Dear 1L, I need to warn you about the quicksand. Every law school has some.

It lures you in with the promise of high grades, a job at a big firm that pays well, and a credential that makes your school look good.

And it is very hard to climb out of once it has you.

Before you know it, you're stuck—convinced Big Law is your only path to success, even if it was never part of your plan to begin with.

I see this happen to hundreds of students every fall. Please don't let it happen to you.

Only you know what you actually want out of life. Don't let anyone else decide what kind of lawyer you become, who you work for, or what success means to you.

Because here's the thing: Big Law is not as glamorous as it looks.

I get it—parts of it seem that way:

💰 $225,000+ pay.
👠 Fancy suits & shoes.
🤑 Cases for big, high-profile clients.
🍷 Big-City dining, entertainment & networking.

But it's just not all like that. There are many, many long, hard days and nights in between.

 ▪️ At my 10-year high school reunion, I spoke with a classmate who'd just finished three full years as an associate at a top "white shoe" firm in NYC. The reunion was the first evening he'd had off in three years. Not the first weekday evening. The first evening.

 ▪️ Then there was the senior associate who kept a sleeping bag, pillow, and alarm clock under his desk at all times, "just in case." Six reported "just-in-case" overnights that year—on top of several weekend all-nighters at home.

 ▪️ And the junior associate whose apartment lacked stable internet. She kept a make-shift bed in the back of her car, wasting hours "driving from one all-night diner to another to find a quiet corner with good Internet and no wait staff or cleaners to scurry over me."

👉 Still want Big Law after all that? I'm behind you 100%. I'll share every war story so you start with eyes wide open.

Not what you want? Big Law is not right for you. Full stop.And that's 100% fine!!!

It's a tiny fraction of the profession—there are dozens of other great paths, and most of them don't come with a sleeping bag under the desk.

So ask yourself now—before orientation, before the recruiting talk, before the dollar signs start to shine.

Decide now so you can steer clear of that quicksand before it makes the decision for you.

💌 Amanda

#Dear1L