Practicing Law
 

My girlfriend has recently become interested in law school. She is a junior at a good school (Notre Dame), but does not have spectactular grades. I don't know the specifics, but they seem average to slightly above. She intends on taking a year off after school and doing paralegal work to strengten her resume.

Today, we discussed what her hours would likely be as a lawyer. She thought she could find a good job right out of law school where she would only have to work 45 hours a week. I told her that most good jobs would require her to work around 65 hours a week. I know a bunch of you guys are lawyers, or at least know some. What are the hours like right out of school?

Re: Practicing Law
 

I hear they're pretty bad for competative positions. If you want to do big law and make $100K+ outa school, they're gonna work you like a dog especially at the beginning.

For smaller firms and other legal areas, I have no clue.

Re: Practicing Law
 

I'll work like a dog for 100k+ a year.

Re: Practicing Law
 

What do you define as a "good job"? There are a lot government jobs out there, where you can make $50K out of law school, and $75K within a few years, and basically work a 40-hour week, with very generous leave policies.

Re: Practicing Law
 

Depends where you work as others have said. And don't fall into the thinking that more money equals more time or less money for less time, because theres plenty of [censored] small and medium size firms where you'll be working just as much as the big guys for half the pay.

Sure, if you go to a firm paying $160k plus bonuses, you'll be working some long hours.

There are some "lifestyle firms" where it still won't be 40 hours a week, but you still can still make 80% of market salary for 50-55 hours per week.

Re: Practicing Law
 

It's a myth that lawyers have to work 80+ hours. I think the median is like 50 hours.

Where she goes to law school will largely affect how much she makes. And being a paralegal is only going to be like 1% of what potential schools think about when deciding whether to accept her. It's like 70% LSAT score, 29% grades, and 1% resume.

Re: Practicing Law
 

[ QUOTE ]
It's a myth that lawyers have to work 80+ hours. I think the median is like 50 hours.

Where she goes to law school will largely affect how much she makes. And being a paralegal is only going to be like 1% of what potential schools think about when deciding whether to accept her. It's like 70% LSAT score, 29% grades, and 1% resume.

[/ QUOTE ]

For typical Vault 50 Big law, its probably a bit higher, but the problem is that there is often no such thing as a typical week.

An associate in litigation might work M-F 930-430 one week, taking long lunches, and spending time on pro bono.

Then the next week he could be working 9-11, eating meals at his desk, and coming in from 9-9 on saturday and sunday.

Re: Practicing Law
 

There are almost as many work schedules for lawyers are there are lawyers. However she wants to work, there's probably an area of law in which she can do it.