[讨论]问题讨论

funnytiger

Hi Funnytiger,

If I have a MSEE background, woked as an engineer for 6 years, then attend a tier 2 school, will I be a competitive candidate?

Also, all these people leave large law firms after 3-5 years, where do they go after that? There can't be that many in house attorney opportunities, right?

My answer (remember: i have been wrong for so many times)

1. your engineering background certainly enables you to do Patent work. But it does not really give you a huge advantage. You can study Asian American History @ your undergrad and become a Patent litigator after law school. Getting in a good law school (at least the best one in your area) is still the better way to go. i am not sure what is your definition of tier 2. If you are going anything lower than top 50, you are taking on significant risk.

2. People leaving firms for many reasons. They go in-house. (Microsoft has 100+ in legal department, so the number is not small when you look at the enire USA). They go into Corporate management. (lawyers are considered "smart"). They can also open up a small office themselves. Some may just get enough money to retire. (for average biglaw associates, you should have around 2 million USD networth if you stay around for 7 years. This is told by my financial planner, i don't know the accuracy of this data)

Of course, many quit legal profession all-together. They are burned out by long working hours. some are sick and tierd of the work. It is just like any other highly paid jobs. Some just have better things to do.

Among 100 fresh-out-of-school attorneys, only 3 will eventually make to the partnership. So some who think they are the smartest in the world maybe disappointed and quit.

[此贴子已经被作者于2007-8-3 9:13:05编辑过]

Expert123

The BigLaw world is a game.

You are lured into it by promises of 160k salaries, lavish lifestyle,etc. Yet the reality is brtual.

You win or lose. There is no middle ground.

You either get a BigLaw job or you end up making 40-60k, probably less than your engineering job.

If you want to stay for partnership prospect, you either get it, making at least half a million a year, or you are on the street.

I don't want to scare anyone or destroy anyone's dreams. But for some people, dreams turn into nightmares. You are welcome to believe whatever you want though.