u/ivygirl26

For any incoming 1Ls interested in BigLaw, I’m first-gen and genuinely had no idea how much of recruiting was stuff you’re somehow just expected to know lol.

These guides/trackers were up last year as well for 2025 and helped me understand the timeline, keep track of firms and applications, and figure out all the little recruiting things I didn’t know to even ask about. They helped me a ton through the process, so I figured I’d share the new recruiting cycle one here too in case they can help another first gen 1L :)

https://www.etsy.com/listing/4558248149/biglaw-recruiting-tracker-am-law-100

https://www.etsy.com/listing/4558252026/1l-biglaw-recruiting-guide-first-gen-law?ref=related-1&sr_prefetch=0&pf_from=listing&dd=1&logging_key=e04df3db694b0baaf68743781f34d566805780d7%3A4558252026

Any thoughts on the GT Miami office? If you worked there, what was it like, what were your billables, and what was your starting salary? Thanks!

What is the absolute earliest you can expect to be hired for 3L?

Any thoughts on the GT Miami office? If you worked there, what was it like, what were your billables, and what was your starting salary? Thanks!

Hi all! I know it’s not “big big” law and AM200 but I am wondering if anyone knows anything about them, what their associate pay was, etc. Looking at Sarasota, FL. Any insight is helpful. Thanks in advance!

I really need serious advice because this feels like one of those decisions that could shape the direction of my life and career.

I am a rising 2L at a highly ranked law school. I transferred after earning grades near the very top of my class at my previous school (t-195+), and I have spent several years building a substantive legal resume through federal judicial experience, legal employment, writing, networking, and other professional opportunities. I have worked extremely hard and made significant personal and financial sacrifices to position myself for sophisticated litigation, investigations, government work, national security, or eventually a large-firm practice.

The timing makes this especially difficult because the 2L recruiting cycle is now practically over. I applied broadly and received numerous callbacks from large firms, but none resulted in an offer. That outcome has been difficult to understand given my school, grades, and several years of legal work experience. I understand that credentials do not entitle anyone to a particular outcome and that hiring can be unpredictable, but I no longer have the luxury of assuming that another comparable opportunity will appear if I decline the offer currently in front of me.

I recently received a 2L summer offer from a large, nationally recognized (not big law) firm. The position pays approximately $2,500 per week, is located in the city where I attend school, and would likely provide practical litigation experience and some possibility of a post-graduate offer.

The problem is that the firm primarily practices in an area of law I have never wanted to pursue. I am genuinely grateful for the offer and do not mean any disrespect toward the firm or its attorneys, but I have a persistent bad feeling about accepting it. I worry that spending my crucial 2L summer there could cause employers to view me as committed to that particular practice area and make it harder to transition into investigations, white-collar work, national-security law, complex commercial litigation, government service, or a major defense firm.

At the same time, I am under real financial pressure. The summer salary would materially change my situation, help me pay significant expenses, and provide some employment security. Turning it down would not merely mean sacrificing extra spending money. It would mean accepting substantial financial risk.

Complicating matters, I recently found a highly interesting federal-government legal internship involving foreign affairs, executive-branch work, and issues much more closely aligned with my long-term interests. It sounds like the kind of work I would genuinely be excited to pursue.

However, I have only just found the posting. I have not interviewed, do not have an offer, and suspect that it may be unpaid or significantly less well compensated.
I have only two days to respond to the existing offer. My school’s career-services policy states that once students accept an offer, they must withdraw from all other processes and stop applying for additional summer positions. Therefore, I cannot simply accept the paid position as insurance and continue pursuing government or firm opportunities.

My realistic options appear to be:
Accept the secure, well-paid litigation position, obtain practical experience and financial stability, and attempt to pivot later through 3L hiring, networking, government recruitment, or a clerkship.

Decline the offer, remain free to pursue government, investigations, national-security, or large-firm opportunities, and accept the very real risk of ending the recruiting cycle with nothing comparable, or possibly nothing paid.

I also recognize that some of my reaction may be emotional. I invested so much time, money, and effort into law school and recruiting that I hoped my 2L summer would feel more closely aligned with what I had been working toward. After receiving numerous callbacks but no large-firm offer, I am struggling to determine whether my discomfort reflects a genuine career mismatch or disappointment that the process did not end the way I expected.

I do not want wounded pride or prestige anxiety to cause me to reject a legitimate opportunity. But I also do not want financial fear, and the fact that recruiting is nearly finished, to push me into a career path I already know I do not want.

For attorneys, law students, recruiters, or anyone who has navigated a similar decision:

How difficult would it realistically be to move from a large plaintiffs’ personal-injury firm into white-collar investigations, national-security work, complex commercial litigation, government, or BigLaw?

Would the practical litigation training and potential return-offer security outweigh the mismatch in practice area?

How much should someone trust a persistent gut feeling when there are no obvious concrete red flags?

Would declining a strong paid offer for the possibility of a more aligned but uncertain opportunity be courageous or reckless?

Given that the 2L recruiting cycle is effectively over, what would you do in my position?

I genuinely need candid advice. This is not an abstract prestige question to me. It feels like a choice among financial survival and the career I have spent 10+ years trying to build.

Desperate. Has anyone successfully done this?

Has anyone worked at Morgan & Morgan? If so, what are your thoughts and what was your base? Thanks!!

Has anyone worked at Morgan & Morgan? If so, what are your thoughts and what was your base? Thanks!!

Hey y'all. Coming up to NYC next Friday night with a friend for a celebration. Need a rooftop that has insane views (extremely high), and also high end. I tried overstory but they only have reservations for 4 and we are 2. Let me know something similar to that within walking distance of the Conrad. Thanks!

I had a 3.7 on a 2.3 curve and my spring grades came back and I got a C+ in property and now my gpa is a 3.5. How does this affect my recruiting?

Thanks!

Hey y'all! Any tips, words of wisdom? Thanks!

Does anyone know any AM100 firms that are still hiring 2L SA's? I just transferred from a T190 to a T20 and am paying sticker to get big law. Any info greatly appreciated! Thanks.

Does anyone know any AM100 firms that are still hiring 2L SA's? I just transferred from a T190 to a T20 and am paying sticker to get big law. Any info greatly appreciated! Thanks.

I have property final tomorrow. I got a C on the midterm. I effectively taught myself the entire doctrine of property in 3 days. I still don't get future interests or RAP. Pray for me. Any last words of advice would be more than appreciated.