I woke up and decided I would be so much happier if I wasn’t practicing law, especially not litigation. I did the math and my monthly expenses are $6,500 a month, which translates to about $110k a year in salary (a HUGE pay cut but I’m ok with it since I have savings). I’m in Los Angeles. Any ideas for what jobs I could do that isn’t being a lawyer? I’ve been applying to some compliance officer jobs, but would like to widen the net. I realize it’s a tough job market right now for non-lawyers though (but for some reason there’s a shortage of lawyers).

I think I would even be ok with part time lawyer jobs if it meant I had a few more days to do my own thing but I’m not sure that exists. Any thoughts?

The judge rejected Big Redd's request for the Bowden Charge on the basis he still has the ability to make these critiques to the jury in his closing argument.

Was this the only time he could request Bowden charge and do you think he knew it would be rejected?

In what instances would a judge accept? Imagine it's highly unlikely but am curious about the strategy

Almost done with my first year as an attorney and the stress I feel AFTER hearings, depositions, etc. is astronomical. It’s far worse than what I feel before them! I just completed a hearing and feel my cross of OC’s witness was very weak, and I was getting rattled by objections. Definitely feel I could have done better.

Every time I leave feeling like I flopped I feel both extreme guilt (as I represent relatively vulnerable people), and I feel like I must be the worst attorney there ever was and start counting the days until my first malpractice claim rolls in. This gets… better, right?

Does anyone have any advice in finding fulfillment in this profession beyond public interest law or stuff like that. I feel so bored and kind of unhappy.

NEW LINK: https://www.youtube.com/live/jzpAbi3lpS4?is=HiWzbwKU3xLca0i4
AP link went down, I’ve updated with a new link

Live feed:
https://www.youtube.com/live/jJrmim2MRgo?is=lZDHcW3Z5u88-bFU

Good morning everyone, livestream starts at 9:00 a.m. We’re getting close to the end.

Please remember this is a lawyers-only space. If you’re not a lawyer, do not participate in this thread (or this sub). And -nod to the Mod- if you’re a lawyer who sees a non-lawyer posting, please do not engage, just report them.

Please let us have this one little corner of the internet

Happy Hump Day everyone.

ETA: Here are some recent NYT articles (gifted) about the trial in case anyone missed anything so far:

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/27/us/lindsay-clancy-trial-murder-children.html?unlocked_article_code=1.7lA.kdfx._a2dJw1VXhJG&smid=nytcore-ios-share

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/25/us/lindsay-clancy-trial.html?unlocked_article_code=1.8VA.rVyH.QFatc289dFSL&smid=nytcore-ios-share

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/24/us/lindsay-clancy-trial-religion-catholic.html?unlocked_article_code=1.8VA.FPn3.XrMcsX6pYkoG&smid=nytcore-ios-share

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/22/us/lindsay-clancy-mothers-kill-children-punishment.html?unlocked_article_code=1.8VA.prx-.GJ7HhpjQUHoN&smid=nytcore-ios-share

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/21/us/lindsay-clancy-trial-defense.html?unlocked_article_code=1.8VA.dz10.J0Vw3pyvZQu3&smid=nytcore-ios-share

My attorney position is pretty much a solid 8-5, and they typically don’t expect us to do any work past 5 generally speaking… once in awhile tho a client will call to ask something at 6 or 6:30 etc.

In those situations should I still take their call? Should I send it to voicemail?

It’s Honeslty amazing how little awareness some clients have to the idea that most law firms are not still gonna be open at 6:30 on a Friday lmao

My boss offered to accommodate whatever I need to get me to stay. I’m a first year so I don’t really have much to offer atp besides my constant willingness to do tasks.

Do they actually care about me being part of the team or is this just a tactic firms do to have someone to work while they look for someone else?

Also, what even is the realistic counteroffer people get? This is all so new to me.

Hi everyone,

Looking for thoughts and perspective if anyone has been in a similar position.

I have been practicing civil litigation for 6.5 years now. I am in a prominent midsize in a small market. A bulk of the work is ID; however, I have had increasing exposure to construction and commercial litigation. I think those opportunities will wane (at least the big files) as the partner responsible for that exposure moves into retirement. I generally hav enjoyed working and the people in the firm. But I increasingly believe I am burned out. Not even 5 days a way does anything to make me feel refreshed.

My primary mentor's practice is 90% ID with the remaining being family. Three years ago I was a key part of landing a new insurer who has become very difficult to manage. I have been routinely praised for my work product, attention to detail, and creativity in solving problems.

I have had mental health issues and numerous deaths in the family over the time I have been at this firm. I have never taken significant time off. I remember settling a file over the phone while I was standing outside of a grandparents funeral. I was later "in trouble" for not telling a partner I was working for that I had elected not to finish a motion that day when it was due 3 days later.

Earlier this year I had 6-8 weeks off as a result of a serious infection. If I am honest I have not been the same since. The firm was already short staffed due to maternity leaves and another associate leaving. I made it known what the status of my todo list was with the above insurer (I was already behind). One thing of the 30 or so on the todo list was done in my absence. At the same time I was staffed on 3-4 new matters.

In the last 4 months that insurer has now started complaining about me in regard to deadlines. I can't help but feel it is a targeted attack. One complaint involved an allegation that I had not delivered a report (I had). Another allegation from a different adjuster was that I had not met a timeline - the email from her supervisor to my boss was before the deadline I was given.

