Law Jobs in NYC or on LI

Hi everyone -- I'm new to LIF (but post regularly on LIW -- I tie the knot in Aug!)

Anyway, I'm a second year law student and I'm trying to figure out what I want to do career-wise. I'm at a top 20 school on a full scholarship, so I'm lucky that I don't have to choose a job solely to pay off mountains of loans.

If you know anything about law jobs on LI or in the city (particularly at big firms) please comment or FM me. Are the hours really as bad as they say? Do smaller NYC firms who pay market really have better hours or are they just lying? What do non-NALP LI firms pay? Is it worth it to work those hours? Can you have a life? If I was to take a big firm job outside of NY is it really hard to lateral to a smaller NY firm down the road?

I'm trying to decide which route to take... Any comments are welcome.

Thanks in advance.

Re: Law Jobs in NYC or on LI

Hi -

I've been a Paralegal for 16 years - here's my take:

I think it really depends on the type of law you go into.

I have been in medical malpractice & personal injury & all new associates work their butts off for quite a while & they get all the work that most paralegals should be doing! At my firm (large- LI), they have to put in between 1900-1950 hours a year. I'm told that in the city its around 2000. Not sure about Nassau. We're in Suffolk.

As for money - you get paid more in the city and more in Nassau than in Suffolk on average. But, I think you work longer hours in Nassau & the city.

Hope that helps!

Re: Law Jobs in NYC or on LI

Hi,

I can only tell you about my experience. I worked at a mid-sized NYC law firm right out of law school. NYC firms are going to give you the best money you are going to get. I worked a LOT - had dinner at the firm most weeknights, staying until 8 or 9pm. Came in for a few hours on one weekend day most weekends. Worked my share of nights until 2 or 3am (although that wasn't the norm).

My experience wasn't nearly as bad as many of my friends who were at bigger, more reputable firms. But honestly, I felt like I had no life and hated it. I canceled plans with friends and family more times than I could count because the expectation was that work comes first.

The upside is that, if you can stick it out for a few years like I did, you get great experience and great training that follows you the rest of your life. Now, 10 years later, I still get job interviews based on that experience. I haven't worked in a firm, though, in over 7 years - I have been in-house.

I cannot speak as to LI law firms. But I will tell you this generally about the "hours" that you will work anywhere. In the legal field, it's not really up to the employer when you work - it depends on the client's needs. It is all well and good for a law firm partner to tell you that your hours will be 9-6. BUT the reality is that if you are working on deals for clients that must close, and they want things done by a certain time, you will be coming in early and staying late in the office to get it done.

Sorry I don't have better advice for you!

Message edited 11/2/2007 9:12:30 AM.

Re: Law Jobs in NYC or on LI

I work at a large NYC firm as a litigator. I've gotten a lot of great experience writing briefs on a variety of topics, dealing directly with clients and I've also done a lot of traveling - including working out of the country at a client's office every few months over a span of 2 years. I don't yet have any courtroom experience, but most of my colleagues get that through pro bono representations. Generally, our paying clients (which tend to be large corporations) only want partners arguing motions in court.

I guess my advice would be this:
- Don't assume that just because a firm is on LI that you will work less hours.

- Keep in mind that at a non-NYC firm, you may end up working just as many hours as you would at a "BigLaw" firm and you won't have the same resources or salary. My friend worked at a large LI firm and she worked more hours than I did, didn't have a blackberry or firm-issued laptop (which really meant she was chained to her desk), no word processing dept after hours, and her bonus was 1/5 of the market bonus for NYC firms. She soon left for a NYC firm and she's much happier.

- The hours are very varied. There are days when I come in at 11 and leave at 5 or 6. These make up for the days when I'm in at 8 and don't leave until 1 or 2 am.

- Pick a place where you can see yourself getting along with the people. I often see my co-workers more than I see my outside friends. You are going to be stuck in conference rooms with these people for 12-14 hours. You may be traveling with them too. Make sure they're people you don't mind spending time with. Some of my best friends are my co-workers - this ranges from a first-year associate all the way to an 8th year associate. Liking the people you work with makes the long hours a lot easier to deal with.

Hope this helps!