It sound like a rather informal survey ..but interesting none the less. New Gen Y legal graduates are wondering whether the option of big law is what they want..
The New Lawyer Write:
THE awful ramifications of working in the top tier, added to strong beliefs about social justice, are the key concerns of lawyers entering the profession.
In an investigation into the issues preoccupying Australia’s young lawyers, The New Lawyer can reveal that Generation Y lawyers are struggling to weigh up the lure of commercial law against niche areas of law such as environmental law and animal rights law.
"There is a growing social consciousness among young lawyers," said May Samali, president of the law society at Sydney University. But many up-and-coming-lawyers acknowledge that commercial law practice offers a good foundation for training to be a legal professional.
"Top tier firms offer the greatest range of practice areas they also have really good graduate recruitment programs, in that they give you good training and mentoring," said Samali.
"I think it is a good place to start off, regardless of whether you want to stay in commercial law or move horizontally to other areas." US-based law graduate Aaron Titus is critical of the lure of commercial practice because of concern over work-life balance.
"The ‘big firm’ career track was the only option presented to students at my school," said Titus.
"I never want to work at a big firm, no matter how much they offer. Starting with the bar, the big firm legal profession seems to be one ‘good ol’ boys club’, hazing ritual after another, and I don’t have any interest in participating.
http://www.thenewlawyer.com.au/article/Grads-spill-on-the-boys-club-legal-profession/490668.aspx
