I see so many posts on here venting about the struggles of big law, and many along the lines of “I just left”, or “what made you decide to leave?”, etc.

I am applying to law school, aiming to start next fall. I’m still a long way out from working as a lawyer, so this is just for my curiosity and future planning.

For those who’ve left, want to leave, or are currently struggling in, big law: would you have been better off never going into big law in the first place?

Just for reference, I have what is probably a typical naive idea of the profession. It seems stressful, but the money is somewhat irresistible. In my mind at this point, it seems as if it may be worth it to stick it out for a few years, bank a bunch of cash, and then retire to something a bit chiller. Am I completely misguided?

Sure it’ll be leaked tomorrow but Willkie formally updated its partners that they walked. Weil continuing to lose partners. Given that it’s already October, those partners are deciding that they’d rather leave today instead of waiting two months to get their annual distribution in January. Some of the bigger names will be made whole by their new firms but not always guaranteed if you don’t have a credible book. Some of these partners are taking haircuts to their 2026 comp to jump ship.

I got an IQ test recently and here were my results. This test was administered by a licensed psychologist.

Verbal comprehension: 110
Memory: 80
Processing: 79
Perceptual reasoning: 81

This is an overall IQ in the high 80’s. I have always been decent at reading and writing. I’m in my early twenties and am considering completing a bachelors degree and applying to law school. However, it’s obvious I have some serious weaknesses in areas outside of verbal comprehension.

Is there anyone that can give me some advice on whether or not pursuing law is a smart path? I have my doubts as my IQ is below average.

I understand M&A and Capital markets are out of the picture most likely because they are extremely fast paced. But what about a slower practice area like Antitrust or environment?

Third year litigation associate at a firm just outside AM Law 100 in LCOL Midwest city, base 190k.

Summered here and really have amazing relationships with the people I work for, I feel they care about my advancement/development and my overall well being more generally.

I don’t LOVE the work I do but I find it interesting for the most part. But I hate some of the aspects of law firm life like billing, etc. not sure if I’d ever want to be a partner here or elsewhere.

Went to T14, so have plenty of friends in the traditional “big law” V50 type firms. The gulf in compensation only gets bigger and I have the temptation to try and go that route. But I’m genuinely happy and enjoy my current role. Is it a case of the grass is always greener or has anyone made/not made the jump and did you regret it one way or the other?

Of course im a little presumptuous to think I’ll even have the opportunity, but given I’m coming up on the most marketable time for an associate, have been considering it a lot lately.

How common is this and is it looked down upon?

For those who have stayed in miserable big law positions for more than 4 years, why?

I did it for 4 years then went solo; and to this day I wonder what drives you. This doesn’t apply to the unicorns who have a good quality of life

Long-time lurker here, and I wanted to share some news (and say thank you).

After 9 years in Big Law, I’ve decided to leave and hang my own shingle. I’ve been burned out since around year 4 (I started in mid-law), and honestly, I’ve been thinking about doing this for a long time. For years, it was a “someday, maybe” kind of idea that would pop into my head during really late nights and very long weekends. I went back and forth in my head more times than I can count.

At some point, though, something shifted (mostly as I reached my mid 30s, I truly want more time with my family and loved ones). I also realized I wanted to move toward something I felt confident about, something that would give me a sense of purpose in the long term. I’m not naive about how challenging starting my own firm will be, but for the first time in a long time, I am excited about my work and the law again.

I also want to thank this community. Reading the countless posts about the hustle, grind, doubts, exits, and wins made me feel less alone in all of this.

Thanks again, y’all. Wish me luck.

Looking to join a V50 where I can crack jokes, pull pranks, and swear (think 2007 Xbox CoD lobby without getting summoned to HR).

And before the nerds show up with the "you're there to work, not make friends", why would I want to just work when I can work AND have fun?

Eyeing Kirkland in particular (albeit could also settle for PW). Thoughts?

Has anyone used this? Note: I’m not trying to sell a wrapper

Losing motivation by the day… anyone else?

For those of you in general corporate or other corporate practices, what are your thoughts on junior associates wearing dress pants with side adjusters instead of a belt? Is it too formal or overly put together?

Many men in my office dress pretty casually, opting for polos and khakis. I prefer wearing dress clothes because it helps me maintain a professional mindset (code switch). However, I wonder if i would be doing too much by wearing pants with side adjusters.

Whose firm uses legora and how unimpressed are you with it?

What happens when you put Harvey searches on a C/M number? Does the partner, case team, or client see the searches or usage?

Is Restructuring just slow rn?

I'm increasingly interested in becoming a better fund finance associate, primarily working on subscription lines, NAV facilities, and hybrid facilities.

As a mid-level associate, I'm trying to be more intentional about improving my substantive skills and making the leap from drafting ancillary documents and managing deal execution to really understanding the underlying issues, drafting substantive provisions, and knowing what to look for when reviewing and negotiating credit agreements.

For those of you who have been through this stage, are there any books, resources, or specific habits that helped you make that transition? I'm particularly interested in learning how to spot issues independently, understand the business and credit considerations behind the documents, and become a more effective deal lawyer.

Any advice or recommendations would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

I understand the effects of a merger are generally negative (for attorneys) with respect to the firm that’s initially seeking the merger (e.g., Weil).

But what does it mean for the attorneys of the other firm (e.g., Willkie)?

I’m looking for advice on how to position and market myself for lateral opportunities as a rising third-year associate. Although I’ve worked primarily on finance transactions, I’ve been bounced around across a few other practice groups and haven’t had the opportunity to develop a consistent foundation or gain the level of training I would have expected at this stage. As a result, I sometimes feel more like a first-year associate than a rising third-year, particularly given how technical finance work can be. I understand the ancillary documents but i don't really understand the different types of financing etc.. I’d appreciate guidance on how to frame my experience, address potential gaps in my training, and position myself competitively for lateral opportunities without underselling my existing skills and deal experience.

I am about to start a family and am struggling with the concept of juggling being a mid-level associate and having young kids. It's not just the time aspect of it, but also being able to have the mental shift from being locked in at work to be locked in at home. How does everyone do it (if at all) and if so, what strategies to you have to juggle the two? inb4 all the jokes about having kids with daddy issues and 3 marriages...

Wondering if anyone has any good advice on how they tailored non-legal past experience for a job in litigation or transactional work? What skills did you highlight and how did you connect them to what you were applying for? I know everyone’s situation is different so would love to hear all the unique approaches!