BigLaw: How to Survive the First Two Years of Practice in a Mega-Firm

Let’s face it—you can pick up any number of fluffy self-help books for newbie lawyers out there, the kind that prepackage snippets of advice in simplistic, upbeat memes while offering little in the way of substance. Sarah Powell’s BigLaw: How to Survive the First Two Years of Practice in a Mega-Firm, or, The Art of Doc Review [Find it] is not this type of book.

Unlike many lawyerly advice books that cover either issues like firm culture and work-life balance or practical things like doc review, Powell covers all of these topics and more, and does this in a surprisingly detailed and insightful manner. She also doesn’t spare the ugly—you get a clear picture of your abysmal position in the firm hierarchy, your inability to avoid making mistakes and taking the blame for others’ mistakes, and the likelihood of encountering BigLaw side effects like chronic stress, anxiety, depression, and exhaustion. BigLaw is a sobering read for anyone considering starting their career at a mega-firm.