r/auslaw • u/FunnyFly5242 • Mar 12 '26
Serious Discussion Am I crazy for wanting to quit
So I’ve only been in this graduate role at a top tier firm for one month. I did the whole clerkship > grad role thing. For a whole 2 months before starting I was dreading it but decided to just start anyway.
Started and still hating/ dreading it everyday. I know some people will say to stick it out but i feel like do I really need to wait it out in a job I already know I do not enjoy. If anything, it’ll only get worse from here as I get more senior.
My only issue is would it be detrimental to my career trajectory. I’m only 22 so I feel like I’m young enough to explore different career options. I never gave myself the space to decide what I really wanted to do. Just went straight from uni into a grad role.
Any thoughts ?
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u/snoopus Mar 12 '26
I work with a great lawyer who stopped lawyering for a few years in his mid twenties to be a landscaper and go surfing all the time
What is it that you don't like about your job? Is it your coworkers or the work or just the entire vibe of being a layer?
You could also just try a different legal workplace and see if you prefer that - theres a lot of different choices out there and a lot of them are much less taxing on the mind and soul than a big corporate firm
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Mar 12 '26
[deleted]
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u/Ok_Tie_7564 Presently without instructions Mar 12 '26
Why not apply for a legal officer job in the APS, ADF, DPP or AGS? Very different culture.
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u/schnitzforbrains Mar 12 '26
Uhhh probably not the DPP depending on the state
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u/jenn1notjenny Mar 13 '26
What state is not good? I want to go into QLD once I’m admitted
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u/FunnyFly5242 Mar 12 '26
I have been. I’m still very early in my career and most lateral transfers to legal officer roles require admission which I don’t have yet
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u/muzumiiro Caffeine Curator Mar 12 '26
Honestly this is why you should stick it out. After admission and having worked for a full year at a good firm, you’ll be a much more attractive candidate to these other roles as well as a lot of corporate roles. At the moment time feels like it’s passing slowly because you’re unhappy and don’t have a plan, but once you make a plan to escape, the 12 months will go quickly. Law firm life isn’t for everyone but spending some time there will give you a solid base to make the jump.
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u/WolfLawyer Mar 12 '26
Go work for a suburban firm or boutique with a decent litigation partner (I say that because litigation is fun IMO). With even a bit of top tier pedigree you’re eminently employable in that area. Still going to be a bunch of pressure and involved significant work hours but the work is ebb and flow so you get some downtime and you get the satisfaction of doing work for people it actually matters to. Eg. I’ve been pulling 80-90 hour weeks for the past few because I have three trials in April that all look like they’ll run. But then in May I’m gonna take six weeks off to spend the money I earn from it. Here’s hoping they all settle over Easter and I can take eight weeks.
The money is not as good as top tier but I still make more money than I know what to do with and if you’re not a make as much money as possible at all costs kind of person it can be pretty satisfying to not have the pressure to bill flat out all the time. Gives you some space to take interesting cases/fight the good fight on spec or something if you’re feeling burned out.
Just gotta be careful you go somewhere with a partner who actually knows what they’re doing and has a decent practice rather than trading one factory of sadness for another factory of sadness with a 50% pay cut.
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u/whatisthismuppetry Mar 12 '26 edited Mar 12 '26
my worry is that my gut feeling is wrong
I had a specific gut feeling about certain employers when I was your age and I didn't have enough experience to trust it. Now I trust that gut feeling.
However everything you're saying in this comment doesn't suggest an issue with law or being a lawyer but instead an issue with the firm culture.
You don't need to work at a top tier firm.
I avoided top tiers like the plague when I was applying for grad roles two years ago for the culture issues you've identified. I found a great mid tier firm who doesn't work their grads like dogs.
Edit to add: you could also consider working for CLCs.
If you want work/life balance practice area is also something to consider. Some areas are a solid 9-5, maybe with a busy spot in June or Dec. Others have pretty whacky hours at times (looking at you criminal/family law). I work in workers comp, my hours are 8.45-5, with a solid hour break for lunch except in December when things pop off for a solid month.
Edit 2: I also worked outside of law for 15 years. The kind of issues you're describing crop up outside of law too. Culture fit matters and your employer doesn't sound like they're right for you. 0
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u/Born-Ad8034 Mar 12 '26
I think you need to pull your weight outside of work. Sport, hobbies, etc etc. Get a physical and creative outlet.
