<div class="image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image"><img src="http://static6.businessinsider.com/image/52c1ae0d6da8112a3b1cf3f1-480-360/2biglaw.jpg" border="0" alt="BigLaw Rebel" /><a href="http://biglawrebel.com/aboutme/">BigLaw Rebel</a><keyword id="1947150" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="BigLaw-Rebel">BigLaw Rebel</keyword></div></div></div>Big Law provided me with a slew of difficult and challenging times. I wasn't particularly happy, and I eventually walked away because I wanted to do something else with my life. I wanted to pursue a brand of work that intrinsically made me happy. So I left. 
Now that I'm out of the game, folks often ask me the following: "do you regret practicing law?" Absolutely not. Moreover, I continue to recommend Big Law as a first job for top law school graduates. As grueling as firm life can be, it undoubtedly bestows young associates with an irreplaceable skill set that translates to any profession. My firm experience cut my teeth as a businessman, and I truly believe that it will serve me well for the rest of my life. Below is a list of the 10 most valuable skills that young litigators will surely glean from a Big Law experience. 1. How To Be Responsive - Partners expect their associates to be available at all times. That means having their blackberry accessible 24/7, whether they are at home watching a sitcom or on the front nine of a golf course. And when a bright-eyed associate gets that last-minute email requiring a diligent effort on a time sensitive assignment, the proper firm etiquette is to respond ASAP. Failing to do so can aggravate both colleagues as well as clients. My old firm mentor gave me a rule when I started: any email that comes to my inbox must be responded to within 30 minutes or less.
Now, this doesn't mean that an in-depth research assignment should be thrown together in that time frame; instead, however, what needs to be fired off in the short term is a quick acknowledgment that the task is being attended to. This let's your coworkers know that the message has been received and that the product will be delivered shortly. This keeps everyone on the same page and facilitates a steady workflow. Firms do a great job of burning this anal-retentive sense of urgency into their fledgling lawyers. This mindset will serve young law grads well in both Big Law and beyond. 2. How To Write Well - Attorneys are known for being excellent writers. In fact, writing ability is probably the most important skill set for budding Big Law associates. If an associate is not a strong writer when he joins a firm, the partners and senior associates will bash him with constructive criticism to make sure that he gets up to speed as quickly as possible. Firms teach associates how to put together concise and clear sentences, how to front-load memorandums and briefs with the most pertinent information, and how to carefully excise writing of all grammatical and spelling errors.
Convoluted legalese is yesterday's mainstay; for modern attorneys, the emphasis is on clean and clear language. Writing is both a science and an art, and Big Law firms are some of the best training grounds to perfect both aspects of the craft. 3. How To Tolerate Unpleasant Work - As much as I advise my readers to "follow your bliss" and "do something you love," the reality of life is that you are always going to have to endure boring grunt work. It doesn't matter if you're a painter, a musician, a farmer, or a politician. For example, with my current venture, a supposed labor of love, I am still forced to make cold calls every so often in order to drum up business. And sometimes I have to drive around to different locations to hang up flyers. 
Even though I don't particularly enjoy these tasks, they have to be done. Big Law has taught me how to put my head down and plow through these obligations even though they are painfully boring. Through painstaking repetition, I now understand how to prepare my mind when necessary so that I can efficiently and methodically barrel through busy work. 4. How To Be Punctual - While many corporate positions stress the importance of punctuality, law is a special animal. Not only are attorneys subject to internal deadlines and meetings, but they are often at the mercy of inflexible judges. If a court specifies that something needs to be completed by a particular date, you simply must comply. It is a sink or swim environment, and showing a lack of discipline with respect to punctuality is a surefire way to plummet to the ocean bottom. 5. How To Deal With Powerful People - Working with powerful people requires a certain amount of grace and calibration. Sometimes you need to be submissive, and other times you need to show strength and composure. You must read each situation carefully and act accordingly.
