Labor / Employment, On The Job

In Defense Of Working In Biglaw

Look, Biglaw isn’t for everyone. But there are also some great things about Biglaw that are often forgotten that make Biglaw firms cool places to work.

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Two weeks ago, fellow ATL columnist Richard Cohen wrote a piece (sarcastically) titled, “5 Reasons Not To Work From Home And Stay At Biglaw.” Richard’s article talked about the benefits of spurning the traditional big firm gig and instead opting for a smaller shop or cloud law firm like his. Richard bemoaned the “fear and anxiety” of working in Biglaw; having to say “Hi!” to the managing partner every day (so that he/she knows you’re there and working); along with “the yelling, the fighting, the threats and teeth-gnashing” (purportedly) inherent in Biglaw, among other things.

I’ve read and heard enough commentary from other lawyers to realize that there are firms and offices where Richard’s descriptions are accurate. I’m sure that the lawyers who work in those places don’t have a positive take on their work environment or Biglaw in general.

But accounts like Richard’s made me afraid of working in Biglaw. I assumed from the stories I read that all Biglaw firms were dysfunctional places full of terrified, miserable associates chained to their desks toiling away their lives in despair, looking for the first reasonable exit opportunity. Those fears made me very hesitant to work in a Biglaw firm.

I decided, however, that I’d have to try it and form my own opinions. I’m very glad I did because I work for a fantastic boss who doesn’t yell, scream, insult, or send nasty emails. He’s a pleasure to work for and he genuinely tries to help me develop professionally. The other partners and associates I’ve worked with in and out of my section have been, without exception, pleasant and helpful. I work a lot, but it isn’t under a yoke of terror and anxiety. I’m doing work I enjoy with people I genuinely like.

There. I said it. I really enjoy working in Biglaw. I enjoy it so much that it’s hard to imagine myself doing anything else. After reading Richard’s article, I therefore felt compelled to write about some of the great parts of Biglaw that often get forgotten or overlooked. My hope is that people who are or will be considering a position in Biglaw will recognize these positive aspects and not be scared away by the horror stories out there.

So here are five things that I think make Biglaw firms worth at least trying out.

  1. Interesting, sophisticated work.

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You can and will work on interesting cases and engagements if you work at a smaller firm. I think it’s fair to say, however, that the relative number of sophisticated and interesting matters on which you will work will generally be higher in Biglaw. This reality seems primarily driven by the fact that clients are reluctant to send routine or commodity-type work to Biglaw firms due to Biglaw’s higher rates, and so such work is relatively scarce. This has certainly been my experience.

  1. A fast-paced environment.

I personally enjoy a fast-paced work environment. It keeps me engaged, increases my focus, and maximizes my efficiency. I’m never sitting around bored because there’s always something to be done. If you’re like me and you like your work environment to keep you on your toes and stimulated, then Biglaw will almost certainly check that box for you.

  1. Prestige and a presumption of competence.

Working at a huge firm that handles high-profile matters for high-profile clients lends the attorneys who work there a certain prestige. It seems that people (rightly or wrongly) are more likely to assume that lawyers who work at those firms are more competent and better trained. There is thus a certain level of prestige that comes with working at a Biglaw firm that you don’t typically get from smaller firms. It’s a nice intangible benefit.

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  1. Lots of other lawyers to talk to in different substantive areas.

If you’re working on a matter and you spot something that implicates another substantive area of the law, it’s easy to connect with a subject matter expert in that area when you’re in Biglaw. Need a tax expert’s opinion on something? Have a burning question for a securities lawyer? There’s usually someone who can answer your question in your own firm just a phone call or two away. And it’s usually free advice.

It may take a little time to track down that one expert you need in a firm with hundreds of attorneys, but it usually works out to be more efficient and cheaper for the client. Without so many attorneys within your own firm to draw on, you might otherwise have to locate and retain another firm to provide guidance on some issue, which is less efficient and probably more expensive for the client.

  1. Deep resources.

Working in Biglaw gives you access to resources you likely wouldn’t have at a smaller firm. From dedicated marketing and business development professionals who will help you grow your practice, to financial experts who can help you drill down on your performance, Biglaw has some amazing resources for its lawyers. Utilizing these resources allows attorneys to focus more time and energy on practicing law and developing clients that might otherwise have to be spent on things like collections and general firm administration in a smaller shop. This is a huge perk for me.

Conclusion

Look, Biglaw isn’t for everyone. It’s a tough and usually intense environment. The demands are very real. But there are also some great things about Biglaw that are often forgotten that make Biglaw firms cool places to work. There are also some great people in Biglaw who can make the job fulfilling and enjoyable.

So don’t be scared away by the horror stories. Try it for yourself. You might be like me and really enjoy it.

evan-gibbsEvan Gibbs is an attorney at Troutman Sanders, where he primarily litigates employment cases and handles traditional labor matters. Connect with him on LinkedIn here, or e-mail him here. (The views expressed in this column are his own.)

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