Monthly Archives: February 2011

Sour Grapes for $20,000?

The BigLaw bonus extravaganza is back. BigLaw associates will receive an unexpected spring bonus this year in addition to the normal annual bonus. This is icing on a rather dry cake; the 2010 annual bonus was less than half of what was handed out during the boom time of 2007.

I fondly remember the excitement back in 2007, when firms were clamoring to match and even outdo each other on the bonus front.… Continue reading →

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The Emotional Logic of “Awe Bei”

My parents often called me “awe bei” in Shanghainese when I was little. (No, it doesn’t mean “garbage.”) It wasn’t until later that I finally figured out from context that “awe bei” meant doing something contrarian, usually something that displeased my parents.

I can see why my parents described me as “awe bei.”… Continue reading →

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Q2 Report: Getting Out and About

I described in my previous post the various classes I have been taking in Q2 – the second three months after quitting BigLaw. Taking miscellaneous classes that amount to no degree or diploma feels decadent. I never did this before: every class I took, even electives, always served to land me onto the next step of the StairMaster of predictable professional life.… Continue reading →

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Q2 Report: Going Back To Schools (Sort Of)

The first three months after quitting – my Q1 of post-BigLaw life – was a period of adjustment. I traveled, decompressed, reflected, established a routine – and felt uneasy with my lack of productivity. Productivity was not an issue for the second three months. Q2 was about trying out new things, improving myself, and refining my interests.… Continue reading →

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Quitting BigLaw – Part IV: Change in Priorities

What better way to wrap up my Quitting BigLaw series and kickstart my Q2 review than to examine how my priorities have changed since quitting by rating the importance of various attributes of a hypothetical future career? For those who know me, my favorite pastime involves running through hypotheticals and rating things on a scale of 1 to 10.… Continue reading →

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