Hello,
Early public interest litigator here, getting paid pretty well and do good work for communities/ public service. Aaaaand it’s a lot of fucking work. And naturally, being in the nonprofit sector, despite the good compensation, I’m not compensated at the same rate as my firm counterparts. the thing people don’t tell you about nonprofits is they expect firm like work with substantially less pay. I clocked 170 hours last month alone. And I’m salary, no billables, but all this and for what? To be stuck in cycles of filing motions, replies, arguments, appeals, and no true meaningful result because the courts are what the courts are. Its unbearable at times. I’m talking I regularly have stress and panic attacks and I’m constantly on deadline cycless and even the “good side” lawyers can be SUCH assholes. So there’s no redeeming part, besides the fact that I can use my degree to help people.
Y’all, am I wrong to think that even the good fight isn’t even worth it anymore? I have started seeing non-law practice jobs that pay like 72k and have orderly schedules, and for someone who has no debt nor kids nor partner, it kinda seems like I could just do that, live comfortably, and at least be able to choose my health and happiness without feeling bad. My internal desire and ambition give me pause— but I feel like that’s me trying to meet expectations of parents/ culture/ a work consumed society. Any lawyers in here feel similarly?