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Ltdentway99
LIF Adult
Member since 9/06 1752 total posts
Name:
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Lady Lawyers.. I have a q
My hubby is a lawyer and hates his job. He really can not stand working so many hours (8:15am - 8:30pm). He works for a small private firm. Where could he get a job where he works normal hours and still makes decent money. I was thinking he should look at a company or maybe the police force. What do you all suggest?
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Posted 6/4/07 3:07 PM  |
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Long Island Weddings
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MST9106
My life:)
Member since 6/06 9589 total posts
Name:
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Re: Lady Lawyers.. I have a q
How about working as an in-house atty for a big corporation? I work in a legal department for a big insurance company and our attorneys all left prominent big law firms for the same reasons...they wanted to have a life and normal working hours...thus they came to our company.
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| Posted 6/4/07 3:09 PM |
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evnme
My little lamb
Member since 8/05 12633 total posts
Name:
aka momma2b
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Re: Lady Lawyers.. I have a q
my DH had looked into being a lawyer for the police.
the hours are great, but as civilians, they dont get the same benefits as the police officers. the pay is not the greatest tho...
he'd still get the health, but not the pension.
there are also residency requirements, ie: if he gets a job in the city, he has to live in one of the boros.
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| Posted 6/4/07 3:11 PM |
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evnme
My little lamb
Member since 8/05 12633 total posts
Name:
aka momma2b
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Re: Lady Lawyers.. I have a q
Posted by MST9106
How about working as an in-house atty for a big corporation? I work in a legal department for a big insurance company and our attorneys all left prominent big law firms for the same reasons...they wanted to have a life and normal working hours...thus they came to our company.
that's a good idea too.
when my DH worked for in-house for an ins co, he had great hours!
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| Posted 6/4/07 3:12 PM |
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Bxgell2
Perfection
Member since 5/05 16438 total posts
Name:
Beth
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Re: Lady Lawyers.. I have a q
In house counsel for a corporation or University - pay is good and hours are the same as for corporate america - keep in mind though, most attorneys know this, so the market for these jobs is fairly competitive.
I work for the federal government - the pay isn't quite as good as private practice, but it's up there, and with all the benefits it actually ends up being the same, if not more. I work 8.5 hours a day, and anything over goes into a time bank that I can use whenever I want. But, again, the federal jobs are also highly competitive for the same reason.
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| Posted 6/4/07 3:12 PM |
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nov04libride
big brother <3
Member since 5/05 14672 total posts
Name:
Me
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Re: Lady Lawyers.. I have a q
Posted by evnme
my DH had looked into being a lawyer for the police.
the hours are great, but as civilians, they dont get the same benefits as the police officers. the pay is not the greatest tho...
he'd still get the health, but not the pension.
there are also residency requirements, ie: if he gets a job in the city, he has to live in one of the boros.
My brother worked as a lawyer for the Civilian Review Board (the anti-cops, arguing cases about police brutality, etc)...The pay was ridiculously low--under $50,000. He's now with the largest law firm in the city but hates it.
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| Posted 6/4/07 3:14 PM |
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Ltdentway99
LIF Adult
Member since 9/06 1752 total posts
Name:
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Re: Lady Lawyers.. I have a q
Thanks for the advice. I will pass this along definitely.
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| Posted 6/4/07 3:14 PM |
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KrisT
Two Boys for Me!!
Member since 1/07 5213 total posts
Name:
Kristin
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Re: Lady Lawyers.. I have a q
If he wants to continue practicing law, then his main options are working in-house for a corporation as MST9106 suggested (however these jobs can be extremely difficult to get) or working for the government. Those are the 2 main options that are less hours. If he wants to remain in the legal profession, but not actually practice law, there is a thread on the Career Board (first page) about JD's not practicing law. You can check that our for some other ideas. HTH 
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| Posted 6/4/07 3:16 PM |
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Kara
Now Zagat Rated!
Member since 3/07 13217 total posts
Name:
They call me "Tater Salad"
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Re: Lady Lawyers.. I have a q
I'm a lawyer for a huge firm and I find the hours long, but manageable. I come in really early, though.
In-house counsel will not work 9-5, but the hours are better than most law firms. In-house positions are very competitive, though, so he should work with a good recruiter if that's the way he wants to go.
The other option, which really could be 9-5, would be to take a government job. The hours and benefits are great, but it could be a huge pay cut for him. (I know most government jobs for me would be a six figure salary cut) HOWEVER, I'm sure if you look there are plenty that have good salaries!
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| Posted 6/4/07 4:07 PM |
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2girlsforme
LIF Adult
Member since 8/06 3071 total posts
Name:
XXXXXXXXX
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Re: Lady Lawyers.. I have a q
Posted by Bxgell2
In house counsel for a corporation or University - pay is good and hours are the same as for corporate america - keep in mind though, most attorneys know this, so the market for these jobs is fairly competitive.
I work for the federal government - the pay isn't quite as good as private practice, but it's up there, and with all the benefits it actually ends up being the same, if not more. I work 8.5 hours a day, and anything over goes into a time bank that I can use whenever I want. But, again, the federal jobs are also highly competitive for the same reason.
