I’m a rising third year at a big law firm in a top transactional practice at the firm and I am miserable. I’m unfortunately doing well for my class year and constantly told I operate as a 4th or 5th year (and expected to continue to operate as such), which just means I am working around the clock. I am currently annualizing 2400 and other second years are only annualizing 1600-1700. I have no aspirations to be a partner at a big law firm but I have significant debt from law school that I was hoping to aggressively pay off and then dip after 5th year or so.
We have centralized staffing who constantly tells me they’re going to “get me a break” but then never protect my time when people request me on their deals, and never respects when I’ve said I would prefer not to work on matters for specific sub-groups within the larger group. It’s normal for people to state their preferences and “specialize” more within our practice, even as early as I am in my career. Other people’s preferences are respected, but mine has not been. I don’t want to specialize yet but working on all types of matters means I am spread way too thin.
This just isn’t sustainable and the culture of the group has gotten much worse since I started. I don’t need to work for “the best of the best” but I also understand the opportunities that come out of that. I just don’t know if I can do it for another three plus years at this firm. My goals would potentially be to end up in-house, but could also see myself staying in private practice at more of a “lifestyle firm” but have no clue what that even means in practice.
Any advice?