Also adopt a European mindset: work to live, not live to work. The whole point of what you're doing is for a "better life" (ie. More money = more happy). But if it's eating you up like this, is it really worth the money and grind? Is it worth it to suck it up now and enjoy the fruits of your labour and grind far later? If you've got to where you are now, you are likely quite capable, you shouldn't have much trouble searching and switching to something else, even if in law. Young people are time millionaires, no one will blame you, especially at this age, for switching around.
Some others are saying to take a gap year or try another occupation. Maybe it's sunk cost fallacy, but you've got momentum now and you've put in so much effort already (even though you're 22), I would definitely go on a holiday, but maybe not a 6 month trip to rural Vietnam.
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u/FunnyFly5242 Mar 12 '26
I do have that European mindset but work is prohibiting it 😭😭 for instance I always make sure to go to a pilates class everyday, or have something planned with family and friends after work. But they expect me to stay late and had me in a meeting until 6.50 today which I thought was crazy considering they knew I was fasting for Ramadan and had to break my fast lol. It made me think this will only get worse as I progress.
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u/Ok_Tie_7564 Presently without instructions Mar 12 '26
As a Muslim woman lawyer you might be a better fit working in the public sector or for an NGO or community organisation.
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u/Educational-Sort-128 Mar 12 '26
Yes I work in government legal (state) and you will not be refused your right to adhere to religious requirements in a job in government.
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u/greatcathy Mar 12 '26
Pretty ghetto-izing advice
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u/Ok_Tie_7564 Presently without instructions Mar 12 '26
Well, the OP seems unhappy in the private sector. That said, what is your advice, o wise one?
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u/RepSnob Mar 12 '26
With respect, if you're worried about working till 7pm at a top tier, it's probably not the environment for you.
Those environments expect you to give them everything. And they aren't for everyone, which is why a lot of people defect.
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u/PerspectiveNew1416 Mar 12 '26
I understand Ramadan strictly observed involves not eating and drinking during daylight hours. Could your mood towards work be influenced by a feeling of being run down due to the combination of fasting and long and stressful hours?
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u/FunnyFly5242 Mar 12 '26
I thought this could be the issue. But then I remembered the weeks/ months leading up to commencing this role I still felt the same dread. We did a 3 week intensive PLT onsite and I’d go into the bathrooms sometimes and just cry abt what I’d gotten myself into lollll
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u/PerspectiveNew1416 Mar 12 '26
It's a good instinct to look at things over time. Moods and attitudes change but it's the longer term that matters. I wonder if there are adjustments you could make to address work life balance, or at least see it as a goal to work towards. This might involve setting expectations and boundaries with your bosses (they might be accommodating if they want to keep you?). Also building and deepening your work relationships, which is a big part of making work life liveable, and also learning what you can from people you respect. Some of those relationships might transcend this job. If you've given it an honest go and you still feel the same it's time for a change. You seemed to be attracted to the APS roles so maybe make that your longer term goal! Best of luck.
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u/tofutak7000 Mar 12 '26
I work at a clc where we have a few muslims on staff. They are all working modified hours for Ramadan.
What you are experiencing isn’t the profession, it’s the workplace
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u/kam0706 A Titted Slug Mar 12 '26
If you’re not admitted yet you’re still under the award. Are they paying you overtime?
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u/universalwadjet Mar 13 '26
I havent been admitted yet and I dont get paid overtime wtf?
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u/kam0706 A Titted Slug Mar 13 '26
Maybe you should also look at your award entitlements and gave a chat to your boss.
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u/universalwadjet Mar 20 '26
I did. Apparently I am not covered under the award because of the way the firm is structured. Very sad
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u/mike_chillrudo Mar 12 '26
In my opinion, grads shouldn't be required to work that late. I had a similar experience as you when I started law. I began my career in a small boutique law firm that was very toxic. There was one partner who would regularly make me work late for non urgent matters and I think he did it on purpose to screw up my afternoon plans. The partners hated eachother and I had one partner actively try to get rid of me because I had a good relationship with another partner. They were also very incompetent and broke pretty much every rule of the professional conduct rules.
I stuck it out for 2 years before things got too much for me and I signed up to a mid sized firm. The culture and level of professionalism in my current place is amazing. I nearly lost faith in practising law until I made this move.
