<p>Everyone talks about the coveted BigLaw, but what about the non-BigLaw.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>First of all, to make sure we are all on the same page, what are the minimum criteria to be consider BigLaw (besides pay)? Size (in terms of number of attorneys)? Broad geographical spread of offices? Earning a spot on Vault or AmLaw?</p></li>
<li><p>What is it like at firms that do not meet the criteria of #1?
a. What is the pay?
b. Number of attorneys?
c. Length of work week?
d. Do junior attorneys rise faster?
e. Is there more client "interaction" early in the career?
f. Lower attrition rates?
g. Lesser benefits?</p></li>
<li><p>Are opportunities to go in-house much limited if you work at one of the firms at #2?</p></li>
<li><p>Of topic, what are the stories of those fresh JD's who didn't make the cut to BigLaw or a "good" mid-sized firm or didn't get a "prestigious" clerkship/public (sector/interest) gig?</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Answer as many as you are willing and able to. :-)</p>
<p>Thanks</p>