I agree completely. I have worked as an attorney for the federal govt for 16 years (I'm 40). The sixteen years part made me sound so old!!!
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| Posted 6/4/07 4:14 PM |
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Lisa
I'm a PANK!!!
Member since 5/05 22334 total posts
Name:
Professional Aunts No Kids
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Re: Lady Lawyers.. I have a q
what about WestLaw or Lexis or Edger?? They seem to hire allot of lawyers to do their training and such.
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| Posted 6/4/07 4:29 PM |
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MrsS2005
Mom of 3
Member since 11/05 13118 total posts
Name:
B
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Re: Lady Lawyers.. I have a q
I agree with the previous posters although many in-house jobs still expect long hours. FIL is General Counsel at a corporation. He works long hours and travels a lot (mainly to Europe and India). His wife is also an in-house attorney, and she works long hours and travels a bit. I think the required hours will vary company to company. If he's interested in working for an insurance company, I don't think the hours are too bad.
I'd also suggest looking at "quality of life" law firms. The salary may be lower than the larger firms, but the hours should be a bit better. There could also be certain practice areas that may not be as hours intensive. One of my friends works in the IP department of a large firm (copyright and trademark). Most of the attorneys in that department are out of the office by 5 or 6.
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| Posted 6/4/07 5:39 PM |
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Kara
Now Zagat Rated!
Member since 3/07 13217 total posts
Name:
They call me "Tater Salad"
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Re: Lady Lawyers.. I have a q
Posted by MrsS2005
One of my friends works in the IP department of a large firm (copyright and trademark). Most of the attorneys in that department are out of the office by 5 or 6.
Do they want to hire me?! I'm in the IP department of a large firm - but I'm not that lucky! 
Message edited 6/4/2007 6:01:16 PM.
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| Posted 6/4/07 5:58 PM |
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BlondeJD
LIF Adult
Member since 10/06 1068 total posts
Name:
Me!!!
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Re: Lady Lawyers.. I have a q
Posted by MrsS2005
I'd also suggest looking at "quality of life" law firms. The salary may be lower than the larger firms, but the hours should be a bit better. There could also be certain practice areas that may not be as hours intensive. One of my friends works in the IP department of a large firm (copyright and trademark). Most of the attorneys in that department are out of the office by 5 or 6.
I'd definitely ask the firm to define what they mean by "quality of life." I work at a large firm that is one of the top QOL firms, but that seems to just mean that we're nice, social, and have good paternity/maternity leave plans in place. I still billed 250 hours last month though. 
Message edited 6/4/2007 6:08:28 PM.
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| Posted 6/4/07 6:08 PM |
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MrsT
Enjoying wedded bliss.....
Member since 4/06 1323 total posts
Name:
Katrina
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Re: Lady Lawyers.. I have a q
Posted by MrsS2005
I agree with the previous posters although many in-house jobs still expect long hours. FIL is General Counsel at a corporation. He works long hours and travels a lot (mainly to Europe and India). His wife is also an in-house attorney, and she works long hours and travels a bit. I think the required hours will vary company to company. If he's interested in working for an insurance company, I don't think the hours are too bad.
I'd also suggest looking at "quality of life" law firms. The salary may be lower than the larger firms, but the hours should be a bit better. There could also be certain practice areas that may not be as hours intensive. One of my friends works in the IP department of a large firm (copyright and trademark). Most of the attorneys in that department are out of the office by 5 or 6.
What!!! Where is this firm, NYC I worked at an IP firm for years and did all tm and copyright work (a little patent work) and we never saw hours like that. Then again, I did litigation not just prosecution. Sounds like your friend has it made 
Message edited 6/5/2007 10:49:50 PM.
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| Posted 6/4/07 10:12 PM |
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MrsT
Enjoying wedded bliss.....
Member since 4/06 1323 total posts
Name:
Katrina
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Re: Lady Lawyers.. I have a q
In house counsel at my company does not have it that great. I get many e-mails from our assigned counsel (divided by regions) and many are on weekends. She has to travel often too. She is based OOT but has to come to NY and other eastern states very often.
I would suggest West/Thompson. A friend worked there and loved the perks. The salary was not great though.
And I do agree that gov't jobs are hard to come by and pay a lot less than firms. When I was clerking in the court of appeals the salary was in the 50's. Firms are starting at $125K for first years and some firms are at $145K.
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| Posted 6/4/07 10:16 PM |
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Re: Lady Lawyers.. I have a q
I had a government job for several years. The pay was pretty good, better than most would have thought. There was also overtime and great benefits. The office politics were terrible at times, though. I had a few other jobs after that and now I am in practice for myself. I can make a decent living on 40-50 hours a week, and there is enough work out there that if I want more hours or more money, I can accept more cases. It's been great recently because I have had a ton of doctor's appointments and no one can pressure me not to go. I have a new assistant and on the days that I don't put in a lot of time, there is work getting done, so I am still earning for those days.
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| Posted 6/4/07 11:19 PM |
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