Pizzaria UNO

Amusing that this person structured the resignation letter like a legal document.

Self indulgent for a general farewell. If articulated to the more limited appropriate audience, i.e., the people he worked directly with, his mentors etc., in a form other than an e-mail, the sentiments expressed seem honest, civil, and perfectly fine.

That letter is the antithesis of an FU Resignation. Plenty of people burn out on the law, and this one goes into detail of why he burned out. He didn't specify anything unusual as to Greenberg, and he didn't say it was anything other than his fit into the normal system. I bet they wish him well on his way out the door (and then forget about him the next day).

This guy will never regret leaving corporate law.

Why anyone would ever want to be a coporate lawyer is beyond me. Is there anyone for whom point 1 is not true?

What an extraordinary dumbfuck, if indeed this letter is genuine. How did this person come to be employed by a large law firm without realizing that 1) corporate work in particular is mind-numbingly boring and repetitive; and 2) lawyers can't control their schedules very well?

How come I can't comment on Firefox (I see the "If you see this message you can't post comment" message) but when I use IE it's fine?

What is going on? Is ATL banning firefox users?

Too detailed. Just say, "I want to work a job with predictable hours, where I am not routinely expected to work past 6." I don't need to know that you are willing to work past 6 2-3 times per month, on alternate Thursdays, when the shad are running.

Actually, I don't NEED to know any of it, but you know what I mean.

I was disappointed after the initial build-up of this post. An FU resignation is, "I hated all of you and didn't enjoy a minute of working here." This is just a guy trying to be cute, although he probably annoyed a lot of people since most Biglaw lawyers have no sense of humor and think anyone who doesn't want to be a Biglaw lawyer is lazy and/or nuts.

Dear Anonymous,

I only read the first sentence of your resignation email before deleting it.

Good luck.

Please leave me any drugs, and/or other contraband you are not taking with you.

Goodbye.

See 5:44 and 5:46 for evidence of my point.

5:50: no, I don't care if someone is lazy or doesn't want biglaw. Lots of people don't want it and that's fine. But for someone to go into it having absolutely no idea what they were in for is an absolute, total idot. Where were they during two summers, etc.?

Kind of tepid- He should incorporated a few good fuck yous and called somebody a fat bastard.

5:53: oh, yes, that's why there's such high retention in biglaw. Because our summers were so illuminating about what the life is like.

5:48,
You think the resignation letter is funny? Or that it's even trying to be funny? It just struck me as a crushingly boring level of detail.

I really am asking--I agree with you that it would've been better if it were a real FU, ideally to the tune of "My Way."

Agree with 5:37. This really isn't that bad; I've seen far more offensive farewell emails.

I call bullshite! I clerked at a firm that is spelled incredibly like the above named firm and I never had any of that crap happen to me. I left EVERYDAY before 6pm, all of my assignments were kinda fun and exposed me to many interesting facets of corporate law, I was even allowed to sit in on a conference call with some really important people.

weak shit, cheese.

5:57: because this douchebag apparently never even bothered to look left or right. [and I agree with you. This is a perfect illustration of why summer programs in NYC are a joke. My amlaw-200 firm actually works our summer associates]

I think this is a perfectly fine and responsible notice of termination to HR and his direct supervisors -- he gave notice, gave the reasons for his notice (helpful if the firm is interested in retention), and apologized for the inconvenience.

Now, if this was the email that he sent out to say goodbye to his colleagues, that's a bit more problematic. And, I'd also say that fessing up that you find the job extremely boring probably is a bar to you ever returning to corporate law.

For the sake of consistency, he really should have used the gerund form of "to research" in 1.d., i.e. it should have read:

"researching corporate law; and"

With mistakes like that, it's clear that he really isn't cut out for corporate law...

6:07 - No, the only clear thing is WHO GIVES A FUCK ABOUT A MISSED "ing"!

Did this go to WHOLE firm, including summers?

If it did, it was a dumb move.

If it went to just partners and associates, I think he should be commended for his honesty.

I believe we can all agree that this job is not for everyone.

So the writer is self-important. Was there another message s/he wanted to get across? Are they leaving the firm or something?

Classic melt down.

This guy is a sissy, and an idiot. He knew what he was getting into. His "job requirements" are ridiculous, even outside the field of law.

He should die in a fire. Good riddance. We don't need more lazy people in the profession who don't understand how to use a gerund.

I also do not enjoy research corporate law.

This just tells me that it would be a good idea to ask a friend to pre-approve my farewell letter when I burn out.

(as I may too be in some kind of meltdown stage where I may think sending out something like this is a good idea).

I bet he would have stayed if GT raised to 160K in its offices outside of NYC.

The funny thing is how OFTEN the goodbye memos at big firms take on the "Is s/he having a meltdown" quality.

Many's the time that I've read a goodbye memo that made it painfully obvious that the lawyer leaving was miserable, even if beneath a veneer of politeness.

