Real-Life Decision Making
Many lawyers start their careers at large urban law firms. There are several
advantages to this. Large firms tend to pay the most. They also have structured
training programs and deal with high-profile cases.
"The large firm experience gives you exposure to really high-end deals,"
says Emily Lee, a legal recruiter in Toronto. "You'll be working at the cutting
edge of what's in the [news]paper. That's definitely a bonus, as well as the
structure, because these firms have formal review processes and they've got
a lot of systems in place and a lot of people there to guide you through your
experience at the firm."
However, in exchange for that big paycheck and the other advantages,
large law firms demand a lot from their lawyers. The hours can be very long,
making it difficult to pursue other interests. Health and relationships can
suffer if you're not careful.
You are just about to start your third and final year of law school. It's
time to apply for your first job. Law school has been an intense, stressful,
and exciting experience. But now you're ready to enter the real world of legal
practice.
You've decided you want to work in private practice, rather than for government
or a nonprofit organization. However, you're not sure whether to work at a
large firm or a small firm. You know you want to work closely with senior
lawyers. You also hope to have time for friends and family and to pursue your
hobbies.
Most of your friends are applying to the big law firms, mainly because
of the large salaries. It's tempting to do the same, especially when you think
about all of the student loans you'll soon have to start paying off.
What do you do?