We're A1L mad here - TLS C/O 2020 Thread [New Pole] Forum

[Mr_Chukes]

Would love to be in-house at Google.

[brinicolec]

Curious, what and where are all of your career goals? I feel like there's a lot of PI folks in this class for whatever reason

I feel like there's always a high number of people who enter with PI aspirations until the prospects of going through a 3 year degree to make so little with loan repayment programs as a bright side hit them like brick wall.

Personally I think I want appellate level litigation (I'll settle for a liberal Big Law firm at this point)

I'm someone who had PI aspirations until I realized how bad the salary is. Now I'm torn between my PI aspirations and doing something lit-related in BL.

[Dr.Degrees_Cr.Cash]

Curious, what and where are all of your career goals? I feel like there's a lot of PI folks in this class for whatever reason

I feel like there's always a high number of people who enter with PI aspirations until the prospects of going through a 3 year degree to make so little with loan repayment programs as a bright side hit them like brick wall.

Personally I think I want appellate level litigation (I'll settle for a liberal Big Law firm at this point)

I'm someone who had PI aspirations until I realized how bad the salary is. Now I'm torn between my PI aspirations and doing something lit-related in BL.

Yeah, I'm still toying with PI, though at this point I have to take worst PI prospects in T14 or like 2nd best PI prospects in T14 so I think I have to face the music and go all in on getting BL lit that won't cause me to sell out every conviction I have

[airwrecka]

I hope this doesn't come off as sounding condescending or judgmental or anything, but I am legitimately curious about it:

for those of you going into BL, how are you justifying the absolutely terrible work/life balance? I know the $$$ makes it worth it for some, but I don't really understand the point of $$$ if you are completely miserable and glued to your job. and I know some people need to pay of student loans--but why not go to a lower ranked law school on a full ride and then have the opportunity to practice in an area you might actually be interested (or at least somewhere with better hours/work environment) and make a little less? have I made BL worse in my mind than it actually is?

I guess I'm surprised there aren't more people who are interested in something between the $$$ of BL and the poverty of PI.

[Dr.Degrees_Cr.Cash]

So Close to 1K and I don't want to make Guy change my flair in the destinations thread. Shit posting is more important than my real job RN

[chandhi]

I hope this doesn't come off as sounding condescending or judgmental or anything, but I am legitimately curious about it:

for those of you going into BL, how are you justifying the absolutely terrible work/life balance? I know the $$$ makes it worth it for some, but I don't really understand the point of $$$ if you are completely miserable and glued to your job. and I know some people need to pay of student loans--but why not go to a lower ranked law school on a full ride and then have the opportunity to practice in an area you might actually be interested (or at least somewhere with better hours/work environment) and make a little less? have I made BL worse in my mind than it actually is?

I guess I'm surprised there aren't more people who are interested in something between the $$$ of BL and the poverty of PI.

I am wondering this as well. Is it a prestige thing? No judgment if yes.

[Dr.Degrees_Cr.Cash]

I hope this doesn't come off as sounding condescending or judgmental or anything, but I am legitimately curious about it:

for those of you going into BL, how are you justifying the absolutely terrible work/life balance? I know the $$$ makes it worth it for some, but I don't really understand the point of $$$ if you are completely miserable and glued to your job. or maybe I've made BL worse in my mind than it actually is

I guess I'm surprised there aren't more people who are interested in something between the $$$ of BL and the poverty of PI.

A) Busy season for my job is pretty similar to bad BL in terms of hours and commitment requirements, so I know what it's like and that I can survive at least some amount of it.

B) I'm young and it's great experience to have if you can push through the shit (my profession also fellates prestige as much as law does, so I know this is important)

C) I would take mid-law in the secondary market I'm targeting any day of the week, but I know I need to be prepared for BL and that even Mid Law is not much better.