6:26, you deserve the inevitable divorce, booze/coke habit, estrangement (from "friends" and family) and early death you'll surely encounter.

DAAAAMMMMMNN

I am a corporate lawyer, and I love it. I have no fucking idea what this idiot is talking about.

7:14 - you are a corporate lawyer at Law Offices of Banjo - not at a major U.S. lawfirm.

I'm glad YOU get to work from 9 to 5, take weekends and every holiday off, and generally enjoy a leisurely existence. The rest of us do not, and every corporate associate at every Am Law 100/200 firm is perilouosly close to just such a meltdown.

Wait, did this guy miss the retreat at the Pasadena Ritz?

6:07 beat me to pointing out the glaring error. (Really sad, isn't it?) I am not a shut-in or a complete tool, and I enjoy the tasks set forth in #1 a-e. If I had to be a litigator, I'd stick a sharp stick in my eye. But of course, I come dangerously close to full-on meltdown burnout about twice a year.

FWIW, I'm several years into this job, so I've had several friends and acquaintances leave the law - and of course, I've heard of friends of friends leaving, etc. Every person I've ever heard that has left Greenberg Traurig has left the practice of law entirely - not just the firm. What the hell are they doing to their associates?

One thing Greenberg is not doing is paying associates in Boston, Chicago and D.C. market salaries.

LAT - I think you should do an entire thread on how much Greenberg sucks. They are the only firm in the top 30 of the AMLaw 100 not to have raised to 160 in DC and they are #11 in the AMlaw 100! Who would work there?

WTF is wrong with this blog. Every time someone dislikes something about biglaw, all the assholes come out of the woodwork clamoring about how that someone "should have known, and how they are a wuss and a dumbass for dropping out."

Biglaw in the abstract is different from Biglaw in practice. I am going to be starting at a NY Vault 70 firm (I don't remember the exact number). I know that I'll have to bill 2000+ hours a year, I know that I'll have to work some weekends, and I know I'll have to pull some all nighters. At the same time, I have no idea how well I can handle it. Some people thrive in that environment, most wilt. I am hoping that I will thrive, since I've always worked hard and always achieved, but at the same time, I just don't know.

This guy may have kept hoping that it gets better, but it didn't so he got out. Not expecting something, and not knowing how you will handle it are two different things. Props to him for knowing when to get out, and not turning into a bitter asshole partner.

8:06: You are being very realistic about the whole thing and, as a result, will probably be just fine.

What did he think when he went to law school? If you actually enjoy writing contracts and such, then you belong in law school. If not, find another job. Took him long enough. ;)

Choice of career aside, he wasn't at all bad in his resignation letter. He said that the people were fine, acknowledged the difficulty involved with replacing a person on short notice, and offered to stay on to help with the transition.

The practice of law is miserable for young associates nowdays....this is just another reminder....

As someone who isn't a lawyer but fascinated by the law (at 30 I am too old to go to law school and expect to get hired in biglaw) I would love to have a job that let me work 60 hours a week for that kind of money.

Lots of us not making that kind of cash and making far less than what a BL person can expect. Not asking for pity - simply stating that while it may seem like it is all crap - some of us would love to get in there and do that kind of work but circumstances prohibit.

8:06 - I agree; I'm coming off a clerkship and am heading into a firm with roughly the same understanding as you (Vault 25, CA). I can't predict the reality of Biglaw, though I know the theory. Best of luck to you - well said.

To add to 8:06, just because someone starts off working those hours and doing that work doesn't mean they want to do it forever -- this guy saw the tunnel but unfortunately, there was no light at the end of it for him. You can know what you're getting into, make some good dough, and then get out, and that doesn't make you a naive.

(Lousy people/colleagues + lousy compensation below market) x top-ranked AmLaw firm that talks the talk but doesn't walk the walk = recipe for disaster for a) recruitment, b) associate retention, and c) public relations.

Cheers to this firm for failing in all 3!

8:06, well said. I agree that this is a heartfelt, honest letter. I don't see it as an F.U.. Too many people want to jump on the writer, but bravo for him or her recognizing that BigLaw is not fulfilling.

I don't see anything wrong with this. May be more detail than people really cared to know, but there was no invective against the firm itself. On the other hand, it is a little hard to understand that, to the extent that the writer claims that there was no personal problem, why he/she felt it was necessary to write a memo like this. One may question the real motivation of the writer for sending this, but I found nothing offensive about the substance of the letter.

I doubt this guy will regret his decision.

"at 30 I am too old to go to law school and expect to get hired in biglaw"

I don't know where you got that idea. At my top 5 law school the vast majority of law review types were at least a few years out of college, and I knew tons of people in their late 20s/early-30s -- and some who were in their 40s.

It's pretty telling that an attorney at this particular firm leaves the profession for a sales position at a software company.

While this attorney may have burned out or got tired of the variety (or lack thereof) of work, this memo indicates that stronger forces are at play. Where was the firm to support him? Where was the network and system to ensure that he wasn't miserable or, if he was, that something at least be done to try to correct it? THAT'S pretty damning, more so than the substance of the letter. Read behind the lines, folks!

one of the guys I summered with had a daughter one year older than me. He's still with the firm.