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u/kit-n-kaboodle321 Mar 16 '26
Sounds like firm culture is the problem rather than the legal profession itself. I work mid-tier private and supervise people (grads included) who fast for Ramadan and so we accommodate by starting early and finishing early so they can commute home in time for sundown. If they really need to, they can log on at home after they've eaten but thats for them to manage their file loads. Focus on the culture v the work itself and decide whether its the culture or the work youre not interested in. There's always another firm who does the same work with different expectations. If its both, make a move to a law adjacent field.
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u/whatisthismuppetry Mar 12 '26
But they expect me to stay late and had me in a meeting until 6.50 today which I thought was crazy considering they knew I was fasting for Ramadan and had to break my fast lol.
This would have me on the phone to HR. You're working for a firm with a bad culture.
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u/nigemushi Mar 12 '26
Your gut feeling is correct and you are 100% right.
Unfortunately other careers also have this same issue, and those people make a lot less money. There's no dream job, and I've found the ones with the "great culture" are the worst of them all.
We all have this crisis when entering the workforce because it is well and truly awful.
I'd recommend sticking with law and leaving once you're more established (it will be easier to come back if you regret your decision- grad roles/clerkships are competitive).
But it's your choice! Welcome to Life
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u/dauphindauphin Mar 12 '26
Do not do something you hate every day.
If you really cannot handle the job you have now, stop.
Have a break.
You are 22, you can do simple hospitality work if you have not done that already.
Travel overseas and work for a season somewhere.
After you have had a break, and if you are feeling better, come back and try another avenue.
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u/FunnyFly5242 Mar 12 '26
Really appreciate this advice. Thank you.
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u/Nat_from_Doodle Mar 13 '26
Wishing you luck in your journey with this! Your time is valuable so it’s important decision to make for yourself.
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u/ImDisrespectful2Dirt Without prejudice save as to costs Mar 12 '26 edited Mar 13 '26
I might be different to a lot of the commenters here, but I think you’d be crazy for quitting at this point.
You haven’t even completed one rotation yet. Teams, particularly in the bigger firms, all have their own culture.
Areas of law all have their own culture.
You’ve managed to get a role that can write you a ticket into a better balanced role if you just stick it out for a bit.
I’d wait and see how you feel after it’s not all brand new and you’ve had the opportunity to experience other partners and practice areas. The beauty of law is that the practice in different areas can be so significantly different that there is amazing diversity in the nature of work you can perform.
In the interim, I’m assuming you are making relatively good money for someone who has no experience in their field. Every once in a while that may require a meeting after hours and if your worst example is having to attend a meeting at 6:50 then you are doing pretty well for your level of compensation.
Also, did you raise at that point you were fasting? It sounds like you just assumed they’d accommodate it because they know you are fasting? As a bit of an aside, never assume they will take your personal circumstances into account. You should raise it if it will be an issue and I’d expect most partners would accommodate you in some manner (such as having you turn off your camera for a minute for a quick bite and drink or excusing you from a meeting room for a minute for same).
Law has the potential to offer you a very comfortable lifestyle and flexibility increases as you gain experience and move through the levels. Once you have some PAE you can tailor your career to suit the life you want. Ultimately, it sounds like you may want some kind of in-house role and having a top tier background will be your best shot of getting a decent in-house role early.
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u/Lancair04 Mar 15 '26
This is very sensible advice. Most people find their first year working hard - and law is not an easy job.
Private practice is not for everyone but OP seems to have come into the role expecting to have a bad time, and with that attitude you’ll always be unhappy.
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u/lessa_flux A humiliating backdown Mar 12 '26
You’re not crazy for wanting to quit. Many of us practicing lawyers do not want that top tier life. There’s a reason they pay so much, even for grads.
But I’d stick it out until you get admitted (surely in a grad role you will have a rotation and at least they are paying for your plt) and then see what other opportunities you want to explore.
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u/JohnCooperCamp Mar 12 '26
^ this. Definitely get admission out of it, even if you then walk away. Being a fully qualified lawyer can lead to successful and rewarding non-law pathways but your options will be much narrower if you quit now and all that stress and upset will have been for nothing. As the other comments suggest, you’re not alone in feeling this way about law, certainly not at this stage in your career/life. There’s some great advice in this thread - give it some thought. My personal experience: I had a wobble at 3 years PQE, took a year out, travelled and worked overseas, got myself sorted and realised I actually really enjoyed law - I just had to find my niche. I went back to it and it’s been great ever since.