[poptart123]

I hope this doesn't come off as sounding condescending or judgmental or anything, but I am legitimately curious about it:

for those of you going into BL, how are you justifying the absolutely terrible work/life balance? I know the $$$ makes it worth it for some, but I don't really understand the point of $$$ if you are completely miserable and glued to your job. and I know some people need to pay of student loans--but why not go to a lower ranked law school on a full ride and then have the opportunity to practice in an area you might actually be interested (or at least somewhere with better hours/work environment) and make a little less? have I made BL worse in my mind than it actually is?

I guess I'm surprised there aren't more people who are interested in something between the $$$ of BL and the poverty of PI.

Exit opportunities and establishing a good nest egg

[brinicolec]

I hope this doesn't come off as sounding condescending or judgmental or anything, but I am legitimately curious about it:

for those of you going into BL, how are you justifying the absolutely terrible work/life balance? I know the $$$ makes it worth it for some, but I don't really understand the point of $$$ if you are completely miserable and glued to your job. and I know some people need to pay of student loans--but why not go to a lower ranked law school on a full ride and then have the opportunity to practice in an area you might actually be interested (or at least somewhere with better hours/work environment) and make a little less? have I made BL worse in my mind than it actually is?

I guess I'm surprised there aren't more people who are interested in something between the $$$ of BL and the poverty of PI.

Welp. I'm not married (or even dating anyone) and have no kids (unless we count pets as kids, in which case I have one), so I don't have to worry about that aspect of life lol. I'm also not really concerned about the work/life balance. I think BL can also just be a necessary stepping stone to get to some prestigious exit jobs that I'd possibly be interested in so.. I'd rather have it on my resume and deal for a few years and be able to use it to get a job I might want than go somewhere where BL is not likely, miss it, and have difficulty getting jobs I might want because I don't have firm work on my resume. Also, being a minority (AA), I'm really into the idea of representation and think that 1) being being one of few minorities at any given T13, especially Michigan since they don't have affirmative action anymore, and 2) possibly being one of few minorities at a big law firm is important, especially if I DO end up having kids someday (who knows lol). Growing up, I wanted to be a lawyer but I don't have any family who practices law and I don't really know any minorities who practice law either and I think having that representation helps.

Edit: And $$$$

[Gitaroo_Dude]

I hope this doesn't come off as sounding condescending or judgmental or anything, but I am legitimately curious about it:

for those of you going into BL, how are you justifying the absolutely terrible work/life balance? I know the $$$ makes it worth it for some, but I don't really understand the point of $$$ if you are completely miserable and glued to your job. and I know some people need to pay of student loans--but why not go to a lower ranked law school on a full ride and then have the opportunity to practice in an area you might actually be interested (or at least somewhere with better hours/work environment) and make a little less? have I made BL worse in my mind than it actually is?

I guess I'm surprised there aren't more people who are interested in something between the $$$ of BL and the poverty of PI.

If I ended up doing BL, it'd be for the following reasons:

1. Basically the only steady, dependable hiring pipeline right now. There's a defined structure in place that plays out each year through OCI, callbacks, etc. With PI you're kinda out in the wind for a while, midlaw is hard to secure coming right out of school, but with BL you generally know if you have a job lined up for graduation or not pretty early on. That security is attractive.

2. Exit opportunities. BL offers some of the best exit options and allows you to build up a solid network.

3. $$$$. It'll allow me to pay off my debt quickly, rebuild the savings I depleted for tuition, and jumpstart my retirement savings.

Prestige means little to me, though I suppose it has some relation to reason #2 for me.

[RParadela]

I hope this doesn't come off as sounding condescending or judgmental or anything, but I am legitimately curious about it:

for those of you going into BL, how are you justifying the absolutely terrible work/life balance? I know the $$$ makes it worth it for some, but I don't really understand the point of $$$ if you are completely miserable and glued to your job. and I know some people need to pay of student loans--but why not go to a lower ranked law school on a full ride and then have the opportunity to practice in an area you might actually be interested (or at least somewhere with better hours/work environment) and make a little less? have I made BL worse in my mind than it actually is?