Why on earth would s/he chuck law altogether?? Presumably there was *something* about law that attracted him/her in the first place. Why not go to the partners and try to transition into a different practice area? There are a few specialties that would give him/her the desired control.

Shame, really.

8:22 - My best friend from my top 15 law school turned 40 this year, he got an offer at BigLaw.

8:51: isn't it clear from the letter that this was an associate that didn't practice for more than a year or two? The associate made a bad decision to go into law and realized it. [agree that the associate will not regret their decision. But associate is still a dumbass for getting in this position in the first place]

6:32/7:57: GT pays market in Chicago

8:51 - What can you do to "support" someone who hatees every aspect of corporate law? "Here here, you don't like the realities of the job, we'lljust to make YOU happy we'll continue to pay you like everyone else, but you won't have any of the same duties or responsibilities. There, feel better? Good."

Get real. The guy didn't like BigLaw life, and he left, good for him. He left a perfectly fine letter that at worst, gave too much info.

9:00 I disagree. From this letter it sounds like if this person had any draw to the law in the first place, they made the mistake of going for top salary out of law school. If they were going to salvage their legal career, it wouldn't be in another department, it would be for a smaller firm (maybe a respectable PI firm) or some kind of public job (prosecutor's office or NFP).

9:00 must be omniscient. I imagine a lot of people writing this "you should have known" type emails must be either really young people who don't yet understand the complexity of life or really old people who went into the profession when it really was a desirable profession to be in. I like what I do as a corporate attorney at a big firm, but it is only a job. I would worry more about people who confess that a firm job fulfills them than those who say that it does not.

9:10 is right. We have a bunch of people who feel the need to justify their existence as big firm lawyers. The truth is that it is just a job and that there is nothing wrong with leaving it.

8:22: I graduated law school at 33 and got several BigLaw offers (and accepted one). One of my fellow summer associates was 15 years older than me and entering health law after a successful career in nursing.

Law recruiters like older recruits because 1) their experience outside law enables them to see things better from the client's POV; and 2) they are more likely to stick with law as a career because they made more of an educated choice when they decided to quit their jobs and go to law school.

If you want to be a lawyer, go for it.

9:08: Point well taken. My general point was that it's a shame s/he adopt an all-or-nothing approach.

I'm 30-something; came to law school after years in another profession. Have worked for 2 large firms, and...

I HATE MY LIFE!

Am I paid on the 160 scale. Yes. Do I wish I had stayed as a student/hobo/bum/miscreant/poet/academic/artis/you name it?

FUCK YES. BIGLAW SUCKS. HARD.

I just always heard that biglaw firms were scared to hire fossils like me. Scared we can't work the 60 hours required to bill 40? (as it seems to me).

I can do that standing on my head. My problem is I don't think I could get into a t1 school. Multi lingual (2 languages but not Spanish or Chinese), veteran who at one time had a security clearance that let me work anywhere in intelligence. (TS/SCI)

Just never figured I could make the leap to law. Besides reading about all the SA's and such is more fun than actually watching that SA fall into the pool, handfull of partner breast in one hand and a martini in the other. (nevermind - I would like to see that in person)

9:21 - I think I agree, although I get the impression this was not this person's first law job. Maybe they clerked, or moved up into BigLaw. Can't be sure. Whatever it is, they feel like they'll be happier where they're going so God bless them.

But, it sounds like you'll agree with me, in that I wouldn't leave Law altiogether just because I was unhappy with BigLaw corporate life. Although maybe this was a 5th year who felt like it was too late to "Start over" in another aspect of the profession (although that doesn't make TOO much sense, since they're now starting over in a while new profession). Maybe, instead, they found out they weren't going to make partner and had a melt-down.

9:21: I agree that the writer could have tried some different aspects of law, but why is it a shame to take the all-or-nothing approach? Is it a shame then, for somebody to leave the business field to go to law school after working for only several years? Such a person of course could have taken marketing, sales, business development, and other million business positions, but we don't call it a shame when such a person decides to be a lawyer instead.

Your conclusion assumes that there is something inherently better about the legal profession than the job the writer took.

law junkie - You will run into some of that, but it is not impossible. I suggest you take the LSAT and see how you do. If you're anywhere near the 75/25 for Northwestern, apply there. They put a HUGE emphasis on work and life experience. It'll make up for having grades or LSAT no in the 75/25 range (to an extent). What have you got to lose by trying?

9:24: you might be surprised. The top schools are attracted to unusual candidates with out-of-the-ordinary backgrounds. (One of my law school classmates was a doctor in his 50s). They can get any number of people with top test scores, but they can't as easily replicate life experience.

Is there anyone reading this memo, who, in their heart, don't think this kid has it right?

OF COURSE being in BigLaw sucks. That's why they pay us so well.

