Law School

[AJK]

Those hours may be typical of an M&A attorney in big law, but they aren't for a litigator, or tax, or real estate, etc.

[henche]

Those hours may be typical of an M&A attorney in big law, but they aren't for a litigator, or tax, or real estate, etc.

They're typical for tax, in my office.

[churnbabychurn]

Those hours may be typical of an M&A attorney in big law, but they aren't for a litigator, or tax, or real estate, etc.

More or less?

[grodnoking]

I've heard of the bimodal salary for lawyers where some are making $160,000 and others $40,000. Government work seems like it may be the middle ground, with good hours and benefits, job security, and a salary that is livable. Trying to get a grasp on the salary ceiling for government jobs... is something like $90,000 a reasonable expectation?

90,000 sounds correct. But its value is more then 90,000.

just as hard as Biglaw, if not harder, to get into many of the desirable government positions.

I'm aware of a government job that caps at 90,000 and is very easy to get. Starts below 30k though

[Ergel]

Cashier at Walmart?

[Super Speed]

Cashier at Walmart?

[AJK]

More or less?

Less, though average out to about the same. They just don't do those crazy marathons like M&A.

[shiframeir]

http://forward.com/culture/323029/more-than-jews-kept-the-sabbath/ thoughts? 

[jj1000]

http://forward.com/culture/323029/more-than-jews-kept-the-sabbath/ thoughts? 

She won't (or maybe already didn't) make it in big law.

[AJK]

Lasted longer than most, at a firm more prestigious than most.

[jj1000]

Lasted longer than most, at a firm more prestigious than most.

So you are agreeing with me in the most lawyerly way you can?

[shiframeir]

So you are agreeing with me in the most lawyerly way you can?

yup, but then again, Cravath in the late 80s was a different place...

[prelaw]

For desireable government jobs, how important is law school prestige in hiring decisions? How much of a boost would Columbia or NYU give over say a Fordham applicant? Also, about how much more would government benefits be valued at compared to benefits at private employers? If I'm making 80k at government, would that be the rough equivalent value wise as around 110k at a private firm
after taking added benefits into aalccount?

[hvaces42]

For desireable government jobs, how important is law school prestige in hiring decisions? How much of a boost would Columbia or NYU give over say a Fordham applicant? Also, about how much more would government benefits be valued at compared to benefits at private employers? If I'm making 80k at government, would that be the rough equivalent value wise as around 110k at a private firm
after taking added benefits into aalccount?

Where are you making 80k in government??? Starting titles in most government law dept jobs are in the mid 40s at best and you dont get raises until you get to the next civil service title. Most govt lawyers never see 80k.

You cant pay tuition or for kosher food with your government benefits. Take the cash and work a little harder instead of staying in a dead end government job. You may end up like my neighbor who was an NYC traffic engineer and retired at age 55 content with his measly pension and content to leave million dollar skills unused. What a waste. 

[Aaaron]

Where are you making 80k in government??? Starting titles in most government law dept jobs are in the mid 40s at best and you dont get raises until you get to the next civil service title. Most govt lawyers never see 80k.

You cant pay tuition or for kosher food with your government benefits. Take the cash and work a little harder instead of staying in a dead end government job. You may end up like my neighbor who was an NYC traffic engineer and retired at age 55 content with his measly pension and content to leave million dollar skills unused. What a waste.

Around here you're starting at 60s-mid 70s, and in the 90s within 3 years... not sure where you're getting your info.

[prelaw]

Where are you making 80k in government??? Starting titles in most government law dept jobs are in the mid 40s at best and you dont get raises until you get to the next civil service title. Most govt lawyers never see 80k.

You cant pay tuition or for kosher food with your government benefits. Take the cash and work a little harder instead of staying in a dead end government job. You may end up like my neighbor who was an NYC traffic engineer and retired at age 55 content with his measly pension and content to leave million dollar skills unused. What a waste.

You can pay for tuition and kosher food with the savings on health insurance premiums you have due to your government benefits. Would your neighbor have lived a happier and more fulfilling life had he earned another million dollars?

[hvaces42]

Around here you're starting at 60s-mid 70s, and in the 90s within 3 years... not sure where you're getting your info.

Around here its 40s. ADAs and AUSAs make that much to start. Other agencies similar.

[Aaaron]

Around here its 40s. ADAs and AUSAs make that much to start. Other agencies similar.

Interesting.  The only agencies making that little are some of the PDs around here.  ASAs (our version of ADAs) make 60s and up, depending on the county; Social Security makes high 50s or 60s, I don't recall; and CMS makes 60s to 70s, starting. 

AUSAs do much better but you're not beginning a career there.

[hvaces42]

You can pay for tuition and kosher food with the savings on health insurance premiums you have due to your government benefits. Would your neighbor have lived a happier and more fulfilling life had he earned another million dollars?

Lets start with the premise that if youre making 110k your also getting benefits comparable to any govt job. So what savings are you talking about?
As for my neighbor, if you consider a more fulfilled life as one where you take your old lady carriage and go to the supermarket every other day for your small bottle of milk, wake up for the second minyan, do daf yomi in the evening instead of before shachris and spend the rest of your pathetic existence in your high 50s and 60s waiting for the Malach Hamaves then maybe a your million dollar skills are not wasted. Its not the money its the waste of skills and useful resources. There is a mentality amongst government employees...and certain elements of our community to get away with an easy life. Dont work too hard c'v. There is a price to pay for taking a govt job, thats all I'm saying.

[Ergel]

Pathetic existence? Bitter much?