I guess I'm surprised there aren't more people who are interested in something between the $$$ of BL and the poverty of PI.

From what I've seen, if you avoid the sweatshop offices and particularly if you can avoid NYC, your hours aren't that terrible (60ish hours a week on average). I'm perfectly fine with working 60 hours a week on something that I find substantive (so lit and not transactional bs) for which I'm being paid one of the highest starting salaries possible. Plus, I have the personality and goals to do perfectly fine in BigLaw. I extremely non-commital in relationships which means I rarely have a long-term girlfriend and I have 0 plans to ever get married. Being single, young (I'll be 24 as a 1st year associate) and hungry is as good of a recipe to deal with BigLaw IMO.

Plus, I have a unique family situation which gives me really good exit ops if I want to leave BigLaw

[chandhi]

Also, being a minority (AA), I'm really into the idea of representation and think that 1) being being one of few minorities at any given T13, especially Michigan since they don't have affirmative action anymore, and 2) possibly being one of few minorities at a big law firm is important, especially if I DO end up having kids someday (who knows lol). Growing up, I wanted to be a lawyer but I don't have any family who practices law and I don't really know any minorities who practice law either and I think having that representation helps.

*endless hand clapping emojis*

We need so many more WoC in all areas of law. Representation matters.

[brinicolec]

Also, being a minority (AA), I'm really into the idea of representation and think that 1) being being one of few minorities at any given T13, especially Michigan since they don't have affirmative action anymore, and 2) possibly being one of few minorities at a big law firm is important, especially if I DO end up having kids someday (who knows lol). Growing up, I wanted to be a lawyer but I don't have any family who practices law and I don't really know any minorities who practice law either and I think having that representation helps.

*endless hand clapping emojis*

We need so many more WoC in all areas of law. Representation matters.

Yeah I definitely agree! I'd LOVE to be able to be a black female partner, although I know it's not likely.

My dad's one of few black generals in the Air Force and I always love hearing/seeing young black men who are like "Wow I've never met a black general before!" or like the pictures of little black girls next to black Disney princesses or whatever else. Or how Cam Newton was reppin for black QBs (he's fallen into the sunken place since then but uhhhhhh lol) & little black boys were wearing "Super Cam" stuff and everything.

Black kids joy >>>>>>

Lol

[airwrecka]

Thank you all for responding so thoroughly! You've almost convinced me to consider BL myself

Also, being a minority (AA), I'm really into the idea of representation and think that 1) being being one of few minorities at any given T13, especially Michigan since they don't have affirmative action anymore, and 2) possibly being one of few minorities at a big law firm is important, especially if I DO end up having kids someday (who knows lol). Growing up, I wanted to be a lawyer but I don't have any family who practices law and I don't really know any minorities who practice law either and I think having that representation helps.

*endless hand clapping emojis*

We need so many more WoC in all areas of law. Representation matters.

Yeah I definitely agree! I'd LOVE to be able to be a black female partner, although I know it's not likely.

My dad's one of few black generals in the Air Force and I always love hearing/seeing young black men who are like "Wow I've never met a black general before!" or like the pictures of little black girls next to black Disney princesses or whatever else. Or how Cam Newton was reppin for black QBs (he's fallen into the sunken place since then but uhhhhhh lol) & little black boys were wearing "Super Cam" stuff and everything.

Black kids joy >>>>>>

Lol

I love this bri! I agree that representation is SUPER important, and I would love love love to hear that you become partner someday!

[Stylnator]

Thank you all for responding so thoroughly! You've almost convinced me to consider BL myself

Also, being a minority (AA), I'm really into the idea of representation and think that 1) being being one of few minorities at any given T13, especially Michigan since they don't have affirmative action anymore, and 2) possibly being one of few minorities at a big law firm is important, especially if I DO end up having kids someday (who knows lol). Growing up, I wanted to be a lawyer but I don't have any family who practices law and I don't really know any minorities who practice law either and I think having that representation helps.

