Job Responsibilities
I spend most of my time reviewing documents for litigation
cases. This mostly involves pouring over the emails and internal
documents of either our client or our adversary and culling them
for relevance and to determine whether to withhold any document
for privilege reasons (i.e., if it is a communication with a
lawyer). I spend much less time, usually a lot in a strench but
not a lot overall, researching cases and arguments that the older
attorneys are trying to make in their briefs. Sometimes, I'll
even draft the argument for expediency's sake. Overall, I work
about 75 -80 hours per week, many of them on weekends.
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Job Requirements
One must have a JD to have my job; and one must have one from a
top notch school, or have top grades at a not-so-top notch school
to work at my firm.
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Uppers
Often one gets to peer into the workings of corporate America and gain a very
critical (in a good way) perspective of business, accounting, and finance. The
salary and finge benefits (dinners, tickets, etc.) are definitely pluses, as well
as the opportunity to work with/for very courteous and intelligent people.
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Downers
The hours and tediousness of a majority of the work can be "soul
sucking." Often I consider taking a 50% pay cut for something
less stressful and without the needless angst.
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Lifestyle
I work 75-80 hours per week, I sit at my desk almost all day long which has had
adverse effects on my physical appearance as well as my health. Social events
are often fun and loose ... most people feel comfortable around each other to
speak freely without fear of being maligned at work the next Monday (though,
nothing too extreme besides a little drunkenness.) Dress code is business casual
as are the inter-office relations with coworkers, superiors and subordinates.
Often though, louder or more colorful personalities tend to apear more pronounced
as the tone of the office is somewhat quiet and subdued (very professional).
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Compensation
First year salaries for attorneys is $125,000 with approximately
25,000 bonus in January following the first full year of work.
That is not as much money as it seems in NYC between taxes, cost
of living, and student loans (esp. law school). Benefits run the
gamut, but no match in 401K and no stock options.
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Advice to Jobseekers
You should really really want to be a lawyer - in the long run,
and want it for its own sake. Do NOT go to law school and
subject yourself to the early parts of this job just for the
money. If you like money, go be a banker. If you like to think
and get paid well to do it, come join the club.
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