I’ve been an attorney for over 25 years and can speak of what I’ve seen in the legal profession.
First, years ago the law schools and the big firms who run the legal system in the various states decided to “pyramid” the profession. The partners at the big firms realized that they could make a lot more money by having more lawyers in the firms. They would bill at a high hourly rate, and pay only a fraction to the attorney doing the work. The young associate, just out of law school, would have a high salary number dangled before them. But that number was typically a number that reflected an “employment package” and not necessarily take home pay. In addition, the young associate was essentially put into a sweat shop, where he or she was expected to bill a substantial number of hours, and was expected to work late into the night, as well as Saturdays and Sundays. And was it the exciting work you see on TV? Oh hell no. The associate was never allowed to go to Court or actually meet the client, they were confined to the cubicle to sift through piles of paperwork and write memos. The pay didn’t increase much, and after five years if there was no “partnership” to buy into, the now burned out associate was shown the door and replaced with new cannon fodder produced by the law schools.
Of course, this works as long as the law schools crank out a never ending supply of new lawyers. The law schools were perfectly willing to go along; they massively increased admissions, which increased the size and budgets of the schools.
The law boards, which are run by the big firms, were all to happy to confer licenses on the fresh young cannon fodder.
The result was that the top of the pyramid, those senior partners at big firms, became very wealthy. And so did the senior partners at medium firms that became large. I don’t know what the burned out lawyers did; some of them went to smaller firms where they could find success, some chased ambulances, some just went off to do something else.
Having graduated somewhat in the middle of my class, I didn’t fall into the big firm trap. They weren’t interested in me, and looking back now I thank God that he didn’t “bless” me with too much brains. Instead, I found work at a small county prosecutor’s office, didn’t make much money and had to work pretty long hours but found a career I loved by being in the Courtroom constantly and dealing with people, not with piles of paper in a little cubicle. Plus, I had a boss who didn’t care when we worked, just so long as we got the work done. I established a name and reputation, and now have a good private practice.
It’s been an OK career. And who says crime doesn’t pay? It’s putting my boys through college.
I’m a solo who does commercial debt collection. I know the scam.
I do ok, not like big firm money or even remotely close, and I bust my ass for clients.
Not to mention how much of the actual work paralegals and legal assistants do, client gets billed for their hourly work as well, and it is nowhere near what they are being paid.
I was fine with that...rules of the game. What rankled me was hearing from my clients that they expressed their appreciation to my bosses, but I never heard about it. All I ever heard was I wasn't producing enough billable hours at my reviews.
I'm now enjoying life at a federal regulatory agency, where my work is appreciated.
That firm dissolved a few years after my departure.
15 yr lawyer here. Had the big firm experience, and eventually got out of it. So unfair to the client AND the associate. Now in private practice and loving it by staying small, very small. Biz comes by current clients telling other prospects. Lotsa freedom.
I’m also a 25-year lawyer, and my observation is exactly the same as yours [see, Board, two lawyers CAN agree!!]. The business of law sucks. The practice of law is often very rewarding. I added 6 years of Air Force service as a JAG, which I would recommend to anybody coming out of law school who can get accepted (AF stats are about 20 applicants for every 1 who’s accepted).
Colonel, USAFR