Something I've noted over the years is I have never once met a person who left Biglaw and regretted it.

I imagine the problem for most of us is the money is so good that you have to be at your wits end to leave and once you do you can't imagine why you thought the money and "prestige" were important in the first place.

9:26: No, I'm not assuming it's inherently better. I am assuming that there was something about law that caused this person to pursue it in the first place. Of course, that assumption could be wrong, but that's the assumption I'm operating under.

To chuck the law school tuition and sweat equity s/he had already invested without at least trying a different type of law or a non-BigLaw environment is a shame. (By contrast, that kind of investment is not usually involved when moving from business to law, which is why I wouldn't be saying it if the situation were reversed.)

From the letter, it sounded to me like this guy didn't think there were any alternatives to BigLaw corporate work, or that perhaps all firms/specialties are the same. Judging from the variety of comments here, I think we can safely say that those assumptions were not true.

I love the law, but then I don't do corporate law or litigation because I had the same concerns this guy had -- namely, I did not want to sacrifice the rest of my life to work. At 33, I had a family and other priorities. So, although I don't think I would mind reviewing/drafting/editing contracts all day, I specifically chose a specialty area that would allow me to combine BigLaw with a life. Sure, I won't make as much as the corporate partner down the hall, but I do control my life.

Thanks for the advice! Somethings to think about for sure. To be honest my dream school always has been Notre Dame but - we'll see.

If someone could explaint the term "compression" to me. I believe it means the pay spread between say a year 1 associate and a year 5? That is to say that a year 1 making 145k and year 5 making 190k - thats 45k in compression or am I wrong?

9:21 - My guess is this person found an opportunity that paid better than public interest legal work, but didn't have the demands of BigLaw. Happy medium. In Law you can either do "fulfilling" work (if you define fullfilling the same way a hippie might) and get paid shit, or give your life over and make a lot. Not a lot of middle. Sounds like he wanted a middle.

9:42: I think there is more of a middle than you think. Associates in my area are paid the same as others for the most part. As you go up in seniority, the disparity with corporate associates becomes greater. But let's face it, the salary is still plenty sweet when compared to the "outside."

9:24 - where else did you work before law school? I'm 31 yo, have an MBA from a top-5 school, and am starting law school this fall. I've worked in several industries, and with all this talk about biglaw sucking, my question is, COMPARED TO WHAT?

It's all relative, and the grass is always greener. But as someone who has worked in other "prestigious" fields, getting paid $160K right out of school with good benefits to read contracts for 60-hr weeks, with good job security and decent pay progression isn't so bad. Obviously, being a managing director at a private equity or vc firm is better, but so is being an astronaut -- you have a very small chance of landing those gigs.

So perhaps biglaw "sucks", but so does almost every other JOB that pays well -- banking, consulting, dentistry (redefines tedious), medicine (ask a resident about hours or a doctor about insurance), etc.

I really don't think people leave because they wan "better, more interesting work." Even if pay was slashed to a fraction of what it is now, most people I know would happily shovel piles of elephant shit for a steady 8 hrs every day, as long as they could take lunch, leave at 6:00 and get their weekends and vacation days. "More interesting work" usually just means more stress and more problems for associates.

I think it's more about associates wanting A DECENT SHOT AT A DECENT LIFE. I mean, junior associates look at senior associates and partners and don't envy them. What good is money when you are a slave to preschool tuitions, your billz, your blackberry, and your clients? And your husband, wife, or partner thinks you're a total douchebag? And even when the work's interesting, it's not as interesting, as say, dinner and a few laughs with your loved ones every night. You know your lifestyle is messed up when you deeply envy your secretary when you watch her walk out door every night when your evening is just beginning. Money is completely meaningless without the ability to live a healthy, happy, satisfying life.

What a douche. A paragraph would have done just fine. This is what a resignation letter looks like if its written by a Woody Allen character.

Everyone talks about late nights. What time do you get to work in the morning?

Why not get up and go in for 5am and go home early evening? Seems to me a guy/gal could get a ton done when everything is quiet.

"If someone could explaint the term "compression" to me. I believe it means the pay spread between say a year 1 associate and a year 5? That is to say that a year 1 making 145k and year 5 making 190k - thats 45k in compression or am I wrong?"

No. Compression refers to the pounding you take in the pooper from partners and senior associates. At some firms, they will wait until you empty your bowels before reaming you. At others, they are too impatient to wait. At the latter firms, you will have compression.

law junkie at 8:22 and 9:24: Cornell is another top law school that accepts certain candidates (including a number with service under their belts) with interesting life experiences and slightly lower gpas or LSATs. You certainly have a number of high scoring gunners who go straight through, but there are some "older" students (and starting at 30 and ending at 33 wouldn't put you in that category).

10:05 - Sounds like you're on deck after our friend at Greenberg.

