<p>Hey,</p>
<p>I am a junior in college considering going to law school to do patent law. I hope someone is familiar with the practice of law who could help answer a few questions for me.</p>
<p>This is my understanding of law practice. After law school, attorneys who start out as associates in large reputable law firms are forced to work extremely long hours. The firm provides the new graduates with an established network of clients to work for. The associate provides the firm with many billable hours that make profits for the firm.</p>
<p>What does it take for a new attorney to establish a practice under their own terms? Is it reasonable for a law student to expect that over time they can get into a practice (independent or in partnership) where they work the case load they want (equivalent to 40 hours/week on average)?</p>
<p>A while back I spoke with a law professor who told me about a patent attorney he knew who had developed a relaxed lifestyle while practicing law. This individual had 3 or 4 cases a year, which left him a lot free time yet earned him a substantial income.</p>
<p>How hard is it to come by this type of practice? What should an aspiring attorney do if he is interested in one day practicing law like this rather than working 60 - 70 hours a week as a parner or associate? Is it necessary for attorneys to become workaholics, or can they practice law successfully while leading a balanced lifestyle?</p>
<p>s12sprec,</p>
<p>It's actually quite common for attorneys to work as sole practitioners. For many of them, it was a matter of not having any other options. For some, it's a conscious lifestyle choice.</p>
<p>It's true that large law firms expect their associates (and generally their partners as well) to work long hours. Many law students set out on that path with the understanding that (1) it's a good way to pay off a lot of student loans in a short time, and (2) it's a good way to learn about the day-to-day practice of law under the supervision of experienced practitioners.</p>
<p>Working in-house for a corporation is sometimes viewed as a way of having more of a life outside of work, although my experience has been that the trend for in-house jobs has in the direction of longer working hours. Many corporate employers view large law firm experience as an important credential; applicants without that credential often face an uphill climb in their in-house careers. </p>
<p>I worked as a small-firm associate, a partner in a two-attorney firm, and as a sole practitioner before becoming an in-house attorney. Per hour worked, I made the least money as a sole practitioner. There's a lot of time for which you're not compensated: billing, marketing, buying office supplies, working as your own IT person. (I also performed many of these functions in small firms, but I did all of it when I was a sole practitioner.) </p>
<p>I chose not to go the big firm route, mostly because I was a very active musician, and didn't want to give up that part of my life. But the choice definitely a significant financial sacrifice. It certainly helped that the debt service on my student loans was the equivalent of a car payment rather than the house payment equivalent more typical of people graduating from law school today.</p>
<p>The demand for patent attorneys tends to be consistently higher than the demand for other attorneys. Many of them opt to work at IP boutique firms, which in some cases do not require the sort of hours demanded by big firms. (In other cases, they do require similar hours, so ask around.) In any event, if you have the option to work for a big firm for a large salary, doing so for a couple of years doesn't mean you have to do so for the rest of your life, and it might open other options for you later in your career.</p>
<p>I know a woman who did just this, worked for a big law firm and then, after having children, went out on her own in the particular area of expertise she had developed while at the firm.</p>
<p>I have one word for you: Connections.</p>
<p>This world is filled with networking. You know the right people, you can get the right job. You don't know the right people? You're screwed.</p>
<p>Upon graduating, I am going to enter my Dad's patent law business and most likely begin making around $200-300k a year. My friends? They are still trying to find a firm/company to work for. Surely, I didn't do well in my UGrad program or law program, but hell... I can still get paid well.</p>
<p>I don't intend to stay with my dad long b/c I don't want to work with family. Thus, I am going to move on soon. </p>
<p>Connections..... It'll get you anywhere. How else did britney spears get her fame? A lot more than singing...</p>
<p>If your Dad's going to start you at $200k to $300k a year after poor law school and grad school performance, you're going to be in for a big adjustment when you "move on soon."</p>
<p>60% of lawyers work in firms of 5 people or fewer. </p>
<p>That stat could very well include in-house lawyers (not sure on the specifics), but it is important to note that big firms (and the associated pay/hours) are not the norm.</p>
<p>Attorney's who work on their own generally work for individuals or small businesses while (not surprisingly) big companies retain large firms. Most sole practionners focus on things such as family law, criminal law, real estate, wills, medical malpractice. That is, the types of services an individual would need. </p>
<p>Things such as patents, tax, corporate, commerical law, mergers/aquisitions, financial markets, securities, international deals are almost always done by large multinational law firms covering multi-jurisdictions. They usually hire exclusively in the top 10% from Tier I law schools.</p>