Want to be a corporate lawyer?

[sallyawp]

<p>It was suggested to me that I add this departure e-mail from a disgruntled corporate associate in a mid-sized law firm to a new thread. Much of what this former associate says in #2 of his missive is indeed accurate. The activities outlined in #1 are, at times, much of what a corporate attorney does, though, from personal experience, some attorneys do indeed find the tasks challenging and interesting. I would disagree with the 95% remark, as I have found that once you attain a certain level of seniority, you become much more involved in the day-to-day business decisions of your clients, few of which involve actual contract practice. </p>

<p>There is, of course, more to being a corporate lawyer than what is outlined here, but the complaints contained below are not unusual to hear. </p>

<p>For what it’s worth, here it is:</p>

<p>

I hereby formally terminate my employment with [MID-SIZED LAW FIRM]. My two main reasons for doing so are as follows:</p>

<li>I do not enjoy the practice of corporate law. At all. I find it extremely tedious and stressful. I particularly do not enjoy the following activities:</li>
</ol>

<p>a. reviewing contracts;</p>

<p>b. drafting contracts;</p>

<p>c. editing contracts;</p>

<p>d. research corporate law; and</p>

<p>e. strategizing about deal structure. </p>

<p>Being that a.-e. above pretty much describe 95% of the job of a corporate lawyer (whether a first year lawyer or a 20 year partner), I can safely say this is the wrong field for me. </p>

<li>At this point in my life, I want to work a job with predictable hours. I want to work a job where I am not connected to a blackberry. I want to work a job where I am not expected to work past 6 (except on rare occasions (i.e. 2-3 times per month on average)). I want to work a job where I am not expected to work weekends. I also realize this is not the life of a corporate attorney (regardless of firm). Basically, I want to be able to commit to being somewhere on a Tuesday (or any other day of the week) at 6:30, every week, and not worry all day Tuesday whether I will have to cancel (absent extremely extenuating circumstances). I also understand that as you get to be more senior in this job, your control over your schedule does increase. However, it is also clear to me that it doesn’t increase enough. At the same time, I could probably have to put up with reason 2. longer if reason 1. wasn’t so strong.</li>
</ol>

<p>I do apologize for accepting this job in the first place. In all honesty, I thought there was a chance that my dissatisfaction with this job had to do with where I worked before, but I have learned that it is the job itself, and not where I do it, that I am dissatisfied with. In addition, my decision certainly has nothing to do with any personal conflict with anyone in the office. On the contrary, it is clear to me that the people at this firm (both lawyers and non-lawyers) are both highly genuine and highly skilled at what they do. I also apologize to the lawyers whose short term workload will increase because I am leaving. There’s no good way to spin this other than I’m kind of screwing you on this one. Hopefully I can make it up to you one day.</p>

<p>I also want to be clear that I am happy to continue to work until Thursday . . . to help transition whatever projects I am working on to other people in the group. Just as a point of full disclosure, I’ve accepted a sales position at a software company here in [CITY]. I will be making significantly less money than I do here, but I am more than willing to make the trade of money for more control over my life.

</p>

[Greybeard]

<p>So, our young associate doesn't want to be connected to a Blackberry, wants to know where he/she will be in advance, wants predictable hours, doesn't want to work after 6 p.m. more than two of three times per month on average, doesn' like reviewing contracts, and doesn't like strategizing about deal structure. And now he/she is taking a position selling software?</p>

<p>It sounds to me like our young associate is as ignorant about the working conditions of people who sell software as he/she was about the working conditions of young attorneys.</p>

[cartera45]

<p>Greybeard, I thought the same thing. At first, I was hoping the attorney didn't think switching practice areas was going to be the answer to his/her prayers. Then I saw sales!! Time is money in sales and if she/he is not willing to put in the time, there won't ever be much money.</p>