Being surrounded by partners and senior associates in Big Law - fairly powerful individuals in their own right - is great practice for any subsequent career jump. Attorneys are constantly working with highly educated and accomplished mentors, all demanding a certain professional demeanor on a daily basis. 
But more interesting than the coworkers are the clients. Big Law firms deal with massively influential corporations. After all, those are the only organizations that can afford to pay the insane billable rates. I'm talking $400.00/hour for a junior associate; sometimes $1,000.00/hour for the Big Law big dogs. But what is really cool about working with these massive clients is that the point of contact will usually be someone fairly high up in the company. This could include a vice president, a CFO, a general counsel, and in some cases, a CEO of a fortune 500 company. 
Working with these C-level executives yields a strong and steady mentality. Another interesting facet of being a litigator is depositions. When a young buck steps up to the plate to grill his deponent, he will likely be interrogating a fairly senior member of the company. In these situations, associates learn how to be assertive and strong despite the lopsided power dynamic. 6. How To Read In A Fast And Effective Way - This one almost goes without saying, but I'll say it anyway. The path to being an excellent reader begins in law school when professors flood students' schedules with laborious and dense reading assignments. The progression continues at the firm when associates are required to do (1) copious amounts of legal research, (2) parse all sorts of documents, and (3) proofread tons of legal briefs and motions. Attorneys spend the majority of their day reading something, and the reading will, in general, be fairly complex. Accordingly, Big Law associates learn how to process large amounts of information in an efficient manner. 7. How To Manage Time - Most litigators in Big Law will be staffed on somewhere between three and five cases simultaneously. That means associates (1) need to be aware of several ongoing projects at once, (2) recognize what is due when, (3) know which partners need to be contacted about what, and (4) keep abreast of when the next item needs to be addressed. Needless to say, attorneys often feel lost amidst an insane flurry of activity. They either learn to organize their schedules or find a new career. Bottom line… Big Law attorneys know how to manage their time better than anyone in the corporate game. 8. How To Pay Attention To Details - I had a rude awakening when I began my legal career. By nature, I am not a detail-oriented person. Instead, I am what folks refer to as a "big picture" guy. Well, that simply does not fly for a young associate. Big Law requires all employees to adhere to a standard of perfect emails, flawless memos, and immaculate discovery documents. Typos are not tolerated. Even intra-firm emails are heavily scrutinized. 
To adapt to this heightened standard, I had to implement a host of different methodologies to ensure that my work product met the firm's quality control standards. Eventually, after enough time, these techniques became second nature, and lo and behold, I had morphed myself into a relatively detail-oriented person. If you compare a basic memorandum generated by a Big Law attorney versus that from any other corporate genre, you will most often find that the pristine and polished end product was manufactured by the lawyer. 9. How To Be Self-Sufficient - So it's your first day as an attorney. You graduated from a great law school with an awesome GPA, and you feel like you can take on the world with your legal wizardry, right? Well, truthfully, you don't know jack. The vast majority of what you need to learn will be absorbed on the job.
And how does that learning primarily take place? By doing. No lectures, no tutorials, and no homework. You will be handed all sorts of assignments that you will have absolutely no idea how to complete. The onus is on you to look up exemplars, speak with mentors, and undertake independent research to get the job done. Once again, the sink or swim policy is in play. If you successfully navigate these choppy waters, you will have earned yourself a shiny "self-sufficient" merit badge. 10. How To Delegate - Even young associates must be savvy with delegation. This is not as easy as it sounds. First off, they need to get comfortable with the bizarre age dynamics at play. For example, since most law school graduates are around 27 or 28, the odds are that their secretaries will be older and more experienced than them. The same goes for the paralegals as well as the contract attorneys. 
The young associates are responsible for divvying up work assignments and taking on a leadership role. As they move up through the ranks, they will be required to assemble teams of underlings, hand out assignments, and keep tabs on progress. Again, there is no tutorial on how to oversee large teams. They must learn as they go. After a few years in Big Law, associates are well equipped to manage any large project.

