In
a
recent
New
York
Times
op-ed,
a
fifth-year
associate
at
a
Biglaw
firm
(WilmerHale
to
be
specific
—
and
one
of
only
the
four
that
ATL
listed
on
its
“Spine
Index”)
threw
in
the
law
practice
towel.
He
left
because
of
what
he
saw
as
a
troubling
overlay
of
political
interference.
I
understand
why
people,
similarly
situated,
would
say
“I’m
outta
here,”
but
I
also
think
that
it’s
too
soon
to
make
that
call,
especially
at
WilmerHale.
Perhaps
I
would
better
understand
if
the
departure
was
from
one
of
the
many
firms
that
caved,
rather
than
from
one
of
only
four
Biglaw
firms
that
has
had
the
courage
to
say
“no”
to
47.
It’s
harder
than
ever
to
be
a
lawyer
of
whatever
vintage
these
days.
The
author
started
law
school
at
the
ripe
old
age
of
30.
Looking
back
on
my
earliest
lawyering
years,
we
had
it
easy,
although
we
didn’t
think
so.
But
today,
when
economic
pressures,
business
development
responsibilities,
student
loan
repayments,
and
AI
collide,
it’s
hard
sometimes
to
stay
the
course.
Even
Biglaw
monies
cannot
necessarily
compensate.
Let’s
stipulate
that
the
practice
is
different
now.
In
dinosaur
times,
young
lawyers
could
expect
to
get
some
trial
experience,
could
expect
to
argue
some
motions,
and
counsel
clients
on
smaller
matters.
Today,
partners
need/want
to
continue
to
fill
their
own
trough,
so
sharing
work,
let
alone
delegating
it,
is
harder.
AI
will
not
make
sharing
any
easier,
given
how
quickly
and
efficiently
it
can
do
various
tasks,
regardless
of
accuracy
and
hallucinations.
How
to
divide
the
pie
when
pieces
are
smaller?
How
many
slices
can
you
get
out
of
a
layer
cake?
Does
it
depend
upon
how
you
slice
it?
And
how
many
are
willing
to
take
smaller
pieces?
You
tell
me.
The
departing
associate
was
disillusioned
about
a
number
of
things
in
practice.
Parts
of
the
firm’s
advocacy
troubled
him:
how
you
present
the
facts,
how
you
structure
the
argument(s)
and
cases
that
support
the
reasons
why
the
client
should
prevail.
The
facts
and
law
are
purposefully
written
in
the
client’s
favor;
that’s
the
nature
of
advocacy.
Everyone
deserves
representation,
and
in
a
Biglaw
firm
associates
do
not
usually
get
to
make
that
call.
At
the
end
of
the
day,
attorney
fees
drive
the
business
of
lawyering.
He
also
believes
that
the
“legal
system
is
broken
and
is
in
dire
need
of
repair.”
The
author,
a
relative
latecomer
to
law
school
and
then
to
practice,
is
not
happy
about
what
he
sees
as
the
Biglaw
paradigm,
the
reverse
of
the
“comfort
the
afflicted
and
afflict
the
comfortable.”
He
saw
the
firm
help
rich
clients
get
even
richer.
He
says
that
Wilmer
Hale
was
a
wonderful
place
to
work,
but
it
rankled
him
that
a
disturbing
contrast
existed
between
the
“democratic
responsibilities
of
lawyering”
and
the
“highly
profit-driven
industry.”
To
him,
it
was
a
conflict
that
he
couldn’t
resolve.
Did
he
jump
off
the
Biglaw
hamster
wheel
too
soon?
Not
for
me
to
say,
but
I
wince
when
I
think
about
all
the
sunk
costs
(time
and
money)
spent
with
high
hopes
and
now
dashed
dreams.
For
those
of
you
taking
the
bar
next
month,
waiting
for
bar
results,
or
in
your
early
years
of
practice,
don’t
let
what
you
see
now
in
the
federal
government
dissuade
you
from
your
legal
careers.
There
are
opportunities
for
lawyers
at
the
local
and
state
levels.
those
who
want
to
represent
people
against
faceless
corporate
entities,
opportunities
for
those
who
want
to
make
a
difference
by
working
for
various
nonprofits
that
represent
people
but
also
advocate
for
necessary
changes
in
the
law.
It
was
a
much
more
collegial
atmosphere
in
dinosaur
days.
While
I
am
not
advocating
a
RTW
five
days
a
week,
I
liked
walking
down
the
hall
and
asking
for
help
from
a
subject
matter
expert: “What
do
you
think
about
this?
How
best
to
handle
it?
Any
particular
law
to
look
at?”
Better
than
googling
and
the
best
way
to
develop
friendship
and
knowledge.
Few,
if
any,
colleagues
refused
my
request.
This
new
generation
of
lawyers
needs
all
the
intellectual
firepower
and
commitment
to
the
rule
of
law
that
it
can
muster.
Figure
out
what
you
really
want
to
accomplish
as
a
lawyer.
Find
a
practice
area
that
stimulates
and
motivates
you.
Take
it
from
someone
(aka
me)
who
had
a
number
of
different
fits
and
starts
as
a
lawyer
before
finally
latching
on
to
what
was
best
for
me. Winston
Churchill
(Google
him
if
you
don’t
know
who
he
was)
reportedly
said,
“When
you
are
going
through
hell,
keep
going.”
So,
keep
going.
Jill
Switzer
has
been
an
active
member
of
the
State
Bar
of
California
for
over
40
years.
She
remembers
practicing
law
in
a
kinder,
gentler
time.
She’s
had
a
diverse
legal
career,
including
stints
as
a
deputy
district
attorney,
a
solo
practice,
and
several
senior
in-house
gigs.
She
now
mediates
full-time,
which
gives
her
the
opportunity
to
see
dinosaurs,
millennials,
and
those
in-between
interact
—
it’s
not
always
civil.
You
can
reach
her
by
email
at [email protected].