BigLaw
Top-tier legal practice
BigLaw refers to the largest, most prestigious corporate law firms, typically characterized by hundreds of attorneys, offices in multiple cities, Fortune 500 clients, and high associate salaries.
The term often carries connotations of demanding hours and lucrative compensation: She left BigLaw after five years to start her own practice.
BigLaw starting salaries have climbed above $200,000.
Work hours invoiced to clients
- partner trackPath to firm ownership
- associateConnect mentally or socially
- grindCrush into particles
- burnoutChronic occupational depletion
all-nighters · face time · golden handcuffs · up-or-out · lockstep · rainmaker · summer associate · lateral move
Corporate buyouts and combinations
- corporateOf or relating to companies
- litigationLegal dispute process
- capital marketsSecurities trading venues
- private equityCapital for unlisted companies
securities · antitrust · restructuring · bankruptcy · IPO · due diligence · transaction · deal
First pay at new job
- market rateCurrent trading value
- bonusReward beyond expectation
- signing bonusPayment upon accepting employment
- retention bonusPayment to keep employees
profit sharing · PPP · draw · year-end bonus
Superior select group
- selectiveChoosing with care
- top-tierOf highest quality
- pedigreeRecord of descent
- HarvardPrestigious Cambridge university
Yale · Stanford · credentials · establishment · WASP · meritocracy · credentialism · brass ring
billable hours
Work hours invoiced to clients
- partner trackPath to firm ownership
- associateConnect mentally or socially
- grindCrush into particles
burnout · all-nighters · face time · golden handcuffs · up-or-out · lockstep · rainmaker · summer associate · lateral move · war stories
M&A
Corporate buyouts and combinations
- corporateOf or relating to companies
- litigationLegal dispute process
- capital marketsSecurities trading venues
private equity · securities · antitrust · restructuring · bankruptcy · IPO · due diligence · transaction · deal · closing
Magic Circle
Exclusive British conjurers' organization
- elite firmsTop-tier business organizations
starting salary
First pay at new job
- market rateCurrent trading value
- bonusReward beyond expectation
- signing bonusPayment upon accepting employment
retention bonus · profit sharing · PPP · draw · year-end bonus
elite
Superior select group
Harvard · Yale · Stanford · credentials · establishment · WASP · meritocracy · credentialism · brass ring · validation
BigLawpublic interest law
Legal practice serving society
legal aid · public defender · district attorney · pro bono work · civil rights attorney
big, bigger, biggest, law, laws, lawful, lawfully, lawfulness, unlawful