10 Things I Learned From Working In Big Law

<div class="KonaFilter image-container float_right"><div class="image on-image"><img src="http://static6.businessinsider.com/image/529f66afecad048e1c58f3fe-1200-1500/img_0597-5.jpg?maxX=480" border="0" alt="BigLaw Rebel" width="480" /><a href="http://biglawrebel.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/IMG_0597.jpg">BigLaw Rebel</a><keyword id="1947150" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="BigLaw-Rebel">BigLaw Rebel</keyword></div></div>In September of 2013, I emancipated myself from the suffocating practice of law. After four long years of tiresome toil, I finally realized that the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow was not worth the journey.
I wanted to experience happiness and satisfaction in the now, not in 20 or 30 years after I had acquired a nest egg doing something I detested.
So, I quit. And when I reflect back on it now, you know what I think? It was the best damn decision of my life. Not only am I pleased that I get to pursue my passions today, but I'm also thrilled that I no longer have to waste my days punching a clock inside a legal sweatshop. I recently reflected on precisely why I'm happy to be out of the law game.
Here is my top ten list of reasons why I'm thrilled that I left Big Law:
1. I can work where I want, when I want, on what I want - firms definitely vary when it comes to face time, but my second law firm valued it deeply. Partners would take notice of when we showed up, when we left, and whether or not we came in on the weekends. I was a slave to the nonsensical strictures of an outdated corporate mentality while being forced to slug away at something that I generally did not enjoy. Not a great way to spend the majority of my life. But everything is different now. I'm the boss. I'm the decision maker. I decide when, where, what, who, how, why, and so on. I'm CEO, bitch. Oh, well, there is that little issue of a drastic pay cut, but I'm working on that. Have some patience for god's sake!
2. I no longer feel guilty on weekends for not billing - the only folks who will understand this one are current or former Big Law attorneys. When you join a large law firm, you quickly recognize that there is a highly annoying mentality that overtly encourages associates to work ad nauseum. That means late into the night on weekdays, and all day on weekends and holidays. You are expected to be available at all times, and subtly prodded to work as much as possible. When you pull an all-nighter (or three) to slave away on a case, the partners will pat you on the back. Why? Because those hefty billable hours means more cash for the partnership. Associates soon recognize that beaucoup hours will earn the good graces of their superiors. As this mentality seeps into each associate, a curious thing happens. The sycophantic bunch begins to internalize this core belief, and before they know it, they feel genuinely guilty when they are not working. 
I'm not talking about slacking off while at the office; I'm referring to feeling guilty for not staying at work until midnight. Or for taking a Saturday off to go to the zoo with the family. Or to head to Miami in the dead of winter for a much needed playcation. It's strange, but during my time in Big Law, I was never able to fully enjoy a hard earned vacation. I was always haunted by an ominous feeling of guilt, and constantly worried about how the partners and associates would perceive my desire to get away. It poisoned my free time and destroyed my ability to relax. So long, billable guilt. I will not miss thee.
3. No more doc review - the worst of the worst tasks for Big Law associates is document review. For a bunch of knowledge thirsty academics who sincerely enjoy mental stimulation, this is a torturously boring assignment that I will never, ever miss. I spent over 1,000 hours as a first year associate plugging away at this awful task. But I'm not saying you should take it lightly. Truthfully, document review is a very important part of the litigation process, and sloppy work during this phase can lead to massive disasters down the road. For those attorneys who have been given this task, take it seriously. I'm just glad I never have to do it again.
4. I don't have to attend nonsensical networking events - I love meeting new people. I am a prototypical extrovert, and derive a great deal of energy from social interactions. But law related mingling events are terrible because you end up interacting with a bunch of lawyers. And if you haven't realized this yet, I'm not particularly fond of most Big Law lawyers. First off, they are usually incapable of talking about anything other than work. Why? Because they are boring as balls. Second, they are typically very awkward. But one thing I will give them credit for is that they like to drink. The American Bar Association estimates that 15-20% of all lawyers are alcoholics. That always makes for an entertaining event. Watching a bunch of overworked introverts get completely hammered is an awesome recipe for hilarious antics. But hell, I'd rather get sauced with my friends. So, peace out networking events!
