fan_from_texas wrote:
While my employer is more reasonable than that, that sort of mindset is absolutely out there, and several friends report similar experiences. It's a crazy profession.
I think a lot of lawyers, like engineers, find out it's not as sexy and as exciting as on tv. The lucky ones figure it out while still in law school, the others get some war stories and a few bucks to pay off those loans. Had a friend in law school and I told him I had always thought I might go that route and knew I could be good, but realized 90% of it was research and writing briefs that I knew didn't appeal to me. He said I was smart to understand that because most don't.
Along similar lines, the "blue chip pedigree" is sort of Ivy League undergrad and then consulting or investment banking. But go to a good grad school and you skip the monkey business and start as an associate, just like the people who did it before grad school (the catch being most who did it beforehand do everything in their power to avoid going back).
I wish I had the idea to have my own business, because I think I have the passion and ability (but probably too risk averse, even with the idea). But reality is most entrepreneurs work just as hard (if not harder) than a lot of your lawyers and doctors. There are very few fortunate souls who most people would define as successful in the business world who don't have to work very, very hard.
