom and capacity and yet not too big for your britches.
Rising Star
It depends on what you want to do. A corner-office big law partner I worked with closely when I was in my 20s as a junior associate didn’t go to law school until she was 40. (She was an English professor before she went to law school.) For me, I went directly from kindergarten to elementary school to high school to undergrad to law school to business school without a break. I spent like 23 years of my life continuously in school. It’s odd to me when I think about it.
I was 34 as a first year, started shortly before I was 35. If I could do it all over again, I’d prefer that I started at like 30. But my work experience before coming in has been extremely valuable. I’m generally much less stressed out than my classmates because, I think, I have more general confidence talking to partners and clients. Maybe starting 1-2 years later than that would have been fine too. Older than that might be pushing it unless you look really young.
Agreed. Same experience.
I turned 33 the day I started BigLaw. To the extent you can pick firms who have second-career and older partners and associates. Having mentored someone who went through OCI at 30 recently, I can tell you anecdotally that my mentee faired worse with interviewers where the interviewer was a first or second year. My mentee looks about 25/26 despite being in his early 30s and had a first year comment that he didn’t look that old and he had a lot of intimidating experience. He did much better at where his interviewers were older or second-career lawyers.
Age is a number
I’m 33 and also a first year. No issues at all and find it to be advantageous compared to younger peers who have little world experience.
53 . . . And my prior career experience has been a significant advantage.
Out of law school or trying to get hired at Big Law with experience?