Practicing Law

[The Transient]

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?

[Korch]

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.

[Bad Beat Maker]

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

[NickMPK]

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.

[XXXNoahXXX]

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.

[Grey]

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.

[XXXNoahXXX]

[ 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.

[Misfire]

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.