5. I no longer have to socialize and work with people I don't like - yikes, that sounded a little harsh. I definitely liked and respected a number of attorneys I worked with. But, lo and behold, there were a bunch of them that were either painfully uninteresting, hyper competitive, or egregiously passive aggressive. That's the nature of Big Law. It naturally attracts these types of people. Grabbing a pint with my coworkers and hearing about their weekend plans was as enjoyable as sitting on a block of ice while naked.
6. I'm not checking my blackberry every 15 minutes - most law firms expect you to check your email the first thing in the morning, the last thing at night, and every 15 minutes in between. Well, I'm glad to report that I no longer have to partake in this terrible ritual. I will admit, however, that I am constantly checking my email and phone to see what customer inquiries are coming in for my new business. Even though this is a similar process, it is done in the interest of my own venture. Accordingly, I actually look forward to seeing these messages roll in. Strange, I know, but now that it pertains to something I'm passionate about, it makes it so much better.
7. I can plan vacations in advance - when you work for a firm, you are beholden to its needs. That means no matter what vacation you have planned, you must be willing to cancel it if the need arises. One of my former coworkers was asked to forego HIS OWN WEDDING to meet the needs of his trial team. Guess what? He obliged. Yep, the awesome power of firm guilt eroded his soul and persuaded him to reschedule his own wedding for the sake of the case. And he wasn't even one of the primary attorneys on the case! As a thank you, the firm did pay for his honeymoon… but was it worth it to cancel an entire wedding? Ask his ex-wife.
For those of you who are familiar with patent litigation, these remaining three items are for you. Enjoy!
8. I don't have to hear idiotic and lame patent law jokes about 35 USC Section 101, 102, or 103 - truism #1: most lawyers are nerds. If you go to any law school, you'll see what I mean. Truism #2: most engineers are nerds. If you go to any engineering courses, you'll see what I mean. Now take the Euler diagram intersection of these two sets, and you have a group of ultra introverted uber nerds. See illustration below:
<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image"><img src="http://static2.businessinsider.com/image/52a8a03069bedd32215b486f-400-380/patent-attorney-euler.jpg" border="0" alt="Patent Lawyers" /><a href="http://biglawrebel.com/2013/12/10/10-reasons-why-im-thrilled-i-left-big-law/">BigLaw Rebel</a></div></div></div>
Now, when I say "nerd," I don't mean smart … I mean socially challenged. Along with this blaring inability to kick back and have a normal conversation comes a perversely narrow and cheesy sense of humor. When you combine these characteristics with a sincere fascination of patent law, the monstrous resultant is a slew of awful, painful, idiotic, and horribly unfunny patent jokes. If you're a patent attorney, you most certainly know what I mean. If you're not, you'll just have to take my word that these jokes are the goddamn worst. Peace out, butchers of comedy.
9. I don't have to keep current on the boring updates in the Federal Circuit - patent law opinions are probably the most uninteresting pieces of literature ever written. The nuanced updates and changes provided by each patent case are mind-numbingly boring to read about. To stay abreast of the newest precedential rulings, I would read these cases regularly. Why is the Federal Circuit the place to go? Because it is essentially the highest court for almost all patent cases. Sure, the occasional patent dispute will make it to the Supreme Court, but for the most part, cases make their last stop at the Fed Circuit. I never liked reading these opinions, but I did it regularly to stay current. No more, dear friends … no more.
