Job Responsibilities
My major job responsibilities include representing insurance
companies in defense cases. Typically I represent the company
when there is no coverage under a policy and the insured sues to
recover. I take depositions and appear in court. I just
switched jobs from the District Attorney's Office where I was a
prosecutor for over 3 yrs. I tried 36 jury trials in my tenure
as a prosecutor and developed my litigation skills.
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Job Requirements
Boston University Undergrad--major was international relations--great
interesting classes typically involving national security, terror
threats and intelligence. They were easy to get into.
Professors included 4-star general and CIA agent. Genuinely
interested in going to class every day. Grading and workload
were easy.
Washington Univ. School of Law--Easy to get into classes.
Professors were fantastic --workload was typical of law school.
Grading was not great as it was on a forced median of 83--so a B
was an 83 which turned some employers off I believe.
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Uppers
Uppers are usually compensation and prestige. I had plenty of prestige as a
prosecutor with little compensation.. Now in insurance defense, compensation with
little prestige.
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Downers
Legal work is typically boring--unless you are a prosecutor or
trying cases all the time. There is little compensation as a
prosecutor though so it is a tradeoff--I honestly regret going to
law school and incurring $165,000 in loans for something I am not
stimulated by or happy with.
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Lifestyle
Work hours are usually 8-6:30 or later--Dress code is business formal--diversity
usually is nonexistent--There are few social events and the lifestyle leaves a
lot to be desired.
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Compensation
DA's office--$35,000 (UP TO $38,000 after 3 yrs)
Insurance defense (small firm)--$65,000
Not sure of bonuses yet as I just started. Benefits are better
in government as they paid for dental insurance--\
I do however have a 401 K now in the small firm. Vacation at DA's office is
great--4 weeks--15 sickdays per year.
Small firm vacation is horrible--2 weeks.
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Advice to Jobseekers
Save your money and skip law school unless you really want to be
a lawyer and are passionate. I know a lot of miserable lawyers
stuck with law school loans that went to law school because they
didn't know what else to do. Do yourself a favor and take a year
off after undergrad to think about it.
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