9:40 - You have compression right. Some firms "raised" to $160k starting, but only raise $2500/yr from 3rd to 4th, 4th to 5th, and 5th to 6th. Basically a 3rd year makes rougly the same as a 6th year. That's compression -- when the first year salary goes up to look like the firm is matching market, but 4th, 5th, and 6th years (the ones who make the most money for the firms) don't see shit.

corporate law can transition you into the ceo of a big company, where you make tens of millions of dollars a year. but hey what do I know? I only live next to someone who did this and gives mucho dinero to charity in addition to providing for himself and his family

10:04, Where oh where did you ever hear about Biglaw associates having "job security?" I'm not trying to be a dick, but you literally could not be more wrong about this.

And it can be 80 hours+ a week...you never know. There is zero predictability with regard to your schedule as an associate; you never can be 100% sure (unless it is your wedding day) that you will be able to leave at a given time. A colleague of mine was called about non-time-sensitive work matters at his father in law's funeral (which the partner did know about).

"At the same time, I could probably could have put up with reason 2...."

Honey, I don't think Greenberg wants you proofing their contracts. Enjoy the sales job.

Since this is my first time sitting at my (biglaw) desk at 10:36 at night, I would have to agree that I don't want to do this very often. Apologies to you suckers who do it often. You picked the wrong firm.

I applaud the author. Maybe he opened some more pairs of eyes to the reality of the biglaw lifestyle

10:46 - don't be retarded. if you don't know what your own biglaw life reality is on your own, you're not suited for eing a lawyer.

"Oh wow, this email makes me realize, I hate my job! Wow, I never realized it before!!!"

How many times did you watch Jerry Maguire?

It has nothing to do with being a lawyer, and everything to do with the accumulated effects of routine. It's just like the "toad in boiling water" that you learned about in seventh grade, where the drawbacks escalate at such a slow pace that they become tolerable, even after the point where your expectations have been frustrated beyond belief. The rebuttal here would be that a corporate lawyer wouldn't expect to have any other kind of a lifestyle, so no expectations would be frustrated. If that were true, you wouldn't see so many illustrations of this phenomenon every year of people leaving the law altogether. It's the whole "yeah, it can't really be that bad" or "I can handle it even though so many others haven't been able to" syndrome.

I should add that I'm getting really tired of these "then you shouldn't have become a lawyer in the first place" comments. There's a lot more that you can do with a law degree than work at a biglaw firm. Grow up and realize that some of us have different priorities in life.

"At the same time, I could probably could have put up with reason 2...."

Honey, I don't think Greenberg wants you proofing their contracts. Enjoy the sales job.

Boasting about proof reading skills- what a fucking tool...

I f'ing loved it. I covet him/her. If a man, I would make love to him based upon this resignation letter alone, save any oozing sores.

And by "make love", I mean bone.

I'm still here. It's not so bad. 9 gradually turns into 10...and then 10 into 11..and before you know it...it's tomorrow!

I think the toad story is correct. It's not so bad in the short run, but if you have to do this year after year, I think it eventually catches up to you...unless you're an unloved troll whom nobody misses. Maybe that's why lawyers are always so pissy...they need to get laid more, instead of being late at the office all the time. (And no, jacking off doesn't count.)

lawjunkie,

Compression. Look at the salary charts. Notice that many firms pay 160K to start but not all are paying the same at year 2, 3, 4, 5, etc.

Also, notice that cities with much lower COL are paying the same as NY.

NY to 190K!!!!

Lat,

You should run a poll or something that allows users to click on cities (or city sizes), firm size (AmLaw 100, AmLaw200, boutique, other) and what their hours generally are- so multiple choices in one area, so I could click "New York, Am Law100, 10am, 9pm". I think it'd be interesting to see (somewhat empirically) what the hours differences are between cities and firm categories. Thanks.

If an associate at biglaw is not reviewing the contract and working out the deal structure for me, where am I going to find the bitch to do it? If it is fun, such as playing 18 holes of golf at Pebble Beach with the CEO of the Company that my firm is about to buy, why would I outsource it to biglaw? You are at 160 for a reason. Very few 26 year olds should be making that kind of money unless significant amount of pain and suffering are involved.

12:16,

(Spoken with much love) Ahhh, it's greedy, short-sighted bastards like you and your CEO friend that gives me comfort that my business will soon pick up so that I can continue playing 18 holes of golf with my banker and hedge fund friends. Keep up the "good" work! I'll soon be mopping up after you!

Atlanta to Andes mints!

@NY Bankruptcy guy: shhh, I will be calling you soon... we are launching a turnaround/restructure fund in 3 months....

well, 11:13, in 10:33's defense, that mistake + leaving off the "ing" for research = a document that should have been looked at more closely before it was sent to a bunch of people. (yes, I'm sure that ups my own dork score).

But hey, the guy's on his way out, what does he care? :) He'll be home at 6:30 pm while the rest of us rev up for the second half of our day.

Seriously, this guy can't even write. It really looks bad when you are trying to make a bold exit (if it can even be called that) and you f-up the grammar - then people just think you are a douche AND an idiot.

