Biglaw: How to Survive the First Two Years of Practice in a Mega-Firm, or, The Art of Doc Review

by Sarah Powell

Popular culture usually portrays the life of a junior associate in one of America's elite law firms — collectively Biglaw — either as a glamorous and lucrative (if morally dubious) adventure, or as a hellish immersion in mind-numbing servitude to psychotic senior partners, while the available advice books on being an associate usually give little insight into what Biglaw practice is really like, or why it is the way it is. In this book, Sarah Powell (herself a veteran of Biglaw associate life) gives a clear-eyed, intensely personal, and at the same time institutionally sophisticated account of what associates experience and why. Rather than being random and inexplicable, the unrelenting demands and intense hierarchy to which elite firms subject their junior lawyers are inextricably linked to the firms' chief claim to their prestige and their enormous incomes — the sometimes explicit boast that Biglaw can handle any legal issue, at any time, with superb competence and matchless speed. Powell provides the reader a unique window onto an associate's day-by-day life in an elite firm, while showing how the details make a harrowing kind of sense in the light of these firms' structure and modes of operation. Neither an exposé nor a whitewash, her book employs telling anecdotes and savvy advice in crafting an informed and intensely practical guide to survival as an associate in Biglaw. But her insights into elite law practice will be of equal interest to anyone seeking to understand one of our society's most powerful institutions.

Genres: Legal, Law

194 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2013

About the author

Sarah Powell is a litigator in Washington, D.C.

Reviews

[Nicki · Rating 2 out of 5]

I can't believe how redundant this book was. I mean, verbatim, same statements over and over and over again. I do not understand how this got past any editor. And lawyers are supposed to write concisely! Its not that Powell doesn't have good points; its that there is not enough material to stretch over 200 pages without being extremely repetitive. This should not have been a book. It should have been an 11-12 page article, published in a bar journal. Again, she does make some good points but I didn't like her attitude toward contract attorneys (namely, of course, a junior associate would do a better job reviewing a document than a mere contract attorney!) In reality, in this economy, many highly trained and intelligent attorneys are being forced in contract work. But I digress.

[Jordan Dunlap · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book has some great information that is valuable for those interested in pursuing a career in Biglaw. However, the entire book is so overwhelmingly negative (and repetitive, I might add) that it is difficult for the reader to form their own opinion. The author is actively trying to dissuade others from joining a Biglaw firm. I would recommend reading the first few chapter in order to gain insight into the mechanical operations of Biglaw, but reading any further would be of little benefit.

[Cameron Davis · Rating 3 out of 5]

probably learned a good amount that will be uesful, but the book is somewhat repetitive and inconsistent

[Daniel Sloan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Gives a pretty bleak outlook. I'd be interested to see a more balanced version of this book. Lots of privilege coming through here, but that seems to come with the territory.

[KingSolomon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Informative with helpful anecdotes. A brutally honest view of Biglaw, if a bit repetitive and assuming her experience is very similar to what you’ll have as an associate.

4.4

[Amy Allen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having a son in law school was the impetus for reading two different books called Biglaw. The other is a fiction book, but this one is a memoir or how to book that gets right down to the nitty gritty of working in a big law firm.
The author is honest and fair about what life is like for the first year associate. From the etiquette of email addresses to good verbs for use on a time sheet are all covered in this informative book. What I liked about it was the first couple of chapters and the last one, that gave me a sense of what my son's life will be like in the beginning. Since I don't really need to know how to do certain tasks, I skimmed the middle of the book.
I definitely recommend this book to all law school students or people thinking of going into law. I also suggest that anyone who cares about someone who is about to embark on this journey read this book. Not to scare the reader, but this will prepare you for what is to come. And help you make decisions that will make your life better, whether you work for a big law firm, or not.