Before you decide on law: read this

College Majors Business Major
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<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>