Careers in Large Law Firms?

Mayo91

Hey, I was just wondering if anyone can give their own personal insight into working in a top 10 law firm, primarily regarding:

1. Hours of work?

2. Work/life balance?

3. Different Departments - difficulty, hours, how interesting

4. Opportunities to work in foreign offices

5. Career prospects, recommendations or any general tips going into a large solicitor firm.

** Please do not mention firm names, just your experience in the field**

nuac

Mod
Pls do not mention individual firms

impr0v

I have worked in two of them.

1. I only have experience of litigation departments. Generally, 8am to 7pm. Less during the summer. More from time to time, when there's a pressing deadline and/or when a client has dropped you in it with late instructions. Other departments seem to be worse. You can work less, but you'll find it more difficult to get ahead. You need billable hours on the clock to get ahead.

2. Not good. When you're not working, you're thinking about work, but that probably varies from person to person. To get ahead you need to live the job - it's highly competitive.

3. I can't really comment, in any unbiased manner anyway, having only worked in one.

4. Most of the Irish firms with international offices only have relatively small presences abroad, so I would imagine the scope is limited but don't know for sure - it likely varies from firm to firm. At least one that is more international allows some trainees to rotate internationally, and there is some scope to move to another office. There are more international firms coming into the market if that's what you're after.

5. Career prospects vary from firm-to-firm, from team-to-team within those firms, and depending upon the current point of the economic cycle. Property and construction lawyers are in demand now, whereas litigation work has reduced. Tips? As above - billable hours. Never refuse work offered to you by somebody more senior. Do whatever work they give you as well as you can, rather than leaving it for them to finish off, and then check what amendments they make so you can learn from them. Give any client you work for a good level of service and, hopefully, they start coming directly to you next time. Put yourself about a bit. Marketing is painful, but some people who couldn't lawyer their way out of a wet paper bag do very well because they are good salespeople. Move if you are getting close to partnership PQE and a path there isn't apparent. Specialise, and know everything you can about your specialism. But remember that your clients interested in being lectured on the law - they just want the salient points packaged up and given to them in easily comprehensible language. Put yourself about internally, so people in other departments know who you are. Be sensible with alcohol at firm events. Be lucky.

Mayo91

impr0v wrote: »

I have worked in two of them.

1. I only have experience of litigation departments. Generally, 8am to 7pm. Less during the summer. More from time to time, when there's a pressing deadline and/or when a client has dropped you in it with late instructions. Other departments seem to be worse. You can work less, but you'll find it more difficult to get ahead. You need billable hours on the clock to get ahead.

2. Not good. When you're not working, you're thinking about work, but that probably varies from person to person. To get ahead you need to live the job - it's highly competitive.

3. I can't really comment, in any unbiased manner anyway, having only worked in one.

4. Most of the Irish firms with international offices only have relatively small presences abroad, so I would imagine the scope is limited but don't know for sure - it likely varies from firm to firm. At least one that is more international allows some trainees to rotate internationally, and there is some scope to move to another office. There are more international firms coming into the market if that's what you're after.

5. Career prospects vary from firm-to-firm, from team-to-team within those firms, and depending upon the current point of the economic cycle. Property and construction lawyers are in demand now, whereas litigation work has reduced. Tips? As above - billable hours. Never refuse work offered to you by somebody more senior. Do whatever work they give you as well as you can, rather than leaving it for them to finish off, and then check what amendments they make so you can learn from them. Give any client you work for a good level of service and, hopefully, they start coming directly to you next time. Put yourself about a bit. Marketing is painful, but some people who couldn't lawyer their way out of a wet paper bag do very well because they are good salespeople. Move if you are getting close to partnership PQE and a path there isn't apparent. Specialise, and know everything you can about your specialism. But remember that your clients interested in being lectured on the law - they just want the salient points packaged up and given to them in easily comprehensible language. Put yourself about internally, so people in other departments know who you are. Be sensible with alcohol at firm events. Be lucky.

Thanks very much for the insight pal. Much appreciated