I see a lot of posts here from associates who are miserable, burned out, anxious, depressed, and actively trying to figure out how to get out of BigLaw. I’m not writing this to pile on—or to glorify it—but as a bit of a reality check for law students and younger lawyers who are aiming for BigLaw without fully understanding what they’re signing up for.
The biggest thing to understand is this: BigLaw is not a 9–5 job. It’s not Monday through Friday. It’s not “mostly predictable with the occasional fire drill.” You are expected to be available—nights, weekends, holidays, vacations. You don’t really own your time. Sometimes that’s explicit; often it’s just understood.
Landing a BigLaw job can feel like a major status symbol, especially coming out of law school. And for some people, it’s exactly what they want. But it’s not for everyone, and that’s not a failure. In fact, many unhappy BigLaw associates would gladly trade places with lawyers at smaller firms who are making less money but are far more content with their lives.
That doesn’t mean BigLaw has no upside. For people who go in eyes wide open, it can be an incredible place to learn. You can work with extremely smart, talented lawyers on complex matters and develop skills quickly. That said—and this part often gets lost—you can also get outstanding training and mentorship at smaller or non-BigLaw firms. There are phenomenal lawyers everywhere, not just behind AmLaw logos.
So the real question isn’t “Can I get BigLaw?” It’s “Is the tradeoff worth it for me?”
Are you okay not controlling your schedule? Are you comfortable with work routinely spilling into every part of your life? Are you choosing this path intentionally, rather than because it feels like the default marker of success?
If the answer is yes, BigLaw may be a great fit—for a few years or longer. If the answer is no, that doesn’t mean you’re less ambitious, less capable, or less serious about being a lawyer. It just means you’re honest about what kind of life you want.
Go in with open eyes. That alone would prevent a lot of disappointment.