What is Big Law? An In-Depth Look at Large Law Firms
Big Law refers to the largest law firms in the world. These elite firms are characterized by their impressive size, prestige, complex high-stakes cases, and top-tier corporate clients. This article takes an in-depth look at Big Law, including its definition, key features, pros and cons, life as an associate, diversity issues, future outlook, and how to decide if it’s the right career path for you.
What is the Definition of Big Law?
Big Law firms typically have at least several hundred attorneys and generate over $1 billion in annual revenue. However, the key defining features are:
- Representing major corporations like Fortune 500 companies as well as wealthy individuals in complex, high-value legal matters.
- Offering full-service capabilities across all major practice areas including corporate, litigation, real estate, tax, intellectual property, and more.
- Having a global presence with international offices across multiple continents.
- Attracting top legal talent by offering the highest salaries and most prestigious credentials.
- Being considered a “feeder” firm that feeds associates directly into judicial clerkships, government roles, academic positions, and in-house counsel jobs at major corporations.
So in essence, Big Law represents the pinnacle of private legal practice, comprised of the largest, most profitable, most comprehensive, and most pedigreed firms in the world.
Key Features of Big Law Firms
Big Law firms share many common characteristics:
- Hundreds to thousands of attorneys – The largest firms have over 4,000 attorneys across dozens of international offices. Even mid-sized Big Law firms have 500+ lawyers.
- Highly specialized, elite practice groups – Big Law firms have experts in every conceivable legal specialty working in niche practice groups.
- Sophisticated corporate clients – Big Law handles bet-the-company cases for Fortune 500 companies, major banks, technology giants, and other entities with complex global legal needs.
- High-stakes litigation – Big Law lawyers argue influential cases in front of state supreme courts, federal circuit courts, and even the US Supreme Court.
- Prestigious credentials – Attorneys at Big Law firms typically graduated from a Top 14 law school and worked in law journals. Many clerks for federal judges.
- Lavish offices – Big Law firms spend millions on luxurious office spaces in skyscrapers and business districts to project success.
- Top-tier compensation – Junior Big Law associates start around $215,000. Salaries and bonuses rise substantially for senior attorneys and partners.
- Demanding billable hour requirements – Associates usually must bill at least 2,000 hours per year. Long days and weekend work are common.
- White shoe culture – Formality, decorum, and appearances are emphasized in keeping with Big Law’s elite status.
So in summary, everything about Big Law is big – the scope, the clients, the cases, the profits, the hours, the pressures, and the rewards. It represents the pinnacle of the legal profession.
Pros and Cons of Working at a Big Law Firm
While prestigious and financially rewarding, practicing law at a Big Law firm has notable tradeoffs:
Pros
- Highest associate salaries with generous bonuses
- Elite resume builder for future job opportunities
- Training and mentoring from top experts in the field
- Exposure to complex, high-stakes legal matters
- Opportunities to contribute to influential cases and deals
- Access to vast firm resources and networks
- Prestige of being associated with top tier firm
Cons
- Extremely demanding billable hour requirements
- Below market salary if billable hours aren’t met
- Pressure to log long hours leaves little work-life balance
- Can feel anonymous due to firm size and attrition
- Lower-level work like document reviews for years before advancing
- Less passion and meaning than public interest law
- Very competitive “up or out” promotion model
The pros tend to appeal most to young Type A graduates looking to start a successful career and pad their resume. However, the grueling lifestyle causes many to burn out or exit for other opportunities after a few years.
What is Life Like As a Big Law Associate?
The associate experience at Big Law firms generally follows a similar trajectory:
Recruiting and Onboarding
- Go through on-campus interviews and formal recruitment programs or “summer associate” internships.
- Vie for a full-time associate offer which is mostly based on summer program performance. Offers have a 3-5 year duration but high attrition after 2-3 years is expected.
- Start as a first-year associate with orientation programs on firm operations, resources, billing practices, conduct guidelines, and introductions to partners.
Early Years
- Spend 80-90% of the time on document reviews, due diligence, and research memos for partners and senior associates. Receive limited client interaction.
- Work long hours up to 80-100 hours per week to meet demanding 2,000+ hour billable targets. Work nights and weekends frequently.
- Get staffed on various teams and practice groups based on firm needs. Exposure to many areas helps build breadth.
- Gain skills in drafting basic motions, contracts, and filings while absorbing guidance from supervisors.
- Socialize and network internally to make partner connections for advancement. Seek high-profile assignments from partners.
Middle Years
- Transition to doing 50%+ original work after proving basic competence and work ethic. Still overseen by partners.
- Take depositions, argue simple motions, lead small trials, and interact with clients more regularly. Develop area specialties.
- Guide and review associate work product while taking on more independent caseload and client responsibilities.
- Decide whether to keep advancing toward partnership or exit the firm for a better lifestyle and options. Most depart around this 4-5 year point.
