Small Law Firms: Is the Grass Really Greener?

Small Law Firms: Is the Grass Really Greener

As super-big law firms suffer through the recession, many midsize and small firms are thriving. Back in June, we discussed these firms as a viable alternative to Biglaw. (A number of smaller firms -- e.g., Stone & Magnanini, Silver Golub & Teitell, and McKool Smith -- are even hiring, with the help of job postings on Above the Law.)

But are smaller firms all they're cracked up to be? We try to present both sides of the story. Check out this letter, from the ATL mailbag:

I'm an Ivy League law grad with a couple of years in big law. I got laid off and eventually found a job at a smaller firm. Like, way smaller. Unsurprisingly, I know a couple of people to whom this has happened (and a couple who haven't found jobs as well, of course).

The commonly held wisdom is that the trade off in big law is money for your time and soul, while smaller firms pay less, but ask less. I'm not finding this to be really true, and neither are my friends.