@10:33

"Honey, I don't think Greenberg wants you proofing their contracts. Enjoy the sales job."

Thanks for the analysis, Flo. Now hustle off and refill my coffee.

The only thing worse than your weak dig at this dude is your cringe-inducing attempt to be folksy in the process. May you discover your boyfriend in bed with a waitress this weekend.

Are you fucking serious? You're still slamming his grammer? God, just go bill someone for something you smug asshole.

Congrats on being the douche-idiot who spends the rest of his life in a corner office searching for typos and hoping for mistakes. What a well-rounded person you must be. Always so focused on the big picture.

a girl in my summer class knows a guy at greenburg. this kid lateraled from kirkland in the last 6 months. he has a quirky sense of humor and sent this to some of the people he works with in an attempt to show contriteness for coming and going so quickly. it sounds like no one is pissed about the letter, but some are peeved that he didn't arrive at the decision not to practice law before joining the firm. the guy she knows seems to think its viewed as a nonissue at greenburg. i guess the guy really is working there until next thursday. doesnt really read like a fu or a meltdown. more like a "its not you its me". when we all know it is you. biglaw really is horrible.

unless you need to cya because they were breaking the law, spare everyone your self-righteous bs. yeesh. wouldn't that be nice for a change? instead, just wish them well and say good-bye.

@3:00 AM

If that was aimed at me, I was bagging on the bitch that wrote the "Honey, blah, blah, blah" crap.

I agree that the typos are irrelevant. I doubt the dude was expecting it to show up on ATL anyway.

Funny letter. Every corporate associate has these thoughts at least once a day.

3:28

I suggest you look up "self-righteous." If you read this from a humor perspective, this is about as self-deprecating as you can get without coming across as a pushover.

as soon as i read "yeesh," i wrote you off as an Irish douche that likes Stephen King, thinks walking is a sport and dislikes waiting in line

ps And hasn't had a date since at least the Ides of March 2006

10:34: again, "job security" is relative. i know dozens of biglaw attorneys, and they could stick around for at least 5 years if they wanted to. they tell me that only being a complete moron or a big recession would threaten their jobs. plus, they get calls from headhunters everyday. so they'll never starve! worst case -- they go work for some midlevel firm and still make 6 figures.

in contrast, my friends in banking and consulting literally go into work everyday wondering whether they'll be counseled out that day, especially with the current market. hence the reason why when i ask the bankers what they're buying with their $200k bonuses, they tell me that they're saving it for when their salary is zero (or $90k).

I can't believe it's a resignation letter!!

I can't believe it's a resignation letter!!

Who uses the expression "work a job"? More than once no less -- each time slowing the flow and rhetorical impact of his words. Perhaps getting out now is a good thing, before his written skill deteriorate any further.

Who uses the expression "work a job"? More than once no less -- each time slowing the flow and rhetorical impact of his words. Perhaps getting out now is a good thing, before his written language skills deteriorate any further.

10:04PM - "Sure those jobs are better, but so is being an astronaut."

Credited.

3:26 - You're correct. He is a former K&E associate. The full picture is he is a former K&E summer. Instead of returning to K&E, went to a firm in Pittsburgh. Came back to K&E. Left to go to CSFB. Lasted a month and then went to Greenberg. By my count, the sales job will be number 5 for an class of '05.

9:46: in other words, the dude is a turd who had no clue that he didn't like law and couldn't figure it out.

All the posters on this board who feel the need to analyze both grammatical errors and poor style choices just provide proof of how right this guy was. Who cares?

I wish that I could go back to my pre-BigLaw life sometimes--the one where I didn't see meaningless typos and grammatical errors in memos and didn't spot a dozen legal issues everytime I walked to work, watched a movie/television show or the news, or bought my lunch.

@ 10:09 re: early mornings, coming in early has zero to do with leaving early. Law firm consultants are always saying, "Tired of late nights? Just come in earlier!" as if all these people with advanced degrees might not have thought of that. It's the grating simplicity of the clueless.

I am a "morning person" at a firm full of morning people, so I start work at 7:30 am. Projects still come in at 4:00 or 5:00 or 7:00 pm, and need to be done. It's not as if I can just drop a project at 7:30 pm because I've met my daily billable target.

The thing about BigLaw is that efficiency -- although desired by clients and honest lawyers -- works against you from a billable standpoint. So as a result, you work hard to finish your projects on time and efficiently, and then you scramble to get more work so that you can meet your billables. It wears on you. Or, at least, on me.

law junkie | August 8, 2007 08:22 PM:

I started law school @ 30 (went nights while working), graduated at 34 and had no problem getting a job @ biglaw. I also had no problem lateralling when the opportunity arose.

Law Junkie:

Ditto. I graduated a US News ranked 50-100 law school at 37. Top of my class, law review, clerkship. I got hired at the top firm in a major market. Follow your dream.

As to all those who "wish" they could go back to pre-Biglaw life. Sorry to sound trite, but just do it.