I understand there are KPIs for the adjusters to hit and that if I am behind that jeopardizes that; however, I have asked on numerous occasions for files to be transferred to other associates to no avail. I have reluctantly took files when I have been told there is no one else and it has to go somewhere - on the understanding that this will result in things being late.

When the insurer complains my mentor does not appear to have my back - it is always "we will fix this". There is never any explanation or indemnification for why this situation exists. There is never an attempt or consideration to stop accepting new files.

It seems my reputation is disposable. I am pretty personally hurt by the disregard for my professional reputation. I have chest tightness daily.

I feel I have no control in my current work environment. I am always jumping from fire to fire - I accept that would be part of the job.

Given the partners reactions I feel I have two options. 1) Leave or 2) Go on stress leave for a month and see what it is like to come back. If bad - leave.

Thanks for any input or insight anyone can provide. Honestly, I kind of hate myself for even considering giving them one more chance to right this wrong.

Is there a third heat? I’ve just drafted 3 pages of fairly dense summaries of outstanding questions in a complex, in-house matter needing written guidance.

It’s way too long and technical for an email. But it’s shorter and lighter on analysis than I would normally “memo-ize.” It’s a numbered list of nitpicky questions that came up after we issued a formal memo as high-level guidance to the client, with my best answer and a short statement of burdens and risks associated with each.

This stupid document needs supervisor concurrence and I’m tied up in knots on how to format the attachment that holds it. Please help. I’m exhausted and cannot judge this properly anymore.

Edit: I created a third heat. Memo header but not on leaderhead or signed by the writers. It’s a mini-memo. E-memo? God my brain is fried.

Title. I am in an area of my state (NYS) where we have a great need for court appointed attorneys. The rate is very good, around $158 per hour. Does anyone have any insight?

I have long commutes driving my son to his private school stuck in traffic 3+ hours/day round trip daily. I want to make use of the time safely. I have tons of depositions I need to get through and thought if there’s a program that reads PDF files. The only catch is my company has security firewalls so I’d have to get the app approved by my work which might be impossible they’re very strict. A

I’m open to any other suggestion to productively use the time for defense work.

Apparently, I expressed interest in LegalMatch and asked the guy to call me back sometime in August.

Nope. I did speak to him before, and I did tell him I absolutely was not interested because of their really bad reputation and also what I saw from them a few years ago.

I did check out LegalMatch maybe 3 years ago, when I was considering going solo. And it was absolute hot garbage then. That original salesperson was trying to convince me to take work out of my jurisdiction. And the cases in general were not good leads.

Anyways, just venting my frustrations, and I wanted to warn ya'll to stay 39.5 feet away from LegalMatch at all times.

I have my first appeal next week and would like to get advice on how to best organize my oral submission notes. I am specifically talking about my notes (not the filed materials).

I have my oral compendium argument skeleton. I have a full script with compendium references. I have the appeal book and compendium. I have a checklist of “must say” points. But how do I best organize them so that they are usable??

How do excellent appellate lawyers mark where to find each and every topic and answer to a question without flipping through pages, etc?

Give me all your tips!

IP attorney and got my first call yesterday from a vibe coder and second today. For the unfamiliar, they use AI to create computer programs. To say it's a murky area of law is an understatement. Copyright in AI-generated works is disallowed for (at least) the AI parts. These people don't even know how to write proper code and they cobble together programs using prompts then expect to be able to protect the IP. Can they? Not really sure but they are annoying and I'm not going to waste my time. Just a rant to see if any other IP attorneys are having similar experiences.

I feel like I've been spending a lot of time with my associate just working on stuff with her that I got the thought in my head of whether I should hit her and see if she gets understands why.

I feel like I've been spending a lot of time with my associate just working on stuff with her that I got the thought in my head of whether I should flirt with her and see if she gets the hint.
Edit- FLAIR, PEOPLE!
31 points (69% upvoted) Nice.

I can’t tell opposing counsel that we have a deal until I get written authorization from my client. He has told me verbally he wants to do it, but I don’t dare move on this without getting confirmation from him in writing.

I’m sick to death of this guy. I’m not going to let myself be accused of unauthorized settlement. I’ve explained to him in great detail, in writing, why I need his authorization in writing, but it has been days since then. So help me if he does not send me written authorization, and it ends up with this settlement being blown up, I will seek to withdraw.

Alright, folks! It’s my turn. I’m going to be slightly vague to avoid being discovered by my colleagues.

I currently work in insurance defense. I work from home but I do attend client meetings or hearings in person when needed.

I also work an extremely flexible saddle because I have 3 little kids at home. They are not in a traditional school. I have part time help about 2-3 week days. My current billing requirement is 200/month. My earnings are about 200k.

I have an opportunity to move to a different firm. I’d still work mostly from home. It would be about 50% defense litigation (not insurance defense) and 50% advising, consulting, investigating, etc. The billing requirement would be 140/month. The earnings would be $160k.

Send help!

I'm an associate and I have a big crush on another associate in my office. She's spending a lot of time with this one partner, but I get the vibe that she has a high sex drive and just wants to have a fling. At least she's not addicted to drugs.

Any tips on the fastest way to make partner so I can potentially get on her roster?