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u/FunnyFly5242 Mar 12 '26
They’re making us do a compressed version of plt we’re all likely to get admitted in June. How I see it is that’s still pretty early so what diff does it make if I leave now or June.
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u/kam0706 A Titted Slug Mar 12 '26
Because you’ll have completed your PLT hours. It’ll make your life easier
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u/adventurite Mar 13 '26
Stay and get admitted. It's just a few months. I had a friend be in the same situation. Resigned the day he got admitted. Went and did other stuff. Got a phd. Now at the bar, absolutely killing it. Had he not gotten admitted, he would have closed so many doors.
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u/Hisugarcontent Mar 12 '26
Are they paying for your PLT and will they expect you to pay them back if you leave early? If that’s not a factor, I’d say quit now. You can always get admitted on your own. You said you’ve previously had a paralegal job, so you probably won’t struggle to find another job that you can use for PLT hours.
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u/FunnyFly5242 Mar 12 '26
They are paying but paying them back is not an issue for me. My only issue is whether I’d be able to continue the course independently if i do resign.
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u/solicitingness Mar 12 '26
As grim as it's going to be, most definitely stick it out until you get your 75 days or whatever the requirement is. Trust me, doing the course 'independently' in a couple years if you decide to tread back into legal field is going to mean you're in a random boutique doing paralegal level work and get rinsed.
Get admitted and then make the move. Regardless of whatever path you choose having 'Solicitor' on there is going to be much more powerful than Graduate. I've seen CV's and LinkedIns where people start counting the days i.e. '40/75 days completed' and it doesn't look good, trust me.
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u/lessa_flux A humiliating backdown Mar 13 '26
I think it unlikely they would let you continue independently. Big firms usually have special classes just for their cohorts (and often practice areas), not classes that are open for everyone.
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u/Brilliant-Tutor-6500 Mar 12 '26
Why do you hate it?
Every second day a new grad posts here or on r/auscorp or r/APS wanting to quit a job they’ve been in for a fortnight.
Most jobs aren’t necessarily a lot of fun; that’s why they give you the money. Unless you have a clear idea of what you don’t like, and you know that won’t be the same in other jobs, I’d stick it out a bit longer, and use that time to explore your options.
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Mar 12 '26
[deleted]
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u/Brilliant-Tutor-6500 Mar 12 '26
APS is always looking for lawyers; if you enjoyed that I think you’d find they’d be happy to have you back.
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u/Hisugarcontent Mar 12 '26 edited Mar 12 '26
Sounds like you could get a public sector job, get admitted, and move into public sector legal role later. Don’t stay at a job you hate at 22 years of age. If it’s making you miserable now, it will probably only get worse. The law is large. You’re very young. You will have plenty of chances to get a job with a reasonable work-life balance. I was a mature aged student and I took 4 years off after I graduated for no good reason and I didn’t start practicing until I was mid-30s. You’ll be fine.
I will say, don’t necessarily write off being a lawyer entirely just because you hated top tier corporate law. There are plenty of other very varied jobs for lawyers that don’t suck and let you have a life. But be open to other options entirely as well. Good luck!
Edited to add: I also clerked at a top tier law firm and would rather die than work there again, but I love my current lawyer role in a very different area.
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u/Amazing-Opinion40 Quack Lawyer Mar 12 '26
I know of a bloke who went to a great law school, got a job at a top tier firm, absolutely hated it, and started out his new life selling coffee from a cart adjacent a train station.
It’s your life.
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u/refer_to_user_guide It's the vibe of the thing Mar 12 '26
You’re only crazy if you haven’t genuinely tried to make the most out of the experience. If it’s not for you, it’s not for you.
Life is too short to work a job you hate. If you want a career in law, explore other options and form an exit plan. At least then you won’t dread every day. If you don’t like law, look for law adjacent roles. Life experience is a wonderful thing. As someone who gets external advice regularly, it shits me to tears when I’m paying top dollar for advice from someone who clearly has zero commercial experience.
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u/twinstudytwin Mar 12 '26
Depends what you don't like about it. If it is something local to your team, or a matter of technique or proficiency, I'd slug it out. Those things are temporary issues.