*endless hand clapping emojis*

We need so many more WoC in all areas of law. Representation matters.

Yeah I definitely agree! I'd LOVE to be able to be a black female partner, although I know it's not likely.

My dad's one of few black generals in the Air Force and I always love hearing/seeing young black men who are like "Wow I've never met a black general before!" or like the pictures of little black girls next to black Disney princesses or whatever else. Or how Cam Newton was reppin for black QBs (he's fallen into the sunken place since then but uhhhhhh lol) & little black boys were wearing "Super Cam" stuff and everything.

Black kids joy >>>>>>

Lol

I love this bri! I agree that representation is SUPER important, and I would love love love to hear that you become partner someday!

Seriously, snaps to this!! We need more WoC professionals! I really wish I had someone relatable to guide me through the whole law process.

[brinicolec]

Thank you all for responding so thoroughly! You've almost convinced me to consider BL myself

Also, being a minority (AA), I'm really into the idea of representation and think that 1) being being one of few minorities at any given T13, especially Michigan since they don't have affirmative action anymore, and 2) possibly being one of few minorities at a big law firm is important, especially if I DO end up having kids someday (who knows lol). Growing up, I wanted to be a lawyer but I don't have any family who practices law and I don't really know any minorities who practice law either and I think having that representation helps.

*endless hand clapping emojis*

We need so many more WoC in all areas of law. Representation matters.

Yeah I definitely agree! I'd LOVE to be able to be a black female partner, although I know it's not likely.

My dad's one of few black generals in the Air Force and I always love hearing/seeing young black men who are like "Wow I've never met a black general before!" or like the pictures of little black girls next to black Disney princesses or whatever else. Or how Cam Newton was reppin for black QBs (he's fallen into the sunken place since then but uhhhhhh lol) & little black boys were wearing "Super Cam" stuff and everything.

Black kids joy >>>>>>

Lol

I love this bri! I agree that representation is SUPER important, and I would love love love to hear that you become partner someday!

Aw, well thanks! Hopefully it's possible! I'm having a phone convo with a black (male) partner on Friday and trying to get ALL the tea

[brinicolec]

Thank you all for responding so thoroughly! You've almost convinced me to consider BL myself

Also, being a minority (AA), I'm really into the idea of representation and think that 1) being being one of few minorities at any given T13, especially Michigan since they don't have affirmative action anymore, and 2) possibly being one of few minorities at a big law firm is important, especially if I DO end up having kids someday (who knows lol). Growing up, I wanted to be a lawyer but I don't have any family who practices law and I don't really know any minorities who practice law either and I think having that representation helps.

*endless hand clapping emojis*

We need so many more WoC in all areas of law. Representation matters.

Yeah I definitely agree! I'd LOVE to be able to be a black female partner, although I know it's not likely.

My dad's one of few black generals in the Air Force and I always love hearing/seeing young black men who are like "Wow I've never met a black general before!" or like the pictures of little black girls next to black Disney princesses or whatever else. Or how Cam Newton was reppin for black QBs (he's fallen into the sunken place since then but uhhhhhh lol) & little black boys were wearing "Super Cam" stuff and everything.

Black kids joy >>>>>>

Lol

I love this bri! I agree that representation is SUPER important, and I would love love love to hear that you become partner someday!

Seriously, snaps to this!! We need more WoC professionals! I really wish I had someone relatable to guide me through the whole law process.

Definitely. I look forward to being in my career and being able to offer time as a mentor or something to other minority students (especially women) at my alma mater, or even just in general. Like at Michigan they had a current partner at a firm talking at a breakout session about private sector work and he was black and I was just thinking, "Wow, I'd love to pick his brain about how his experience has been as a black man."

