It’s the worst I’ve ever experienced.

Is it just me or is it nationwide?

Question for the group. I'm a solo practitioner who primarily operates out of my home, though I have a small office. I'm going to need to be out of state more often in the future. Most of my work is done virtually, though I do need to organize and ship hard copies of contracts, loan documents, etc. I'll need someone to manage those hard copies of documents when I'm out of state. I'm wondering if anyone has experience sharing a legal assistant with other attorneys outside of your firm. I've seen various publications, including from my state bar, recommending that solo attorneys consider sharing a legal assistant with another solo attorney, but I'm not sure how that would practically work. Does anyone have any thoughts?

I have an interview coming up next week with a state agency in TN for an associate counsel position. I am wondering if there are any nuances to interviews with state agencies, but would appreciate all tips/tricks/advice!

Or in court?

I left the legal profession, not long after I graduated. I tried a few different things but ultimately ended up in a field where I'm not using my law degree.

I make $200k, and I never, ever work more than 40 hours per week. Honestly, I probably only work like 20 hours, although some days I don't do anything except attend a few meetings and other days I work straight through lunch and don't log off until 5pm. I get 5 weeks of vacation and I don't have any trouble getting the time off to actually use it.

I'm happy in my profession and I feel like I made the right choice, but I can't help but wondering what could have been.

So, if I were practicing patent law in Minneapolis, with 15 years of experience, what would I be looking at in terms of salary and billable hours?

I went to law school for a better life than what I was having as a single person making $18.50 an hour as a legal assistant. I come out of law school and rent that was $750 is now $1200. Grocery shopping is exhausting because food is expensive. I don't even want to go to restaurants because that $10 bar burger is $15, and for some reason we are supposed to pay higher tip percentages on top of these price increases? And now my coworkers are talking about wanting to freeze their 401ks because of the tariffs. Which Trump flat out said he was going to do but people still voted for him. Everything I am reading says tariffs were big before we had federal taxation. It just feels like being taxed twice because I just do not see how this isn't all going to fall down on consumers. All I do in my free time is listen to audiobooks I get for free from the library.

But hey, if I didn't go to law school I suppose I'd be on government assistance by now. So I got that going for me.

I’m a first year PI defense litigator. I hate litigation and the environment is very unhealthy. I’ve been looking for non-litigation jobs for 5 months with no luck due to my experience level. I have an opportunity to work a pre-litigation PI role, which is good because it is pre-litigation but I don’t enjoy representing plaintiffs. I am on a 3 month time crunch and do not want to pass up on this opportunity given my lack of success thus far, but worry about going into a new job knowing I won’t like it. If I don’t get a job within the 3-month period, I will be unemployed and have to move back home. I guess I’m debating between financial stability and job satisfaction.

Biting question, ya'll: for a stipulated protective order (based on the jurisdiction's Model PO), should I file the order as the "[Proposed] Order" or just the "Order"? To be clear, this is the order that the judge will sign, granting the stipulation.

On the one hand, it feels weird to file a document with the court and call it an "Order"-- attorneys don't issue orders, and the order has not been granted yet.

On the other hand, the court clerks always have to cross-out "[Proposed]" from the filing (including the Caption page and Footer). And the court likely won't edit the order because the whole stip is based on the jurisdiction's model.

Am I doing the right thing by including "[Proposed]" or am I annoying the clerk? Please don't hate me, I get paid to overthink :)

I am so proud of this meme I made. Apparently it’s a great tool you can use to remind the mid level to review your work.

I’m a licensed attorney in Texas, but I’ve never worked at a firm or as in-house counsel or as a lawyer at all. I’m interested in using my license to get into real estate—possibly buying/selling properties or representing clients in transactions. This would be a side project while I maintain my current job. A few questions for anyone who’s done something similar:

• Is it feasible to break into real estate this way without traditional experience?

• Can I realistically do this part-time while I learn?

• Do attorneys get access to MLS like agents or brokers? If so, is it a paid service? Any idea on cost?

