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Real Challenges of Working in a Large Law Firm
by Harrison Barnes, Managing Director - BCG Attorney Search

When you work your way up the career ladder, the only thing that changes is the nature of work – you do less grunt work and work more on client management, and may be sometimes you can get home early. The only thing, happily, that one can say has changed over the years is that your job is no more at stake if you fail to make partner. Big law firms, today, are happy to allow “senior associates” to slog on ad infinitum. Previously, if you did not become a partner within the expected timeframe, you were expected to leave.
Having said that, let's consider the actual challenges faced by people while working in a large law firm:
- Pay is fine, if you manage to get paid, that is. Now if you were an associate working for the nation's eighth largest law firm, Dewy & LeBoeuf – you know what that means.
- Large law firms are extremely secretive in nature about policies and planning – there's always a big difference between policies that are preached and announced on websites, and the policies that control real decision making among partners and management.
- Work is ultra-competitive and there are always small lobbies being formed around star lawyers
- The bottom line is always money. In smaller law firms, camaraderie and loyalty counts. In bigger law firms the person who can bring in the most money and biggest clients is worshipped regardless of his/her professional integrity or learning
- In globalized law firms, there is a big amount of culture shock and culture conflict, as well as suppressed racism. Lawyers are smart enough to avoid doing anything overly illegal and provable, and that's what makes it more challenging and more awful.
- The bureaucracy can drive you insane – but it will teach you the importance, priorities, and patterns of law practice
- “Work-life balance” is a myth in big law firms, though it is present in boutique law firms that lean more on learning and higher subject expertise than on mass delivery
- It is difficult to ignore senior lawyers carrying chips on their shoulders who are bent upon forming disgruntled lobbies. The problem is that too often the causes of grievance are too true, only the remedies differ case to case.
- Conflicts over resources are common as several people need the same copier at the same time
- Though most people who join large law firms are looking to gather experience and put an employer brand on their resumes, along with good pay, for those who are on the partner track, the wait can be too long
- As mentioned in the beginning, irregular hours, long hours, and the stressful nature of work takes a toll on both the mind and the body
- Lots of traveling can be expected in large law firms which have several offices across the country or the world
However, the worst thing in large law firms is the impersonal attitude and false warmth. Everybody exudes love and warmth, but few, ever “feel” anything. No one is concerned about others, but concerned only with their own selves. An illustrative case would be Dewey & LeBeouf where partners were kept in the blind about the bankrupt financial situation by the executive committee, and when partners began to leave and were urged by the firm to do so, no one cared about the associates. They were still told to focus on their work and not think of other things. They could not leave, could not get their payments, and could not risk getting fired. Ultimately they received a shocking week's notice to inform them that their jobs were gone, and only at the time when more than seventy percent of the partners had already jumped ship. This would never happen in a small or boutique law firm. The culture is more humane, and people think of others as people and not as automatons.
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Harrison Barnes does a weekly free webinar with live Q&A for attorneys and law students each Wednesday at 10:00 am PST. You can attend anonymously and ask questions about your career, this article, or any other legal career-related topics. You can sign up for the weekly webinar here: Register on Zoom
Harrison also does a weekly free webinar with live Q&A for law firms, companies, and others who hire attorneys each Wednesday at 10:00 am PST. You can sign up for the weekly webinar here: Register on Zoom
You can browse a list of past webinars here: Webinar Replays
You can also listen to Harrison Barnes Podcasts here: Attorney Career Advice Podcasts
You can also read Harrison Barnes' articles and books here: Harrison's Perspectives
Harrison Barnes is the legal profession's mentor and may be the only person in your legal career who will tell you why you are not reaching your full potential and what you really need to do to grow as an attorney--regardless of how much it hurts. If you prefer truth to stagnation, growth to comfort, and actionable ideas instead of fluffy concepts, you and Harrison will get along just fine. If, however, you want to stay where you are, talk about your past successes, and feel comfortable, Harrison is not for you.
Truly great mentors are like parents, doctors, therapists, spiritual figures, and others because in order to help you they need to expose you to pain and expose your weaknesses. But suppose you act on the advice and pain created by a mentor. In that case, you will become better: a better attorney, better employees, a better boss, know where you are going, and appreciate where you have been--you will hopefully also become a happier and better person. As you learn from Harrison, he hopes he will become your mentor.
To read more career and life advice articles visit Harrison's personal blog.
Do you want a better legal career?
Hi, I’m Harrison Barnes. I’m serious about improving Lawyers’ legal careers. My only question is, will it be yours?

About Harrison Barnes
Harrison is the founder of BCG Attorney Search and several companies in the legal employment space that collectively gets thousands of attorneys jobs each year. Harrison is widely considered the most successful recruiter in the United States and personally places multiple attorneys most weeks. His articles on legal search and placement are read by attorneys, law students and others millions of times per year.
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