Job Responsibilities
Litigation associate. Represent client's interests in state and
federal lawsuits, including briefing and arguing issues,
deposing witnesses, and preparation of cases for trial.
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Job Requirements
I attended Harvard Law School. The academic program was
excellent, world class. Some classes are hard to get, but the
course selection system ensures that every student will get at
least some of his or her top choices, even if that is a really
popular professor. The workload can be heavy, but like other
graduate programs that largely depends on the choices students
make.
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Uppers
Making a good argument, drafting a good brief, uncovering good facts that will
make a difference for a client, and of course winning.
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Downers
Getting the law or the facts wrong and not learning about it in
time.
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Lifestyle
On balance, not bad. Practicing law is demanding: clients expect a lot and make
demands on time. Courts do so as well. And the timing of some things is simply
out of your control. But, most times, as long as the work is getting done it's
not so important whether it gets done from home or elsewhere.
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Compensation
Base salary: 120,000. Bonus (last year): 5,000. Benefits are
probably worth another 7,000 to 10,000.
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Advice to Jobseekers
There will always be a demand for lawyers. There is tremendous
market pressure to reduce rates, which in turn is causing
lawyers to react by consolidating and specializing. The market
pressures, plus the technological advances, make the pace
frentic. Although the pay is not bad, it's also not going to
make you wealthy. Given the demands of the job, unless you find
the issues stimulating or interesting or engaging on some level,
the profession is probably not for you.
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