For those in Big Law or have dated someone in Big Law, how busy does it actually get? I've been talking to someone who is an associate at a major Big Law firm, and the communication is very sporadic. There are times when I won't hear from them for several days, or even over a week, with the explanation being an intense workload, or being "on deal”.
Is there any way to distinguish between the legitimate, crushing demands of the job and someone just using it as a polite excuse for low interest?