Why I Quit My Biglaw Job

[@raffialfaraby2336]

Thanks for sharing your perspective. It is quite helpful for me as a law freshgrad

[@globallysadiki]

Thx for sharing your story. I’m a recovering strategy consultant and your story is so real and I think cuts across client services firms. I’ve also dealt with anxiety (and depression). I woke up one Monday morning and just quit. Oh and I’m a non traditional student studying for the LSAT! Glad I found your channel.

[@aalegalfocus]

Thanks for being willing to share your story and experience.

[@former_lawyer]

Always so happy to share if it will help other people!

[@sarahbacktobasics844]

Hi Sarah. I'm a podcast listener, but I'd love it if you could make some content that acknowledges the differences between lawyers leaving big law and lawyers leaving other law jobs. Particularly of interest are stories about leaving public interest law, e.g. legal aid.

[@aalegalfocus]

Based on what I've seen, most people leave public interest law organizations because they dislike their managers, want more pay, and/or want to get out of a small town (if they're located in such). The work hours are a lot more manageable than big law, but dealing with all the people can be a huge source of misery, coupled with the low pay.

[@michaelramsey2631]

Great video. Did you have the anxiety issue innately or did Biglaw cause it? Hard to know. I worked in Biglaw for many years, and I saw many otherwise cool and collected people erode via exhaustion into hyper anxious and bitter shells of their former selves. Again, great video and great work. Thank you for what you are doing.

[@former_lawyer]

Thank you! I think that's a great question. There's a crass analogy I've heard--"genetics loads the gun, and environment pulls the trigger"--and I think that is probably true for lots of lawyers in Biglaw who end up suffering from anxiety. I also think that there are lots of people who unknowingly suffer from clinical anxiety and are drawn to high-prestige parts of the legal profession. For me, I undoubtedly had clinical anxiety years and years before I even started law school--I just didn't have the awareness or language to know that's what it was. And Biglaw just exacerbated it.

[@aag7697]

I love love love your videos! Thank you

[@former_lawyer]

Thank you!

[@Essays4College]

How do single people date/socialize there while working those crazy hours?

[@former_lawyer]

Honestly, I've heard lots of complaints from single people about how difficult it makes dating, or socializing with anyone other than coworkers.

[@KarisaKarmali]

👏👏

[@chinaberg]

I think maybe doing a government job would have been better for you.

[@aalegalfocus]

It depends. I know some government workers who have also suffered from severe anxiety because of the people they work for.

[@former_lawyer]

No doubt! I actually went on to work at a state court of appeals for six years (that video is coming next week!).