10:24,

They can't "just do it." Biglaw is a repository for smart kids who don't have dreams big enough (or balls big enough to take the risk to follow their dreams). Biglaw is an easy path, that once you're on, is hard to get off. Hell, associates might as well have a union, the way raises and other compensation is basically the same across the board. Seriously once you've made $200k, how easy is it to follow your dream to be a software sales manager making 60k?

This is a very considerate and honest resignation letter. ATL, please resist the temptation to spin the unremarkable into something it's not, lest what's usually a pretty good site descend into Fox News territory. But then, I guess as people come to realize that the legal profession is actually quite boring, you need to add some pepper every now and then.

"@ 10:09 re: early mornings, coming in early has zero to do with leaving early. Law firm consultants are always saying, "Tired of late nights? Just come in earlier!" as if all these people with advanced degrees might not have thought of that. It's the grating simplicity of the clueless."

Totally. I find that my mornings are far less unpredictable than my evenings. It's pretty unlikely, where I work, for somebody to come looking for you at 8:30 a.m. Not so unlikely that they'll be looking for you at 7:30 p.m. I always did errands, appointments, gym, etc. in the morning because my evenings tend to get taken over little by little.

As to age, I went to law school at 30. I think being older cuts both ways. The good news is that you've worked in other settings. The bad news is you've worked in other settings. As a junior associate, I'm floored by the lack of organization and general professionalism where I work. Employers who I've had in the past requiring far fewer credentials have been far more together. Also, I have perspective now that I didn't have when I was 25 or 26 - again, good and bad news. I don't flip out when something small (at least in my mind) goes wrong, but that doesn't mean that who I'm working for doesn't flip out. I take my job very seriously, but I seldom hit the panic button. I actually think being viewed as not panicking can work against you.

I CAN'T BELIEVE IT'S A LAW FIRM to 160k

My only caution to people going to law school as older students is to make sure it makes long term economic sense. Basically, just make sure you've got enough productive years ahead of you that your increased earning power outweighs the costs of law school (tuition, living expenses, lost income for three years, etc.). If you can go to law school at a low cost (like you get scholarships, and a spouse's income covers living expenses), it's probably worth it. If you're pretty sure you'll be in a high paying job, it's probably worth it. But if you end up in a $60,000/year job, and have $150,000 in law school debt, maybe not.

At any rate, I don't think a 30 year old is quite at that point yet--this is more of an issue for people above 40.

Lat, how thorough was the fact check on the authenticity of this resignation letter? It seems a bit contrived to me.

All the posters on this board who feel the need to analyze both grammatical errors and poor style choices just provide proof of how right this guy was. Who cares?

I wish that I could go back to my pre-BigLaw life sometimes--the one where I didn't see meaningless typos and grammatical errors in memos and didn't spot a dozen legal issues everytime I walked to work, watched a movie/television show or the news, or bought my lunch.

Posted by: Anonymous | August 9, 2007 10:08 AM
================

The reason commentors are noting the errors in Ms. Quitter's resignation letter is that she is being paid a lot of money to be precise and to pay close attention to detail. If she is unreliable in that regard, she is no good to the firm.

It's worth noting this sloppiness to the extent that it played a part in the misery our young friend experienced at her job. No doubt, she was regularly criticized for similar errors in her work. That criticism surely contributed to her feelings of self-doubt and her urge to flee biglaw.

In the end, it seems that the real key to this young lady's misery was not the nature of biglaw work, but her inability to reliably accomplish the tasks assigned to her. She will be happier as a sales person, because she will be relived of the responsibility she could not meet in biglaw. She has chosen to "fall back" to a pace that she is more likely capable of maintaining.

Good for her.

Atlanta to complimentary teeth whitening consultation!

11:07 - her is actually a he.

Does anyone think that sales jobs are stress-free or low-stress? Assuming this person's compensation will now be tied to sales commissions, there will be plenty of stress and plenty of competition and maybe not very much money.

I can't believe posters think that most lawyers are good writers.

This person is delusional on the working world. It's difficult to name any profession -- be it truck driver, middle manager, accountant, plumber -- where there isn't a good dose of the mundane and unpredictable. Good luck to him/her in finding a Ward Cleaver professional existence. The law profession isn't for everybody and there is no debating the high levels of dissatisfaction in this profession. But...

12:10. Well said. The grass is always greener! Like they said in Fight Club, everyone in our generation thought they were gonna make millions working some sexy, easy, exciting job. When we realized that we actually have to work (eg, read contracts and work past 8:00 - oh the horror!), we're all pissed.

To all those who think biglaw sucks, what's a better alternative (other than hedge funds, vc, lbo shop, talent agent, movie star, and President)?

By the way, the usage in question isn't a gerund.

I did sales before I went into law. I don't think one job is less stressful than the other. This is especially true if you are doing sales on straight commission without a draw.

1. Law firms outright lie to summer clerks. I was lied to as a summer clerk, and not at a wine/dine firm. At a different firm six years later, I was expected to lie to summer clerks when interviewing them. You can't say law students know what they are getting into.

