The podcast for lawyers and business professionals working in, with, and around Big Law
Hear from lawyers and other professionals who have experience navigating work and life in the challenging world of large law firms.
The Podcast
Expert insights and advice to help you achieve your goals in your legal career
Working in and with big law firms is full of challenges — everything from becoming a partner to succeeding as a partner or pivoting to another role, making your case for compensation and recognition as a professional at any level, managing and steering the business of the firm, and engaging these firms as outside counsel.
On this podcast, I share what I’ve learned in a long career as a Big Law partner, and also talk to others — lawyers, business developers, project managers, legal pricing experts, clients, and other professionals — about what they find exciting, engaging, frustrating, challenging and motivating in working with these firms.
You may be:
Already working in Big Law and are looking to advance your career or transition out;
Wondering what it takes to move into a Big Law from government or corporate legal departments;
Trying to improve your relationships with outside counsel at large law firms; or
Otherwise want to understand more about how to engage in the large, complex business environment of major global law firms
For all of these and many other situations, the podcast offers candid and honest advice that will help you take the next best step toward your professional goals in the world of Big Law.
#114: AI Won’t Replace BigLaw Associates, But It Will Expose Weak Writing and Poor Judgment
AI is changing how associates need to learn earlier in their BigLaw careers to write with clarity and demonstrate good judgment and analysis. Because the more AI can do, the higher the bar is for you.
#113: The Structural Power Changes Reshaping BigLaw
Learn what is leading large law firms to make significant pivots in how they promote, compensate and evaluate the career paths for senior associates, counsels, and junior partners - and how you can best navigate this new reality.
#112: A Few of the Unwritten Rules of BigLaw
Get smart about the quiet but usually unspoken things that BigLaw is signaling so that you don’t miss what you need to know.
#111: Weekend Work in BigLaw: What’s Normal, What’s Dysfunctional, and What It Signals About Your Future
Not all weekend work is created equal so learn how to determine what is healthy and role appropriate as opposed to dysfunctional and draining.
#110: How the Cravath Scale Actually Works in BigLaw for Mid- and Senior-Level Associates
Learn what you need to know about what is and isn’t standard about a scale that isn’t designed to guarantee equal outcomes or compensation for advanced associates.
#109: When You Were Assured of BigLaw Partnership This Year But It Didn’t Happen
How do you determine what happened when you did everything you were told to do to make it and yet you still weren’t elected partner? And how do you assess whether partnership will be achievable in the future for you at the firm?
#108: Inside Goodwin’s Client Immersion Program for Junior Associates - With Lynda Galligan and Josh Klatzkin
Learn how Goodwln’s program for early training and working in-house with clients has changed the development model for junior associates.
#107: Do You Have to Be a Big Rainmaker to Succeed in BigLaw?
Attorneys who are force multipliers in firms that value how this drives business can forge a clear path to partnership.
#106: 10 Things BigLaw Attorneys and Business Professionals Should Do in January (But Usually Don’t)
Get ready for a new calendar year and meaningful progress in a better way.
#105: Cringe-Free BigLaw Goals for Associates in the New Year
Avoid trying to make changes that are unrealistic and instead focus on practical, small steps that compound to make you more visible and impactful.
#104: BigLaw Partnership Timing: What Actually Controls When You Make Partner
Get clear on not just how you make partner based on your capabilities and skills - but also what factors you need to be realistic about that may affect timing.
#103: The Mid-Career BigLaw Partner Crossroad - Should You Stay or Make a Lateral Move?
Develop a better and more strategic approach as a partner to deciding whether to stay or leave your firm.
#102: The Most Dangerous Time in BigLaw - What Mid-Senior Associates Should Be Thinking About
Learn how to make the shifts you need to as a mid-senior associates so you stay on track to progress your career in BigLaw.
#101: The Seven Billable Hours Pitfalls That Hold BigLaw Associates Back
Making your billable hours isn’t as easy as just entering and closing your time - there are some key traps you need to avoid.
#100: What 100 Episodes Reveal About BigLaw: Career Realities, Recurring Challenges, and Industry Shifts
Celebrating the 100th episode by switching roles as I’m interviewed about why I started this podcast, and how I continue to hear from those in the BigLaw community as to why it’s needed for practical guidance and conversation on how to navigate the daily challenges of this unique environment.
#99: When Partnership Doesn’t Mean Control: How BigLaw’s Structure Can Limit Your Autonomy and What You Can Do About It
Figuring out how as a partner you can balance the firm’s requirements and structures for how work is managed with the need you have to direct your own matters is a vital step to take in BigLaw.
#98: Inside Your BigLaw Firm’s Different Measures of Profitability - And How They Affect You
Knowing how your firm and practice group measure profitability beyond just the published numbers you see outside the firm is absolutely critical to learning how you and your practice are really evaluated.
#97: The Biggest Mistakes BigLaw Attorneys Make in Business Development
Business development can be challenging, but there are a few key ways you can shift your approach to better generate business more consistently.
#96: When Your BigLaw Firm Stops Valuing You: Signs Partners Often Miss
It happens, to very capable and strong partners, so you need to be aware of when it may be happening to you, and what you can and should be doing about it.
#95: The BigLaw Blind Spot: What Many Partners Don’t Understand About PEP
You know it’s important, but do you really understand how it affects you?
Guests on Big Law Life
Interested in being a guest on Big Law Life?
Contact Laura at laura@lauraterrell.com to share what you would like to add to the conversation about life in big law firms.