second year associate at a v10 firm and i’m already feeling pretty conflicted about whether this is sustainable long term.
i knew biglaw would be demanding going in, but i don’t think i fully understood what it feels like to have your schedule constantly controlled by other people. i’m finding it hard to maintain basic routines like working out consistently, seeing friends/family, dating, and even having uninterrupted time where i’m not checking my phone or email waiting for something urgent to come in.
the part that makes this harder is the compensation. every time i think maybe this lifestyle is not worth it, i look at the salary progression and bonuses and start telling myself to stay just one more year. literally the golden handcuffs. the money keeps getting better, but i worry i’ll wake up 5 to 10 years from now burned out and realize i built my entire life around a job
i’m also trying to be fair and recognize that the first few years are probably one of the hardest adjustments. maybe things improve once you get more efficient, build stronger relationships with partners, and have more control over your workflow. but i’ve also seen midlevel and senior associates who seem permanently stressed, which makes me wonder if this is just what the career looks like. i cant even imagine how this feels while having kids
for people who have stayed in biglaw long term or left, how did you make this sustainable? did you set stricter boundaries, move practice groups, go in house, or leave law entirely?
did it actually get better as you became more senior, or did you just get used to it?
for people who left despite the financial upside, when did you realize the tradeoff was not worth it?
would really appreciate honest advice from people who have been through this!