It must be lonely to be a big law associate. Recently I've been working in New York City at one of the big law firms, on a floor bustling with lawyers, partners, paralegals, secretaries and filled with desks, conference rooms, and this is the conclusion I've come to. Here you are in one of the best cities in the world, with millions of things to do and see, and perfect weather (recently summer has come and gone and a little bit of a chill has hit, signaling the autumn that will come), yet you're stuck in this office that you have to show up to every day and work like a drone from morning to night (many associates are expected to arrive around 9AM-9:30AM and leave after 7PM, often going deep into the night on a project or case that's coming up against a deadline). You have one of the best food scenes in the world with 3-star restaurants, food stands, delis, you name it, yet you can't leave your office for too long to enjoy any of it, have to order Postmates or Uber eats or some kind of mobile food service to save time. The aftermentioned schedule kind of precludes a social life on the weekdays especially if your commute is around average, at least 30 minutes, so by the time you get home it's about time to sleep, and often you're expected to work on the weekend.
But it's not all just about the time commitment for a big law associate, it's just the spirit of the work. The big law firm salary is nice, there's nice perks like happy hours, you work with intelligent people as a white-collar worker in a job that uses one's intellect, but it's the being there every day, day after day, until an undefined time in the future, that can be soul crushing. Often people say anything is bearable as long as you have an end date, some time you can look forward to that is like a distant goal for a marathon runner, knowing how much you have left to do so you can gauge how much you need to keep going for. For a law firm associate, it's an indefinite time. There's the 7 years (or so) that it takes to make partner, but then what? You just continue to be a partner.
I've actually enjoyed the time at my law firm for now, and my work isn't particularly stressful or burdensome or that difficult to do. I just feel for some of the associates who have to be there and the life they'e chosen for themselves, even though the outside world may view it as one of the best jobs you can have. I certainly did when I enrolled in law school, thinking I would graduate with a big law firm job, live in a big city, and just live the good life. Just like any good thing, it's not always exactly as god as it's made out to be, AND it's like the hero of a epic story that's accomplished his goal or king that's gained the throne or President that's gotten elected: you climbed the mountain, achieved the dream, you made it! (Literally and figuratively, got up to the upper floors of a tall building in a mega-city, sat in an office with your name on it and a badge with your face on it that lets you in and out.......but as you sit down and begin on your first day, you realize this is the first day of a lot of days here. Now what?
Fantasize on,
Robert Yan
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