Job Responsibilities
I am responsible for advising clients and senior attorneys on
all aspects of the law with respect to a particular inquiry or
client situation; I have responsibility for counseling and
litigation work. I work directly with clients and with other
attorneys.
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Job Requirements
I had no problem getting the type of law classes I wanted; first
year are required courses and your scheduled is picked for you.
After that you are on your own. There was a fairly effective
student network on which professors were good and what classes
were helpful.
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Uppers
A ton of responsibility; getting paid to use your brain and your judgment;
flexible schedules.
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Downers
Long hours; billing requirements; being at the mercy of senior.
attorneys
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Lifestyle
Diversity = almost none. Law in private practice is still mostly white men.
Dress code = business or business casual but you'll need at least 3 good suits
and extra money for dry cleaning (often!). Hours = long when the work is there.
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Compensation
As an entry level, I make $90,000/year with 3% base pay annual
increases and bonuses for productivity each year that are as low
as 2% and as high as 15%.
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Advice to Jobseekers
Talk to other lawyers in as many different sectors as possible.
Understand the difference between law school and practicing law.
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