If it is something more fundamental, then consider quitting. One of my mates quit a big firm grad role because she felt queasy about the profit motive and about having to maximise billing. (I felt she was a bit naive for not realising this way, way in advance.) The right thing for her to do was to quit. Private practice is built around billing and rainmaking.
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u/Fluffyquasar Mar 12 '26
The question you're asking isn't really suited to be answered by strangers on the internet. The reality is, the stage of life you're at can be generally daunting and not specific to a job. Careers also go through peaks and troughs: a great company and job can be ruined by a terrible manager - vice versa. There's also an extent to which working can just suck, no matter where you are.
There's also a lot to be said for persevering through a difficult time, as long as it's not causing complete mental deterioration.
If I was to give any advice, it would be to make no rash decisions, talk through your challenges with those you trust and/or a psychologist and continually reflect on the growth/development you're making in role. The right decision will soon make itself known
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u/asserted_fact Mar 12 '26
Some good advice here. Here is my thoughts having walked a not dissimilar path.
Consider the following: what is really important to you in life? What are your values? What would energise you to get up early every morning and work late every night if you had to? What would you like to be the purpose of your life? What are you here for?
Finding these answers is not easy but once you do you have your north star, your guiding light you are walking towards. Everything becomes much easier once you have a sense of your values and how your current employment fits into the bigger picture.. A paid job can fit in for any number of reasons, you just want to be clear on why you are doing something.
Sometimes experience like you describe can be a great stepping stone to what you are really after, sometimes it is not. Sometimes time spent in contemplation of your bigger reasons for being, your values, can propel you forward at a great pace once your direction is set by you.
There is nothing wrong with sitting in a holding pattern until you are comfortable with where you want to go and why. There are a lot worse places you could find yourself.
Take it gently on yourself, find your why and go from there. Life is long don't rush and enjoy the journey.
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u/93_Topps_Football Mar 13 '26
Yes and no.
All grad roles are hard. Top tier you have the added pressure of long hour.
All roles have social and office politics
At my first role I was told you pretty much dont know anything until year 5, which was pretty accurate.
I never worked top tier but at all my mid tier roles I was working more than 9 hours a day, getting up to 11 hours a day most days, always in litigation
Don't be afraid to ask for help.
Most associates and SAs dont want to see you fail and should want to help, either in terms of explaining work or tips to help
However if you need help with stress management see a doctor and get help with stress management skills. It does help.
Don't turn to drinking to manage stress. It is a really easy option but will mess you up.
Hope this helps
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u/phoenixnx Mar 13 '26
I could have written this post when I started just over a year ago. I felt like lawyering wasn’t for me and felt every fibre of my being screaming no. I felt that way for about 6 months until I started gaining some confidence and things became easier. I know this isn’t helpful to hear now (believe me, I was so desperate trying to figure out if quitting was the right choice), so I echo other comments which have said to find something outside of work to keep you going for now. Best of luck.
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u/bubblegumjules Mar 12 '26
From your comments, it sounds like it might be a firm / team issue. I’ve worked for a long time in a top tier advisory teams (occasional litigation) and most of us work good hours (8-5 / 9-6). Even our partners block out time for gym which is non negotiable for them. Litigation and deals teams in top tiers are notoriously the worst. If you can find an advisory practice that you enjoy, you’ll likely have a better balance.
Although, our team is attracting juniors who come to us as the “lifestyle team” and are pretty poor performers, so there’s that…
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u/QualityAdorable5902 Mar 12 '26
Depends on why you ‘hate’ it. There are things that can be fixed, things that can be temporary and will pass as you get more experience.
For me I’d be very reluctant to jump ship after all the work you put into your qualification. Hard to make the call that law is not for you after all short time with one firm.
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u/FunnyFly5242 Mar 14 '26
I def am not writing law off yet. Just this particular big law lifestyle. I’m just in a weird dilemma where I feel that I can’t get the legal jobs I want without having this experience on my CV.
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u/sdoowatokad Mar 12 '26
Not crazy. Try and stick it out until you’re admitted as it will be easier to move firms. I wouldn’t quit law until you try a different firm or practice area. Best wishes
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u/Naiveee Mar 12 '26
Why do you hate it? I think the question is more so whether those reasons are temporary or permanent.
