Are lawyers that unfamiliar with Ferraris?? -----------------------------

Leaving aside the Ferrari thing for a moment, you may very well be better served to "do some time" with a big, name, firm for a few years, and then go somewhere else if you find you don't like it. If you are in the portion of the class that will be recruited into a top firm you may find it an uphill battle to get another bite at the apple if you go small/boutique first, then find you don't care for that. Just an idea - it may depend on what kind of law you want to practice as well.

FWIW I do litigation consulting primarily for the "top 20" or so law firms in LA - even at the big firms there are standouts that get noticed so if you really are good...

My $0.02.

Cheers
Kevin

 

Hi Kevin and Ryan, I'll offer my two cents, again.

There are "litigators" and there are "trial lawyers". Litigators are not necessarily the latter but trial lawyers are litigators. Trial lawyers work up cases for trial and then try the cases they don't settle. I know litigators who have never tried a case to verdict but they sure are good at filing papers with the court or writing a clever brief or anything except walking up the steps on the day of trial and getting in front of jury pool. In fact, many of them are deathly afraid of going to trial although they don't dare admit that to you, or their well heeled clients.

In a big firm young associates don't try many cases the first few years. If Ryan's goal is to try a civil case to verdict early on, a big firm is not the answer. In a big firm you may take depositions, perpetuate testimony or argue motions from time to time but you won't voir dire a jury, make an opening statment and close on summation.

In my experience, most of the really good trial lawyers are on their own in small to medium sized firms. It's the nature of the "beast", they don't conform, and a big firm environment is about conformity.

You can get noticed working as a Federal prosecutor or in a small firm trying lot's of "dogs" that you have no expectation of winning, but you make good out of whole cloth. That's how you make a name for yourself. Then go to a big firm after getting your feet wet or, better yet, with an upper echelon PI or criminal firm.

Good luck!

Mike

 

I cant speak for all lawyers but my father (who had been in corporate commercial litigation for 25 years) doesnt really know anything about Ferraris, or sportscars in general. Im sure some lawyers at his firm drive fcars but all the ones from there that i know drive normal cars.

 

I'm would imagine a podiatrist would have a certain appreciation for the gas pedal that others don't!

DL