2. The thought of 60 hour weeks and the reality are very different. You don't know what it's like until you get into it. I've seen candidates rave about how eager they are to hit the grind and I want to gag.

3. The hours are not the whole problem by themselves. It's the client demands, partner demands, asshole competitive associates, public hatred of even good attorneys (and jokes like "what do you mean good attorneys?"), etc.

4. What is all this talk about 60 hour weeks and Amlaw100/200 firms? I worked 70-80 hour weeks at a non-Amlaw200 firm, and not getting close to $160,000 well past first year of practice. At your Amlaw 100/200 firms it sounds like I could have been working less and getting $200,000 . . .

p.s. to the poster who suggested going in earlier in order to leave earlier - didn't matter where I worked. Face time after 5:00 p.m. mattered no matter how early you got there.

can someone please elaborate on the "stress" of biglaw? everyone i talked to complains about tediousness, billing 6 minute increments, boredom, hours, etc, but never "stress" or difficulty.

I worked in sales. It sucks. Does this person think that he/she is going on a permanent vacation?

11:07

1. What's with the assumption that it's a woman?

2. Thanks for the shrink session. Wow. You've managed to break down someone's entire career based on one letter that was likely written in haste.

You should probably tell those legal secretaries, paralegals and law clerks outside your office to go home. With such super-human insight and otherwise perfect grammer skills it's clear that nothing you do need be reviewed.

Sounds like someone had a really bad case of the Mondays.

2:58 a.m.

We posted around the same time - wasn't responding to you, but to those who came before. I didn't see yours till after mine went up.

Considered writing you an "I heart you" response, but then realized how late it was. Doubt you'll return to the thread to see this, but hey...

2:11,

1. My use of the feminine pronoun rather than the male merely follows the contemporary model that is standard in law schools and throughout most of the academy.

2. I beg to differ. The fact that the resignation letter was carefully and deliberately crafted is evidenced by the author's use of legal form and her thorough "analysis" of her plight. If the letter had been written in haste, it would be much shorter and probably quite nasty.

Finally, it is very much the case that "nothing [I] do need be reviewed" by "legal secretaries, paralegals and law clerks." I am not prone to frequent mistakes and, in any case, I would not rely those you listed to review my work.

Now, run along back to the sorority, sweetie.

for being the busiest people on the face of the earth, sure seems there's plenty of time to read and post messages on internet blogs. we billing these hours?

every minute, bitch.

"1. My use of the feminine pronoun rather than the male merely follows the contemporary model that is standard in law schools and throughout most of the academy."

Really? You also referred to the author as "young woman." It's been awhile, but I don't remember that part of the lesson. Before you make the argument that you were just trying to be consistent why don't you try stepping back for a moment and observe the big picture. In it you too defer to the bullet point breakdown of arguments, evidently even when acting in haste. Also, we all have support staff for a reason, you included.

And a reference to a sorority? Cute. I'm guessing you forwarded that to some partner in an effort at bonding. Sad. I hope you included that story about how you couldn't get laid in college. Probably still stands today.

I think it is a good letter that shows just how ridiculous big firms are.

I have worked in 2 biglaw firms and now I work in a 2-attorney firm in a medium-sized market. I very seldom work past 6, I rarely work on weekends, and I do have weekly standing appointments after work that I can get to . I don't own a blackberry. And since we have less overhead, I make very good money, not much less than I would at a big firm. I also can work from home when I feel like it if I do not have other appointments or appearances. On Fridays, our whole office almost always leaves before 4pm. This year, I have taken four weeks of vacation.

There are downsides to a small firm, like the fact that sometimes you have to type your own letters or take a document to file in court, but otherwise life is great. Unless you really need the pretentiousness of a big firm. I sure don't.

Ummmmm, did this guy do any research into the field of corporate law (other than the average salary) before entering the field? I'm not in the legal profession but even *I* know that the hours are killer. All that I can say is "Duh, what did he expect."

Good for him for being honest.

I feel this guy's pain. I think that a lot of us in the legal profession feel, at least at times, that we're a square peg in a round hole. Personally, I'm going to give it some time, but I'm not surprised at his attitude.

I think he must've missed the West Km and Deal Proof training, otherwise he could've been home by 6 every night and have the weekend off.

HA! The irony! Apparently your work, 2:40 is not up to the corporate/legal demands either. Perhaps you too should "fall back." Note your typo:

"I would not rely those you listed to review my work."

You see? People make mistakes and (ah!) it doesn't make them incapable of the banal and completely robotic work of the typical corporate lawyer. I left corporate law and am NOT looking back. Hurray for agency. Hurray for taking your professional and personal life by the reigns and not buying into the false glamour of late nights, "important" memos, and high-profile deals.

People in glass houses...

I personally know this guy and he has had 5 jobs in the past 2 years. I think he's in the business of collecting signing bonuses. He leaves after his contract is up.