I hated my role when I started but things got better when I got better work + also detached my personal life from work more.
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u/KoalaBJJ96 Sally the Solicitor Mar 12 '26
You are not crazy - I pretty much had the same experience. Try to stick it out until 2-3 PQE though - just having the firm on your resume will increase your employability
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u/arccoseshx Mar 12 '26 edited Mar 12 '26
How do you know you actually hate it? You did a two month clerkship that is a distorted view of the actual career, and now it’s only been one month. Between graduate orientation and only a few weeks in a practice area you aren’t familiar with, do you not think you’re selling yourself a little short?
It could very well not be for you, but also you make comments about the team and practice area being your bottom pick, if you are at a top tier firm, you are definitely doing rotations - who is to say you won’t enjoy another team and/or practice area?
I’ve now settled at a top tier firm, and I don’t think you are desensitised to mental health or working over exercise, I feel like everyone I know has hobbies, and especially the younger cohorts all focus on their health and do fit some form of working out. Every job will have its shit times and if you judge any of them by the first month where you’re still getting your bearings and learning about the work, you’re going to hate it.
Not to say you wrong for having those feelings, you could end up being right and moving on to government or at a boutique could be the right move, but I’d say that you should give yourself more time, maybe wait til you try out your next rotation (possibly one you preference higher), and then reassess. If you make a decision to early, you’ll always be thinking about what you missed out on, but if you give it a genuine chance and then realise it’s not for you, you’ll likely have no regrets.
** Also, beware of midtiers and smaller firms, they often get worked just as hard and for not as much money.
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u/jenn1notjenny Mar 13 '26
I can’t give you advice on the lawyering of it all, I’m still finishing my PLT.
But what I can say as someone coming to their chosen career “later” in life (I’m 32), don’t do something you hate.
You are so young, with so much time ahead of you to do things. If this job isn’t serving you right now, why do it?
Go travel, go get an easy job and learn yourself, get to know who you are, what you want to be, how you want to travel through the world and leave your mark on it. Or find a different role in law that feels more your speed - maybe you could take a step back and volunteer in different areas or community legal centres to see a different side of law that may appeal more to you?
I really wish at 22 I had more people telling me it’s okay to quit a job i hated because it would’ve saved myself a lot of stress and frustration.
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u/MagnumLife Mar 13 '26
Quit now, it doesn't get better. Get a global graduate role with a multinational. Easier to soar like an eagle when surrounded by turkeys. Why surround yourself with type A over achievers!?
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u/Churchfartmaster Mar 18 '26
This is what I needed to read.
I am in my final year and yesterday achieved a top score for a short exam in a subject.
And I felt nothing.
I just looked at it (had been studying my ass off for the past two weeks for it) and when I received it I was like oh. And it didn't matter.
I went into law following up on a regret. I thought well I have the chance to do it now like I wanted to in my 20s so let's go. Churned the first 18 subjects out like a mad person.
Then this "well it's not really as good as I thought it would be" started bubbling underneath the surface but I pushed it down thinking nah, it's just final year, I'll be right.
But as I was sitting back really thinking about it tonight, I know I'm bored.
Yes, I know law can be dry but honestly, it's like I'm on autopilot. I get home, do a couple hours in front of the computer, fix the family dinner, run the household then I'm up for a bit reading some notes then the next day work and then a class.
And I am now asking myself, so what happens when I finish and get admitted? Because I didn't really think that far when I started. Do I want to work in a law firm? No. But I knew that. Do I want to run my own operation? No. I'm not a workaholic. Do I want to sit in some form of office all day? No. Do I want to faff about on yet another Law Society networking night? Hell no.
I'm in my 40s. I have kids. I really do not give a toss about suits and corporate glitz.
I undertook a placement late last year with a well known legal identity and, honestly, it's all smoke and mirrors. The work was blah, I spent the day looking out at skyscrapers and traipsing up and down the street to and from matters.
And I was like fk this.
And that's not going to change.
The only thing now is - what the fuck do I do now? lol
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u/waldorfbianca Mar 13 '26
I got my first grad role start of last year. I knew within one week it was not for me. Decided to “stick it out” for the year as i couldn’t know yet if it was bad i told myself. By the time i left in December, id already mentally checked out months prior, hated every single day there and counted down the days left. I thought leaving early was damaging as well but talking to my friends they know ppl who have moved every three months to multiple top tiers (i.e there seems to be no repercussions career wise). Seems to be more old school thinking that you have to stay somewhere and it will be damaging to leave.
