What an Associate at King and Spalding LLP Wishes They Had Known Before Entering the Law Industry
Christopher, an associate at King & Spalding, LLP, wished for a more realistic understanding of the day-to-day tasks before entering the legal profession, noting that "practicing law is kind of like the iceberg," with much of the work being "grunt work and reviewing documents," rather than the glamorous courtroom scenes often portrayed. Networking and directly asking lawyers about their daily routines, including the percentage of time spent on various tasks, is recommended for aspiring legal professionals to gain a clearer picture of the reality of the job.
Industry Realities, Workplace Challenges, Networking, Career Exploration, Candid Advice
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Christopher Jew
Associate (lawyer)
King & Spalding, LLP
University of California, Davis
USC Gould School of Law, J.D.; UCLA Anderson School of Management, MBA
Economics
Healthcare, Medical & Wellness, Law
Legal
Worked 20+ Hours in School, Veteran
Video Highlights
1. A typical day for a lawyer involves more administrative tasks like reviewing documents and cases than high-profile courtroom work.
2. Networking and informational interviews are crucial for understanding the reality of a law firm's day-to-day operations and finding a firm that aligns with your career goals.
3. The nature of legal work can vary greatly depending on the firm and the type of practice, so it's essential to research and understand this variation before entering the field.
Transcript
What have you learned about this role that you wish someone would have told you before you entered the industry?
I think before entering the industry, it would have been helpful to have a data-driven breakdown of what a day in the life typically looks like. In one of my other answers, I mentioned that a day in the life can vary from being in the office to being in trial or arbitration. But that's a really high-level answer.
I think what would have been helpful to know earlier on is how those days actually break down. Practicing law is not like what you see on TV, where a case wraps up in 45 minutes. Practicing law is like an iceberg. The sexy, made-for-TV moments are just the tip of the iceberg.
Most of the iceberg is buried underneath the water. A lot of the grunt work, reviewing documents and cases, makes up the majority of the work. You have to enjoy some of those aspects because they will be far more common than the sexier parts.
Now, you can slant your practice towards trial advocacy if that's what you want. But if that's your goal, you need to find a firm where that is what the law practice looks like. There are firms that operate that way, but you can only find them through networking and talking to people at the firm.
When networking, I recommend asking people, "What does a day at your law firm really look like?" I tell law students to talk to alumni from their law school and ask them about their day-to-day. Ask them how often they go to court, what they do, and what percentage of their time is spent on oral advocacy versus other tasks.