[renc56]

Thank you all for responding so thoroughly! You've almost convinced me to consider BL myself

Also, being a minority (AA), I'm really into the idea of representation and think that 1) being being one of few minorities at any given T13, especially Michigan since they don't have affirmative action anymore, and 2) possibly being one of few minorities at a big law firm is important, especially if I DO end up having kids someday (who knows lol). Growing up, I wanted to be a lawyer but I don't have any family who practices law and I don't really know any minorities who practice law either and I think having that representation helps.

*endless hand clapping emojis*

We need so many more WoC in all areas of law. Representation matters.

Yeah I definitely agree! I'd LOVE to be able to be a black female partner, although I know it's not likely.

My dad's one of few black generals in the Air Force and I always love hearing/seeing young black men who are like "Wow I've never met a black general before!" or like the pictures of little black girls next to black Disney princesses or whatever else. Or how Cam Newton was reppin for black QBs (he's fallen into the sunken place since then but uhhhhhh lol) & little black boys were wearing "Super Cam" stuff and everything.

Black kids joy >>>>>>

Lol

I love this bri! I agree that representation is SUPER important, and I would love love love to hear that you become partner someday!

Seriously, snaps to this!! We need more WoC professionals! I really wish I had someone relatable to guide me through the whole law process.

Definitely. I look forward to being in my career and being able to offer time as a mentor or something to other minority students (especially women) at my alma mater, or even just in general. Like at Michigan they had a current partner at a firm talking at a breakout session about private sector work and he was black and I was just thinking, "Wow, I'd love to pick his brain about how his experience has been as a black man."

All of the above. While I would like to go into BL (knowing that it's unlikely/hard/likely will hate it) I'm doing it because 1) representation 2) don't have a family of lawyers so there would be extreme judgment if I went into PI/add in "we didn't immigrate here for you to get all this debt and work for x amount" 3) could open doors later that I'd love to get into career-wise 4) a lot of the BL work seems interesting to me on an intellectual level 5) knowing my personality, PI work would emotionally drain me because I would obsess over my work/I'd take it home and take losing for my clients very personally

Edit: I'm tired and so double negatives

[brinicolec]

Thank you all for responding so thoroughly! You've almost convinced me to consider BL myself

Also, being a minority (AA), I'm really into the idea of representation and think that 1) being being one of few minorities at any given T13, especially Michigan since they don't have affirmative action anymore, and 2) possibly being one of few minorities at a big law firm is important, especially if I DO end up having kids someday (who knows lol). Growing up, I wanted to be a lawyer but I don't have any family who practices law and I don't really know any minorities who practice law either and I think having that representation helps.

*endless hand clapping emojis*

We need so many more WoC in all areas of law. Representation matters.

Yeah I definitely agree! I'd LOVE to be able to be a black female partner, although I know it's not likely.

My dad's one of few black generals in the Air Force and I always love hearing/seeing young black men who are like "Wow I've never met a black general before!" or like the pictures of little black girls next to black Disney princesses or whatever else. Or how Cam Newton was reppin for black QBs (he's fallen into the sunken place since then but uhhhhhh lol) & little black boys were wearing "Super Cam" stuff and everything.

Black kids joy >>>>>>

Lol

I love this bri! I agree that representation is SUPER important, and I would love love love to hear that you become partner someday!

Seriously, snaps to this!! We need more WoC professionals! I really wish I had someone relatable to guide me through the whole law process.

Definitely. I look forward to being in my career and being able to offer time as a mentor or something to other minority students (especially women) at my alma mater, or even just in general. Like at Michigan they had a current partner at a firm talking at a breakout session about private sector work and he was black and I was just thinking, "Wow, I'd love to pick his brain about how his experience has been as a black man."