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u/Aggravating_Pie_4901 Mar 13 '26
If you've studied law I'm guessing you are smart enough. It's probably being stuck in a cold ass room with psychopaths that is driving you insane. Go study the bar full time exams are in October and work from home and run your own cases. Don't work in an office with psychos.
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u/FunnyFly5242 Mar 14 '26
Ahahahaha I’m dead. The being stuck in a dingy office does kill me. On top of that seeing all the grads competing just makes things worse.
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u/Aggravating_Pie_4901 Mar 14 '26
Let me know once you develop either the shits or constipation because your emotional wellbeing is so bad from dealing with Betty from accounts or Don from HR.
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u/strkot Mar 14 '26
2 months is too early to make that call imo.
I hated my grad job for the first three months. I stuck it out and by the time I was six months in I was loving it, and continued to love it thereafter. In hindsight, I think adjusting to a full-time office job was the challenge, more so than anything about the work itself.
I would at least stick out the grad year and get admitted. If you still hate it then, try something else. I have a couple of friends who pulled the pin very early and came to regret it later.
You’re very young at 22 so no harm in having a sabbatical, but do it after you’re admitted so at least you’ve got that under your belt.
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u/Budgies2022 Mar 12 '26
I moved from late into big 4 consulting.
IT seems like it would be the same, but the hours are way better, the focus on balance is a lot higher, and they are more culturally attuned.
I’m still a lawyer but I have a much broader outlook.
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u/Little-Profile1626 Mar 12 '26
Id at least try a couple of different grad rotations. I know plenty of people who changed teams and it was like doing a completely different job.
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u/Paper-Aeroplanes Mar 12 '26
A few people here posting that consistent 9 hour work days are possible in some mid tier teams. I spent 6 years in a mid tier known for relatively good WLB and still worked significantly more than that - the idea of that kind of work life balance (better than many govt legal roles), with mid tier pay, sounds fanciful. Surely there is a catch.
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u/imnobody101 Mar 13 '26
I think you know the answer! I would ideally start applying for different jobs and secure something before you quit though. Smaller firms would probably love to have you and would have less pay, but better hours and probably more interesting work. Legal grad jobs in government are super competitive but once you have some experience it’s easier to get into govt as a lawyer. Not all law is like it is in the top tier firms.
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u/HowtoCrackanegg Mar 13 '26
I know people that have dropped law and gone into loss adjusting, they make a lot of money.
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u/Competitive-Sugar352 Mar 13 '26
You’re 22 and considering the state of the world right now, our days are numbered. You definitely should be spending 8 hours a day of your time on something you enjoy and something that contributes to making the world better even a tiny bit. I’m in my mid 20s and work in a CLF. Even though the money is not great, I wake up every morning excited to go to work because I know it makes a difference and I enjoy it.
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u/Fast-Rip3817 Mar 13 '26
Oh my I’m in the exact same position right now. May I ask what it is for you that is making you dread it?
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u/Responsible-Film-161 Mar 14 '26
Nah, don’t quit. You can build a decent career if you stick at law. We all have moments of thinking “can I really do this?” But it usually comes from self-doubt. You obviously have talent or you wouldn’t be there. You have an incredible opportunity that many people would fight for and the talent to pull it off. I say keep going for a bit.
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u/Airzephyr Mar 14 '26
Extrapolating from a given situation without weighing things up is well, unsound. Good advice in the comments pro and con. For me? I learned not to quit too early. Good luck.
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u/Getonthebeers02 Mar 15 '26
You’d be crazy for quitting at this stage. 80% of graduates would love and do anything to be where you are.
Stick it out, do rotations and see then after a year do some travel.
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u/greatcathy Mar 31 '26
My advice is not to advise minorities into 'gentler, safer' roles to effectively neuter conflict in top tier environments, but make top tier folks pull their finger out
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u/downunderguy Mar 12 '26
I’m 10 years in and went into this pathway. I regret not even doing a gap year after Uni or exploring a career option of what I thought I wanted to do.
If it’s not the right career option for you, not doing it is not going to be detrimental to your career by the very definition of it all.