India - a developing economy is going through "middle income trap" and I come from middle income family . India is only country where concept of burn out is glorified and drilled in our brains since childhood.

Hence, in teens we are misguided to set unworthy goals, only to regret later in adulthood but it is very late by then.

Couldn't agree more on the people management. I have worked hard on several transactions without feeling like I might quit the next morning with a real gung-ho attitude because the people I was working with explained things to me and were patient. They also cracked a few jokes in between to ease the stress. That way I understood that everyone was under the pump. However, there have also been transactions where I felt exhausted from having to deal with people who didn't care about easing me into the process and shouting at the slightest chance. These people made even the daily 9 hours feel like a life time. Problem is that the law firm system rewards such people and most people in senior positions are such people.

Some of the smartest people in my batch (across unis), the ones who could discuss GDPR impromptu, who could tell you their opinion on Nariman's approach to manifest arbitrariness over a joint, who could really teach securitisation to the whole batch are all now seeing if a company has obtained frikkin shops and establishments licenses somewhere.

The money is good, for the fortunate ones the people are nice, there is sometime some intellectually engaging work. Other times, you can never get enough time to go into a flow state and actually produce work you can be proud of, you will text Batchmate's at 4 AM for your stamp duty doubts, you will wonder if the extra money is worth dumbing yourself over.

If money is not the biggest issue in your life, pick something you will enjoy.

I have always been used to people liking my work. I was studious in law school. I used to be appreciated as an intern. Then I came into working in a top law firm in a team of my choice. I always enjoyed law. It was my first choice.

The experience has so far been transformative. Being an intern entails no real responsibility. Everything changes as an associate. With responsibly comes expectations (sometimes unfair), remuneration (the positive), and learning.

To give you some context of my background, I come from middle class family. My parents really struggled to be where they are. Today we have our own house and some savings and that's an achievement in my book. That being said, most of us are socialised at home to awe at struggle. Struggle is the key to success is what are are led to believe. If you don't work and struggle in your 20's when will you? I came into law swith this mindset.

I can very well relate to this dichotomy. When I got a law firm job after graduating from NLSIU, I’d felt that I’d made it. As time passed by, the sheen of a law firm started fading. Most of this has got to do with poor people management. Honestly, I remember periods of intense work that I loved only because the team members were courteous. At the same time, I’m also reminded of horrendous micro-managing seniors. If you get a great team that values a humane culture, you’re lucky I suppose. That said, law firm life invariably would have sporadic/not-so-sporadic late nights (at least in teams that do transactional work). I hate to admit this but from my first hand experience abroad, I feel that (at least I’ve not encountered the same) few people breathe down your neck. Your time isn’t seen as non-negotiable. Maybe you can consider gritting your teeth, working for a couple of years, investing the money and then picking a less hectic job (in-house maybe). Or contemplate a move abroad (though law as a profession sadly has limited geographical mobility as compared to other professions such as software engineering).

Don't know about alternate career options, but on the question of are law firms that bad-Yes, I am an opponent of aTier 1 firm in court and they are the most wicked unethical and horrible lawyers and law firm.The level of dirty/foul tricks that these lawyers of this well known law firm do are just disgraceful.There are days when I don't think of them as humans but as cannibalistic hyenas.It is arrogant as hell firm but I am beginning to think that many law firms in India are like this.

I'm a first year law student so I'm quite naive and my knowledge of the field is limited. T1 law firms have always been advertised as "the place" to work at by clat coaching institutes. But reading the comments at LI regarding the horrendous work culture in these firms, I was wondering whether it is even worth the high salary packages. Are law firms really so bad? Does it get better? And if not what are good alternative career options to pursue?