10. No more reading patents - okay, I know what you're thinking … why did I become a patent attorney if I hate reading patents? Well, the job sounded cool when it was first described to me. Everyone praised the profession as a wonderful union of technology and law. Attorneys in the field tantalized me by stating that I would be representing tech giant clients on headline grabbing matters. Admittedly, the job does seem kind of cool at a high level. You are protecting innovation, fostering technological growth, and working with brilliant pioneers at the forefronts of their fields. But it's the nitty-gritty that blows chunks. The day-to-day grind of discovery responses, document review, court filings, and so on that detracted me. The one piece that I hated the most was reading and analyzing patents. Personally, I think patents suck. They are ambiguous and dense, and intentionally designed to be as broad and vague as possible (without getting rejected by the USPTO). The brand of legalese employed in these documents is deplorable above and beyond any obnoxious legal vernacular you will find elsewhere. Awful sauce.

10 Reasons Why I'm Happy I Left My Soulless BigLaw Job

<div class="KonaFilter image-container float_right"><div class="image on-image"><img src="http://static6.businessinsider.com/image/529f66afecad048e1c58f3fe-1200-1500/img_0597-5.jpg?maxX=480" border="0" alt="BigLaw Rebel" width="480" /><a href="http://biglawrebel.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/IMG_0597.jpg">BigLaw Rebel</a><keyword id="1947150" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="BigLaw-Rebel">BigLaw Rebel</keyword></div></div>I was done. Frustrated and fed up, disgruntled and exhausted, I knew that I had to get out of my firm. I didn't know exactly where I would go, but I knew that my career needed a massive overhaul.
At this point in time, a few of my friends had already made the leap out of Big Law. 
A couple of folks had gone in-house, several others had slipped into a boutique firm, and a handful of brave souls had started their own firms. These all seemed like safe, viable options for me… all I had to do was (1) pick an avenue and (2) get busy.
Big Law was done, that was certain, but precisely where I would go next was up in the air. After about a month and a half of interviews with small firms and corporations, I had gotten two nice offers: one was with a movie studio in Hollywood as in-house counsel, and another was with a prestigious litigation boutique in Santa Monica. Even though I preferred the movie studio, I ended up choosing the firm because of its flexibility regarding my start date. So, after a few weeks of serious contemplation, I accepted the firm offer, packed my bags, and took off for the summer.
And what a summer it was. It is hard to put into words what I experienced, but suffice to say it was the most important summer of my life. I met a ton of incredible people, learned an immense amount about myself, and pushed my mind to new limits. I commingled with a number of likeminded individuals who had abandoned their corporate careers to burn an entirely new path. These folks all wanted freedom, flexibility, ownership, and most importantly, happiness. I now wanted those things as well.
I returned to Los Angeles with a brand new mindset. Not only had I come to terms with my dislike of litigation, but I had completely prepared myself to part ways with my legal career. I finally knew that I wanted to start my own education services company. It felt amazingly liberating. I was overflowing with energy and inspiration, and I was ready to let my potential soar.
But I nearly forgot… I had a job that would kick off shortly. Shit. I had almost forgotten about my new firm. I knew I had no desire to pursue that type of work anymore, so I figured that I wouldn't start the job. Simple. Easy. Done.
Ah, but do you remember that I'm Indian? Do you realize that my parents come from a traditional background where children must study hard, find a particular field, and then work hard to steadily move up a corporate ladder? When my father heard that I was leaving the law, he immediately tried to intervene. He was extremely disappointed and wanted me to rethink my decision. He urged me to at least try the new job. Even though I knew I didn't want to start, I felt guilty. I figured I could at least appease my Dad and give the new job a go.
And so, on September 3, 2013, I walked into my new law firm. I met with the human resources department, introduced myself to the various partners and attorneys in the patent group, and enjoyed a firm sponsored lunch with my new set of coworkers. Everyone was extremely nice, and my office was fully stocked with standard legal supplies and a brand new MacBook Pro. It was official: I was back in the rat race.
