Women in Law

Do you still wear makeup to the office? I have a simple 10 min routine but was running late today and forgot to do it…now realizing maybe I don’t care? But wondering if I “should” do it still. Biglaw ...

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First time mom to a 5 month old who is still waking up 2-3 times a night. Commuting into the office 3x a week. I am physically spent and in total zombie mode, how on earth do women do this. And I’m no...

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Feeling heavy career guilt. Out of full-time law for a year after mental/physical health struggles, a miscarriage, and depression. Currently in IVF doing brutal PIO shots, and honestly grateful not to...

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How in the world can you do this job with kids? I have a 1 year old and my husband is also in biglaw. Today is a “holiday” so we don’t have childcare and emails are coming in like crazy for both of us...

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How do you prevent typos with a million things on your mind big law moms? My practice group is literally trying to fire me over it- these are occasional typos. I try to proof but am constantly dealing...

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I unfortunately cry in response to stress, which happens more often than I would like. Any tips to prevent it from happening? I have yet to cry during a hearing (knock on wood) but I have cried an emb...

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I’m considering working with a coach to leave the law. Has anyone worked with a coach or program like Leave the Law Behind or the Former Lawyer Collaborative? It’s expensive but I think I need some ha...

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The partner that I work closely with has a habit of asking me to do assistant tasks - saving docs to files, printing copies, etc. When I was a new associate, I didn’t push back on it. But now I am a 6...

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I went on vacation for a week. Came back to fires and things that should have been taken care of but weren’t. Going on vacation is necessary to prevent burn out but coming back to fires is awful. Woul...

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I’m a 9th year WOC in an all white male group. I’m happy with group and feel empowered and have received great mentorship. I have been working with a summer who is a young WOC. She’s brilliant and doe...

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How are you guys handling client use of AI? I have received long, well-drafted emails from clients before that have made me wonder if AI was involved but a new client is sending me 15+ page AI documen...

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I’m a fourth year in Big Law. I’ve been billing 2000+ hours annually since I started with the firm (first as a student and now as an associate). Over the last two years, my husband and I have been thr...

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I’m in big law in CA and currently pregnant and high risk. Anyone know if there is leave in CA (paid or unpaid) to allow me to go to doctors appointments? Mostly I want job protection and to prorate m...

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Were there any resources or groups that you found helpful in navigating your return to work post-maternity leave? I know it’ll get easier but the degree to which I feel different to who I was pre-baby...

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Firm requires 60 days notice. Gave notice 2 weeks ago, trying to leave at the 4 week mark. Managing partner is essentially making me stay until they hire a replacement. New firm is getting antsy and r...

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Just put in notice to leave big law as a mid-level corporate associate for an in-house counsel role (product focus) at a large public company. (1) anything that I should request from the firm (ie, bi...

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HR scheduled a meeting with me tomorrow morning to discuss my hours and “getting on track.” How worried should I be? For context, I started at this biglaw firm about 6 months ago, and so far the work ...

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There’s someone on my team who is just such negative vibes that I even avoid passing his office. I hate feeling like my mental health is dependent on one person. I’ve avoided working with him as much ...

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How worried should I be about low hours in the months leading up to mat leave in BigLaw? My firm’s policy expressly says it’s ok for hours to taper two weeks before leave, but all my bigger cases hav...

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Looking for advice. Found myself (a mid level) across from a new grad associate, who’s been unprofessional (eg: keeps flexing like we’re same level, has been dishonest about work done, made comments t...

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