Post #20:

I graduated from a top tier law school. One advantage of my school is that it is located in the state capital, which offers a greater selection of non- firm jobs. I currently work for a state agency and while the pay is less than half of a large firm, it is a nice place to work. During my second year I noticed this remarkable change come over me and my friends, along with the rest of the class. I did not want to work at a big firm, but all of the sudden I found myself submitting all of these resumes and going on interviews. I found myself at a heightened state of crazy as I waited for callbacks or rejections at places I knew I would not be happy. I began to panic when I realized my salary would not be above $50,000. And that is when I realized I was being ridiculous. I am barely 25 years old, just starting out in my career and I deserve exactly what I am getting paid. I also owe myself a life outside of the job. While when the loan payments come in December I may think otherwise, I am glad that I am not at a big firm. At my job I come in at 8 and leave at 5. I get 10 paid holidays and today I am wearing jeans. The people that I work with are nice and the majority are not lawyers. I chatted with my boss yesterday for 30 minutes, not once mentioning work. Look around, consider the options and do not beat yourself up simply because you are not working at a large firm.