Later Years
- The few who continue, begin working autonomously on significant cases or deals with minimal partner input needed.
- Manage giant cases and transactions nearly independently. Represent own book of business clients in a niche practice area.
- Focus is now mostly on networking, rainmaking, and client relationship management to drive new business and become partners.
- Help decide the future of the firm on committees while acting as a partner in all but name only. Either make a partner after 8-10 years or move on.
So in summary, Big Law associate careers start grueling but with rich training and move towards autonomously managing multifaceted challenges on the path to partnership for those few who stick it out. The day-to-day work evolves from tedium to significance over time.
Diversity Issues in Big Law
The traditional white shoe Big Law model has faced growing calls to address:
- Underrepresentation of minorities – Around 90% of Big Law partners are white. Black, Hispanic, and Asian partners rarely exceed a few percentage points each.
- Gender inequality issues – Although 50% of law grads are now women, female partners still only represent about 25% of partners at large firms.
- LGBTQ+ representation – While improving, openness around LGBTQ+ orientation remains lower among Big Law attorneys compared to the general population.
- Socioeconomic barriers to entry – Students lacking financial support face challenges affording unpaid summer programs and local living costs during internships.
- Ingrained cultural norms – Traditional norms around decorum, work styles, networking, and partner connections favor straight, white, affluent profiles.
In response, many firms now have diversity & inclusion staff, targeted hiring initiatives, LGBTQ+ groups, and outreach to students of modest means. But progress remains slow. The high attrition model also means firms are perpetually trying to improve diversity among lower ranks. Core barriers to advancement and retention persist industry-wide.
The Future Outlook for Big Law
Predictions for the future of the Big Law model include:
- Continued upward pressure on salaries and billable hours expectations making the path to partnership more grueling.
- More lawyers declining partner-track advancement for better lifestyle and job satisfaction.
- Expanding the use of AI, algorithms, and data analytics to conduct tasks like document review and due diligence, reducing leverage.
- Growing competition from “New Law” firms with innovative staffing models enabling fixed fees and flexibility.
- More outsourcing and shifting of basic work to alternative legal services firms to control costs.
- Further mergers and acquisitions among elite firms led to “mega-firms” with thousands of lawyers worldwide.
- More niche spin-off boutique firms from firm refugees seeking better work-life balance.
- Increasing roles blending law with other disciplines like technology, data science, and business.
So in summary, the core Big Law model faces mounting internal and external pressures to evolve, though widespread disruption is unlikely soon given the high barriers to entering the elite tier. As law becomes more multi-disciplinary, Big Law will adapt by outsourcing rote tasks while remaining a hub for the most complex, high-value legal work.
Is Big Law the Right Career Path For You?
Deciding whether to pursue the Big Law path depends greatly on your personality, motivations, and stage of career:
Personality Considerations
Big Lawsuits for those who:
- Thrive on intellectual challenges and high-stakes matters
- Are extremely detail-oriented and love exhaustive research
- Are competitive and incentivized by prestige
- Are extroverted networkers and adept at organizational politics
- Can manage high stress and adversity without burnout
Big Law typically doesn’t suit those looking for:
- Strong work-life balance from the start
- Deep emotional fulfillment or meaning from their work
- A more collegial, collaborative teamwork dynamic
- An innovative, progressive organizational culture
- Autonomy over their workload and schedule
Motivational Considerations
If you are motivated by:
- High compensation, generous benefits, and top credentials
- Working with an elite caliber of legal professionals
- Handling nationally prominent cases and transactions
- Building your resume to maximize future options
Then Big Law will likely be a good fit, especially early in your career.
But if you are motivated by:
- Control over your time and location flexibility
- Building close mentor and peer relationships
- Getting hands-on court and client contact quickly
- Aligning legal work with your values and passions
Then you may wish to explore government, boutique firms, in-house roles, or nonprofit work.
Stage of Career Considerations
Based on your career stage:
- If you are a law student, Big Law is worth exploring as a resume booster if you can tolerate the workload initially. Most use it as a launching pad more than a lifelong destination.
- If you are an early-career attorney already in Big Law wishing to stay long-term, evaluate if the partnership is realistic and worth the tradeoffs before investing your formative years.
- If you are a mid/late career attorney, make sure a Big Law role capitalizes on your expertise fully. Deep specialization is key at this stage.
Conclusion
While not for everyone, Big Law represents the pinnacle of the legal profession, with the largest firms handling the most complex clients and matters. The tradeoff is intense pressure and extreme hours in exchange for top pay and elite credentials. As the law evolves, Big Law must adapt by focusing expertise on high-value work while outsourcing routine tasks. Law students and attorneys should carefully weigh if the Big Law path suits their personality, motivations, and career stage before pursuing or continuing on the road to partnership.