All of the above. While I would like to go into BL (knowing that it's unlikely/hard/likely will hate it) I'm doing it because 1) representation 2) don't have a family of lawyers so there would be extreme judgment if I went into PI/add in "we didn't immigrate here for you to get all this debt and work for x amount" 3) could open doors later that I'd love to get into career-wise 4) a lot of the BL work seems interesting to me on an intellectual level 5) knowing my personality, PI work would emotionally drain me because I would obsess over my work/I'd take it home and take losing for my clients very personally

Edit: I'm tired and so double negatives

I've thought about that a lot as well. I have a serious interest in capital punishment, which is quite literally life or death, and I know that some clients you can't win the case for will even request that you attend their execution and I just don't know if I'd ever be able to do that. But I'm torn because it is something I'm incredibly passionate about and want to try to help make a difference in.

Idk idk idk.

[renc56]

Also, being a minority (AA), I'm really into the idea of representation and think that 1) being being one of few minorities at any given T13, especially Michigan since they don't have affirmative action anymore, and 2) possibly being one of few minorities at a big law firm is important, especially if I DO end up having kids someday (who knows lol). Growing up, I wanted to be a lawyer but I don't have any family who practices law and I don't really know any minorities who practice law either and I think having that representation helps.

*endless hand clapping emojis*

We need so many more WoC in all areas of law. Representation matters.

Yeah I definitely agree! I'd LOVE to be able to be a black female partner, although I know it's not likely.

My dad's one of few black generals in the Air Force and I always love hearing/seeing young black men who are like "Wow I've never met a black general before!" or like the pictures of little black girls next to black Disney princesses or whatever else. Or how Cam Newton was reppin for black QBs (he's fallen into the sunken place since then but uhhhhhh lol) & little black boys were wearing "Super Cam" stuff and everything.

Black kids joy >>>>>>

Lol

I love this bri! I agree that representation is SUPER important, and I would love love love to hear that you become partner someday! [/quote]

Seriously, snaps to this!! We need more WoC professionals! I really wish I had someone relatable to guide me through the whole law process.[/quote]

Definitely. I look forward to being in my career and being able to offer time as a mentor or something to other minority students (especially women) at my alma mater, or even just in general. Like at Michigan they had a current partner at a firm talking at a breakout session about private sector work and he was black and I was just thinking, "Wow, I'd love to pick his brain about how his experience has been as a black man."[/quote]

All of the above. While I would like to go into BL (knowing that it's unlikely/hard/likely will hate it) I'm doing it because 1) representation 2) don't have a family of lawyers so there would be extreme judgment if I went into PI/add in "we didn't immigrate here for you to get all this debt and work for x amount" 3) could open doors later that I'd love to get into career-wise 4) a lot of the BL work seems interesting to me on an intellectual level 5) knowing my personality, PI work would emotionally drain me because I would obsess over my work/I'd take it home and take losing for my clients very personally

Edit: I'm tired and so double negatives[/quote]

I've thought about that a lot as well. I have a serious interest in capital punishment, which is quite literally life or death, and I know that some clients you can't win the case for will even request that you attend their execution and I just don't know if I'd ever be able to do that. But I'm torn because it is something I'm incredibly passionate about and want to try to help make a difference in.

Idk idk idk.[/quote]

I have nonprofit work experience and friends who have worked in govt (legal and non-legal for both) and just.. like it sounds bettering the world but it usually means low pay, long hours, lots of stress, disorganization at an institutional level.. For me, going into PI is more likely to make me lose my passion for social justice and make me more cynical. But some people handle this differently and I applaud them for going into PI if it is their passion/have the resources to make this possible.

[chargers21]

I hope this doesn't come off as sounding condescending or judgmental or anything, but I am legitimately curious about it:

for those of you going into BL, how are you justifying the absolutely terrible work/life balance? I know the $$$ makes it worth it for some, but I don't really understand the point of $$$ if you are completely miserable and glued to your job. and I know some people need to pay of student loans--but why not go to a lower ranked law school on a full ride and then have the opportunity to practice in an area you might actually be interested (or at least somewhere with better hours/work environment) and make a little less? have I made BL worse in my mind than it actually is?

