Being An In-N-Out Manager Might Be Better Than Being A Lawyer If You Can Get The Job

A few weeks ago, Lee Breslouer from Thrillist wrote Why Being an In-N-Out Manager Is Better Than Being a Lawyer. Some people on social media were sharing this story, noting that having a job where you get to eat Double-Doubles on a daily basis doesn’t seem like work. A few of them were jokingly(?) asking if applications were available. But before you give up your bar license for a food handling license, be aware that the article makes its argument by using bad comparisons.

First, the article acknowledges that getting a job at In-N-Out is not easy. It claims that a referral is needed just for an interview, although you can apply for positions online. At least they look for people who are motivated and trainable, unlike the legal industry, which continues to use the inefficient purple squirrel hiring model.

Next, let’s talk about compensation. The article states that In-N-Out managers in Orange County, California earn an annual salary of $120,000. It compares that to the average attorney salary of $114,970 as reported by U.S. News. But this is a misleading comparison. Assuming the store manager is the top of the In-N-Out food chain, it would be better to compare her to the 75th percentile salary of attorneys, who I assume are attorneys with substantial managerial experience. These attorneys according to U.S. News earn an average of $172,540 per year. And we all know others who earn a lot more than that.

Yes, $120,000 is still a whopper of a salary. But only a few chosen ones can be a store manager. According to the In-N-Out website, there are only 23 locations in Orange County. Other cities report manager base salaries being as low as $51,986. Also, Orange County is one of the most expensive counties in Southern California, with rent prices for a one-bedroom apartment starting at $1,595 per month. The average house in Orange County costs $668,300. So while you will be financially secure and live comfortably as an In-N-Out manager, it will be a long and difficult journey to get there.

Now, let’s look at work-life balance. The article doesn’t describe the daily life of a store manager. Most In-N-Out locations are open from 10:30 a.m. until 1a.m. While a store manager is probably not expected to work all 14 and a half hours on a daily basis, she is expected to put more time in than the typical employee. Managers are also likely to be on call for emergencies.

Finally, the article mentions that In-N-Out managers are probably happier than lawyers. It’s somewhat futile to argue with this because happiness is subjective. In-N-Out seems like a great place to work if you have the chops for it. And most lawyers will agree that depression is a serious problem in the profession.

But lawyers are more likely to be depressed because in our line of work, the stakes are much higher. A customer at In-N-Out just wants something to eat. If she doesn’t like her food or gets the wrong order, she can get a replacement or a refund fairly quickly. And on rare occasions, management has to deal with the slip and fall, the unruly customer, the unruly employee, or some other catastrophe.

Lawyers usually have to meet clients when they are at their worst. They are angry, scared, depressed or some combination. We deal with catastrophes on a daily basis. And it takes a toll. When the client takes out his frustrations on us. Or when the judge makes the wrong decision for the wrong reasons. On top of that, we have to worry about career instability and insurmountable student loans to name a few. But despite it all, the happiness we get from working a long day successfully helping our clients is probably greater than that of a fast-food worker.

A 0L reading the Thrillist article may wonder about how to choose a proper career path. Any career path whether in fast food or any other industry can provide comparable financial stability as lawyers and better job satisfaction if they are willing to start from the bottom, work their way up, and distinguish themselves as the famous star along the way.

The problem is that people continue to look down on the fast food-industry. Parents continue to use it to warn their slacker children to get their act together or be stuck sweeping unused lettuce with the losers.

Parents and popular culture still push the confused and sometimes unwilling into the legal profession. And most people would rather marry a lawyer making $80,000 per year with over $150,000 in student loan debt rather than a fast-food manager making $100,000 with no debt.

This is because lawyers have “prestige.” Prestige is the justification for spending more than you earn because you are investing in your image. Clients and referral sources are supposed to think that your luxury goods (and a big mouth) are a reflection of your success. And one day, out of the blue, you’ll get that job or client that you are entitled to and it will all be worth it. This tactic works for some people, but not for most.

I agree with the author that working for In-N-Out could be a solid career choice for some considering law school. The company provides super-sized salaries compared to its competition, and most employees are happy to have worked there. But comparing the careers of In-N-Out managers to average lawyers doesn’t work. This is not like comparing apples to oranges. It’s more like comparing an apple to a Double-Double Animal Style. The training and daily duties are different and job satisfaction is not guaranteed. Finally, there are only a limited number of managers, while there seem to be two lawyers for every American.

But if the author is telling his readers to consider other options that are not as expensive and fit their qualifications, then I am all for it. Not bad for someone who admits to learning about law firm life by watching Better Call Saul.

Earlier: Don’t Waste Your Money On Law School When You Can Work In Fast Food And Make A Similar Salary

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Shannon Achimalbe was a former solo practitioner for five years before deciding to sell out and get back on the corporate ladder. Shannon can be reached by email at [email protected] and via Twitter: @ShanonAchimalbe.