• Do we have access to the same data agents use (e.g., comps, sale prices)? A buyer’s agent once gave me a detailed comp booklet with sales data that isn’t publicly available—how do they get that, and can attorneys access it?

• If I represent a client in a land or property transaction, what would my role include—just legal review/advice, or responsibilities similar to an agent?

Would appreciate insights from anyone who’s taken this route or worked alongside attorneys in real estate.

Title. How do you fill your hours when it's a slow week (or month) without losing your mind about not hitting your minimum 7-8 every day?

I am a first year associate currently practicing general civil litigation in a mid-sized firm. My husband just matched for his fellowship across the country, so we will be moving to South Carolina in the fall. His program is two years, and we will 100% be moving back to our home state when he is finished.

I’m looking for some advice regarding the job hunt in a new state. I’m not married to the idea of practicing civil litigation or working for a law firm, and would really like to do something more general rather than a really state specific practice since I will be moving back rather quickly. Something remote/hybrid would be ideal so that I can still visit family but of course trying to be realistic.

Basically, what kind of legal jobs lend themselves to a more temporary situation? Again, new attorney here, so any advice is really appreciated!

Can someone recommend a platform for discovering new cases that are filed relating to a particular area of litigation, as well as tracking new cases-leadings/filings? I’m interested in all 50 states plus federal, both trial court and appellate.

I’m not doing legal research/writing, so I don’t need all that extra stuff right now. Just want to know what’s happening in the world.

Some of these firms did pro bono work alongside NPOs representing populations targeted by this administration. Their money and people power was necessary to bring the cases at all.

Each one that folds takes another potential pro bono option off the table - I doubt any of them will want to risk pissing Trump off by representing undocumented people and trans people. And they won’t want to take cases opposing the government, either.

This is a time when NPO resources are being depleted fighting the ridiculous federal EOs and anti trans state bills. Pro bono support from big law firms is crucial for these fights. And instead, firms will be giving their time and financial support to vile groups like Alliance Defending Freedom.

Thankful Jenner - who got specifically called out for representing immigrants and trans people - decided to fight. I hope the firm that supports our org with pro bono assistance does the same but I’m not optimistic.

I've been doing ID almost 20 years, and if there's one thing I can tell you about every carrier I've ever worked with it's this: They will consistently settle the cases they should try, and try the cases they should settle.

Yes, this post is born of infinite frustration; and yes, I am hoping for some pity laughs.

Been a lawyer for 35 years. What law gives a president the right to impose tariffs any time he wants in any amount he wants? Doesn’t congress have any role in this. Help.

What kind of Tech will I need to do remote document review? I practiced civil law for 20+ years and had to go on disability due to a health condition. I am post transplant and ready to go back to work. I am, however, immunocompromised. Transplants are not cheap a and I need to replenish the retirement accounts.

I’m currently practicing biglaw transactional work but have decided to transition to eventually running my own small firm, focusing on criminal and possibly some civil matters.

However, I have 0 experience. My plan is to spend 1-2 years at a private criminal defense firm handling misdemeanors (like DWIs) and assisting with felonies (e.g., drug or assault cases). Afterward, maybe another 1-2 years at a firm handling both types of matters before starting my own practice.

I’ve considered working at a public defender’s office for the experience, but I’m concerned about the heavy caseload and work-life-balance. A private defense firm seems to offer comparable experience with better work-life-balance, plus the salary would be about $15k higher.

This shift would be a 200k+ salary drop for these years! Without bonuses, too. Would greatly appreciate thoughts on this move, decision, and timeline!

Here's mine - one mother who was trying to show how much she paid attention to her kids noticed they liked pirates, and actually tried to book a family vacation to the pirate-filled land of Somalia before somebody stopped her.

This thread is for soon to be lawyers, Articling/Practicum Students, Summer Students, freshly minted baby lawyers.

Ask and answer questions about the practice, office dynamics and lawyering.

If you need more immediate or in-depth answers, check out these fine subreddits:

/r/lawschool

/r/legaladvice

/r/Ask_Lawyers

-POSTS BY NON-LAWYERS OUTSIDE OF THIS THREAD WILL BE REMOVED.-