But something was different. I had taken the red pill over the summer and nothing looked the same. I could finally see the green lines of streaming matrix code where shapes and objects once stood. I was no longer overwhelmed and enamored by the corporate veneer and highfalutin lawyer lifestyle. Screw the system. Bring on the thunder, Agent Smith. It was time to free my mind, break out of my machine built cocoon, and zip down the rabbit hole to Zion.
I couldn't do the legal dance anymore. Not for a year, not for a month, not even for a week. I wanted to start living my dream right away, start pursuing my real passions at that precise moment. Why waste any time once you know what you want to do? What is the point? There is so much emphasis nowadays on looking forward. We are told from a young age that we must wait patiently for that golden day when all our dreams materialize after much blood and sweat has been exerted. Bide your time, put in the hours, and eventually things will pay off. Pardon my French, but f*** that shit. I was ready to launch my own venture, and that was that.
I asked the hiring partner if he was free for a quick chat. He was, and he kindly came down to my office. After he entered, I shut the door and sat down. He looked at me with a suspicious look on his face and said "uh oh… you're not leaving, are you?" Actually, yes I am. I then told him that I simply couldn't stay any longer, that I had thought about it deeply, and I needed a change. He was noticeably upset, but reasonably understanding. He asked if I could stay a few more days to wrap up my outstanding projects. Of course I obliged, and did my best work possible before leaving.
During my last few days in office, not a single person came by to wish me well. But I totally expected this treatment. After all, the firm had waited all summer for me to begin, so I had obviously left a bad taste in its mouth. But it didn't matter. Nothing about law firm life mattered anymore. I was on my way to a brand new beginning. When I walked out those doors for the last time, I felt like I could fly. I wanted to scream. Actually, I did scream. I raced out the doors, jumped in my car, and zoomed up Santa Monica Boulevard back to my apartment. I rounded up a few of my friends, charged down the street, and partied all night in celebration of my new life. The next day, I opened up my laptop and began my life as an entrepreneur. 
Every day since, I have been sincerely, authentically happy. I am so stoked about the future, and can't wait to see what happens with my business venture.

How I Finally Knew I Wanted To Quit Being A Lawyer

<div class="KonaFilter image-container float_right"><div class="image on-image"><img src="http://static1.businessinsider.com/image/528e64cd69bedd6614629bb4-603-452/nightlife-3.png?maxX=480" border="0" alt="nightlife" width="480" /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mirjoran/8056865514/">Flickr/mirjoran</a></div></div>Is lawyering a mistake? The short answer to this quandary is: not necessarily.
I have certainly met some Big <keyword id="6355470" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Law">Law</keyword> attorneys who adore their jobs. Moreover, they make a hefty income and are able to enjoy the finer things in life. For these lucky folks, Big Law was an excellent fit for their personalities. They thrived in an environment that appears to be getting more and more hostile to fresh law school grads.
If you're contemplating the leap into a law firm, let me give you some insight into whether or not you will like it. Here are five questions to consider before making the jump:
1. Are you an extrovert?
Make no mistake, the legal world does have some socially charged individuals, but most of them gravitate away from Big Law. This is because most associates at Big Law firms spend the majority of their time in an isolated office. You will be reading, writing, and reviewing documents from the comfort of your ergonomically designed chair with your brand new laptop and docking station. 
I know that you might have fanciful fantasies of interrogating witnesses and bantering with judges, but this is not a realistic vision for mainstay Big Law work. Whether you're going to be a litigator or a transactional attorney, you must be ready for the brunt of your work to be solo endeavors.
As you move up in the ranks, you will certainly start to take more calls with clients and opposing counsel, but you will still be largely confined to paperwork within your office. I used to imagine taking on the role of the partner who wines and dines clients, flies into sexy cities for hearings, and then breaks bread with other high-powered attorneys while sipping a fine chardonnay. While these types of <keyword id="41930" type="COMPANY" weightage="60" keywordseo="Lawyers">lawyers</keyword> do exist, they are extremely rare. When I started to realize that even partners lead a fairly isolated existence at work, I began to reevaluate my career path.