I guess I'm surprised there aren't more people who are interested in something between the $$$ of BL and the poverty of PI.

1. most high paying careers that are attainable with education and without connections have bad work/life balance 2. I'm used to the biglaw type of hours 3. debt 4. retirement 5. legit interest in M&A work (yes, I'm the weirdo intentionally going into transactional. it was my goal from the start) 6. exit to in house option 7. small chance at making even more money as a partner 8. justify the hard work 9. learn skills 10. normalized track via OCI 11. preftige 12. my cold and icy heart would be a disservice to people that need help from an emotional human being

Lots of reasons plus I'm young and single and if I did local PI/gov/small firm work in my home state out of my free t1 school I'd always wonder "what if"

And I know law isn't the way to get rich, but my starting salary would top anything anyone has ever made in my family by a large margin so I really do see it as a way to financially rise up in the world

I'll leave PI to those who really love that type of thing and want to make a difference. I have respect for that

[brinicolec]

I have nonprofit work experience and friends who have worked in govt (legal and non-legal for both) and just.. like it sounds bettering the world but it usually means low pay, long hours, lots of stress, disorganization at an institutional level.. For me, going into PI is more likely to make me lose my passion for social justice and make me more cynical. But some people handle this differently and I applaud them for going into PI if it is their passion/have the resources to make this possible.

I'm already cynical so that's not a concern of mine I think the major issue is the $$$ thing.

[renc56]

I have nonprofit work experience and friends who have worked in govt (legal and non-legal for both) and just.. like it sounds bettering the world but it usually means low pay, long hours, lots of stress, disorganization at an institutional level.. For me, going into PI is more likely to make me lose my passion for social justice and make me more cynical. But some people handle this differently and I applaud them for going into PI if it is their passion/have the resources to make this possible.

I'm already cynical so that's not a concern of mine I think the major issue is the $$$ thing.

There's cynicism and then there's nonprofit burn out

*granted I've only worked with small nonprofits in a specific niche so I'm guessing its better elsewhere

Edit: $$$ helps a lot

[Keilz]

I'm looking to do pro bono instead of a whole PI job. I work in corporate immigration, and I really don't like working on 80 cases at once. Additionally we have our corporate clients and communicate with them, but then we have the individual employees constantly emailing us and it's really exhausting. I could literally just spend my entire day emailing back and forth. It's so much about volume and juggling hundreds of dates. I don't really want that set up anymore. I would rather have a few major cases and I work on for a year than constantly being bombarded with more and more cases. I still have nightmares that one day I'm going to walk into work and suddenly the client initiates twenty new cases without any warning (has happened before).

My coworker was lucky enough to go to a detention center for a week of pro bono and even with the horrendous stories she heard, by the end of the first week she was feeling burnt out due to the sheer number of cases she was working on.

The type of PI im interested in is not on a case by case level, but with broad impact, like government, being a judge, administrative law in international organizations, etc.

[Stylnator]

I have nonprofit work experience and friends who have worked in govt (legal and non-legal for both) and just.. like it sounds bettering the world but it usually means low pay, long hours, lots of stress, disorganization at an institutional level.. For me, going into PI is more likely to make me lose my passion for social justice and make me more cynical. But some people handle this differently and I applaud them for going into PI if it is their passion/have the resources to make this possible.

I'm already cynical so that's not a concern of mine I think the major issue is the $$$ thing.

when I graduated college I really really wanted to work for this one NGO and I got SO excited about getting the offer. The only thing is they offered me $20,000/year before taxes and I'd have to work in downtown Chicago (which required me moving from new england and they'd provide no relocation assistance). I ended up taking a corporate job when I couldn't find anything realistic. It's really sad what some of the best organizations have to survive on.