Before you decide on law: read this

College Majors Business Major
1

<p>I just met a staff lawyer who worked for a large Texas law firm. What she told me was chilling.</p>

<p>She and all other staff were expected to bill out 9 billable hours a day. In order to accomplish that, she regularly had to work 12 hours a day and even work on Saturdays all year round! She even noted that some of the bigger law firms expected even more work.</p>

<p>Even worse, they had three rounds of layoffs. The staff voted to take a reduced pay in order to avoid the layoffs. The partners response: "This is loser mentality!" Partners felt that if the staff members weren't working hard enough to put in 9 billable hours per day, the staff should leave. Certainly, this is survival of the fitest at its "best."</p>

<p>So before you decide on law school, even if you can get one of the high paying jobs, ask yourself if this is the career that you want! Just a thought...</p>

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<p>Many larger firms are now asking equity partners to pony up monetarily--contributing big bucks back to the firms to keep them solvent. As to the billable hours, the practice of law in a private firm is indeed a service business--it depends on billable hours, and should never be considered a 9-5, M-F job. If you are indeed a partner, you are expected to contribute and your pay most likely reflects what you contribute in terms of billable hours. Associates are on a track to become partners and billable hours are one way of evaluating partner potential. It is going to be an interesting year for law firms as well!</p>