2. Do you genuinely enjoy researching and understanding legal issues?
Believe it or not, I never really thought about this as I entered Big Law. It was never about whether I should, but always about whether I could. The entire endeavor of law school and lawyering amounted to nothing more than proving my capabilities to my peers and myself.
For those of you who still have time, this is a really valuable question to consider. If you genuinely aren't interested in learning about legal nuances and jurisdictional rules, the daily work can feel like a terrible grind. Instead of feeling excitement and anticipation when starting a new research project, you will be consumed by a dragging feeling that will make the work feel painful. And, the more you do it, the worse it will get. I know this from personal experience.
The tough part about addressing this question is that most of us don't have our first real taste of legal work until law school. Yes, that's a bit late for a first go. My recommendation to anyone contemplating this career path is to try and work as either a secretary or a paralegal in a Big Law firm. 
This will give you valuable insight into what the attorneys do on a day-to-day basis. Moreover, if you're lucky, you might get a chance to jump in the legal foray yourself. Test the waters before you strap on a bathing suit.
3. Is there something else that you actually wish you could do for a living?
Do you have a deep passion? Not everyone does, so it's totally normal if you don't. To be honest, many folks who end up in law school go there precisely because they have no gripping academic interests. But, if you do, take inventory of those passions. Think about the type of work that you would love to do even if you earned no money to do it. Do you like working with animals? Do you like helping kids? Are you obsessed with the financial section of the newspaper? Or perhaps the sport's section?
Your natural inclinations can be an excellent guiding light for your career. Follow your bliss. That's not fluffy advice, that's real talk. Now, if you've determined that your interests truly lie in the daily practice of law, then terrific. My main advice is this: whatever you do, make a decision with your eyes open. Own your choice.
4. Are you in a large amount of debt?
A lot of my law school buddies routinely rant and rave about how much they hate their firm jobs. They despise the work, they dislike their coworkers, and they couldn't care less about making partner. But, alas, they owe several hundred thousand dollars in student loans. If this is the case for you, then you might be stuck. You must be honest with yourself about your financial obligations. 
If you need the money, stick it out until you are debt free. You could also push for high paying alternatives like consulting or investment banking. These fields are always looking for qualified candidates, and many times a legal background can you make a valued asset.
Chances are that if you're in Big Law, you're pretty goddamn smart. Accordingly, feel free to career shop. Just know that you won't be quitting your job to travel the world as a free spirit for two years.
5. Do you really care if you are happy at work?
When I was about to pull the rip chord and jump out of the Big Law battleship, my best friend from law school pulled me aside to give me his perspective. "Look," he said, "we all know this job sucks. The hours blow, the work is crap, and the people are kind of weird. But, we get paid a lot of money to sit in a nice office and churn out paperwork. It's not a horrible travesty. And let's be honest, work is work. You're never going to like it, but you grit your teeth and do it regardless."
This guy is brilliant. He graduated near the top of our class and ended up at the most prestigious firm in the country. He barely studied, never took notes, and partied five nights a week during his 1L year. Straight up legend. So, when he talks, I listen intently.
After much thought and contemplation, I finally realized that we are different. I actually do care whether or not my work brings me to life. In contrast, my buddy is more concerned with the other components of his life. He tolerates the job and pockets the booty. He's happy as can be and doesn't yearn for any sort of change.
Figure out where you stand on the spectrum. Take an honest look at what's important in your life and proceed accordingly. There is no "one-size fits all" formula; the optimal path varies wildly from person to person. Find what works for you. Good luck.

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10 Things I Learned From Working In Big Law

BigLaw Rebel

10 Reasons Why I'm Happy I Left My Soulless BigLaw Job

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How I Finally Knew I Wanted To Quit Being A Lawyer

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5 Questions To Ask Yourself Before Becoming A Corporate Lawyer

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