Hi everyone, I am an associate at a tier-1 in Mumbai. It's been more than two years in this profession and job, and life has not gotten much better. In the initial few months, I wanted to quit right away but somehow I ended up staying and am still stuck in this job. I never had many lawyer friends to begin with, and the ones I did have drifted away during the pandemic. Having no lawyer peers, except for my colleagues, I don't have many people in my life who relate to my struggles. I am not able to give much time to my family or socialize with my friends except for a some weekends. Even on the weekends, I am anticipating new work or stressing over the pending assignment or, if free, I am mentally exhausted from the week's grind.

I do get days and weeks off but sometimes without prior notice I am still expected to work on my days off. This uncertainty and lack of control over my time has made it very difficult to freely enjoy my time off. Having to carry a laptop everywhere I go like I am the busiest person in the world and still making peanuts as compared to other people working these many hours in other jobs is very disheartening. Further, I have had to opt put of every vacation my friends had planned for the past two years because either I am never free when they are or I can never avail holidays on a short notice. In short, my chill time is severely limited, most of the times because of my own mindset.

While I do understand that this job pays for my time and not my skills per se, its very depressing for 25 year old wanting to enjoy his/her youth. My body already feels like a 30 year old and my energy levels are moderately low. I worked very hard like my other colleagues to reach where I am, but having a life like this makes me wonder if I can ever have a good life. I might come across as naive and even entitled for starting this conversation and, more importantly, wanting a good life just because I worked hard. I understand that most of us working this job work really hard and face similar challenges in balancing work and life, so my problems are not extraordinary. The question I really want to ask, even if naively so, is does life ever get better? Will quitting my job help me?

Thank you.

Ah yes, because a fat paycheck totally makes up for constant stress, zero free time, and feeling like you’re about to burn out any second. It’s all worth it, right? The money definitely erases the toll on your mental and physical health. And comparing this to 2024 grads? Brilliant—because comparing misery always helps. Keep pretending the pay is a magic cure for the exhaustion and pressure, though. Spoiler alert: it’s not.

Ah, of course! Because if others are burned out for less money, that means anyone with a higher paycheck has no right to feel overwhelmed. The classic 'your struggle isn’t valid if someone has it worse' argument. Turns out, burnout doesn’t check your salary before it hits. But thanks for the reminder that suffering becomes totally irrelevant when you add a few more zeroes!

Your comment suffers from the fallacy of relative privation. Just because others experience similar stress with less compensation doesn’t make the burnout of a T1 associate any less real or significant. Most of the people who have managed to get a job in a T1 have worked their butts off.
I had no placement support and secured a T1 position on my own post-graduation. So, please avoid comparisons that suggest someone at T1 ‘deserves’ such stress simply because of a higher paycheck. Feel free to not comment when you don't have any value to add.

Well, it's not my fault that this profession is underpaid! Infact, it is the very reason why I took this job up in the first place. I would not get a decent pay in any other job with this degree. People do need to get the best deal and value for themselves and their time.

The idea behind this thread was to seek guidance from senior members in the profession who might have gone through this situation. I do not think your response is adding any value to a person who might be going through a tough time in life. Thanks but no thanks for your futile response.

Actually T1 lawyers are paid way above the average. If you only look at FAANG or tech salaries, you'll always feel underpaid. Sometimes looks at earnings of others in legal profession also and you'll realise how better you're paid. Don't even suggest about stagnant starting salaries. It's also to do with margins and rates. And yeah, economic reality - Associates execute, for which you get paid for execution. At each level, responsibility rises and for which comp rises. If you think you're underpaid, just go for other options you've instead of cribbing. Really will make you much happier if you don't crib and just do it.

And why shall I overlook tech salaries or FAANG salaries in your opinion? Getting into these companies and the T1s entails a similar level of probability and effort and yet at least there is a better WLB in the former than the letter and still, the difference is huge. Saying that look at other people's pay in the profession is such a fallacious argument. Are you such short-sighted to be able to see that all of this works like a cartel and pick any firm whatsoever and it reflects a lala-type business model and etiquette in itself. The ass burn SILF got from the notification allowing foreign law firms in India even though subject to high level of restriction is an evidence that how we all are exploited in this field and only the previously established ones have power polarised to themselves. Like we have got the same workload as that of Merchant Bankers but a pay of plumber when it comes down to the value of time we invest. I will say just get over the fear of feeling inferior if you see the whole wide picture and accept the facts as they are, to at least not be a roadblock to any change which the upcoming generation might be willing to bring in.

Go ahead and keep venting. Can't wake up someone who isn't asleep. Hope the real world introduces itself to you quickly. Else, go ahead and do something where you earn more, if you think you're underpaid. No one is going to hold you back because you didn't learn economics 101.

I don’t understand where the sarcasm and bitterness is coming from. I am too young to accept something that is not making me happy. If there is any way out, I will definitely consider it. Also, my problem is not firm specific but with overall nature of this job.

If I had to start my own business, a law firm would not even make it to the top 100 list of ideas. Also, if I was paid 25 lacs as a fresher, I wouldn’t have these many complaints.

Yes, I do. Sometimes the entire weekend is free. But I guess, the problem is not really with getting time off, its my inability to make the most of it. I am too mentally exhausted or stressed most of the times to really enjoy the time off. A lot of my colleagues indulge in smoking and drinking to blow off the steam even bond over it, however, I don't indulge in either. So I deal with my stress by stressing myself out more. :P

I am aware that my own mindset may very well be a catalyst to this energy drain that I am facing. However, from what I have heard lately it seems to be the case with many others. This job does not bring out the best in me and lately my life has just been about this job.

Pick a hobby, make deeper connections at work, try not to do WFH (remember how people got burnt out during pandemic as WFH has no human interactions), plan your vacations in advance. Introspect if you’re really enjoying what you’re working on and if not, think about another area of law that really interests you.

Accepting the status quo without question isn't admirable—it's complacent. Just because you've chosen to endure an unbalanced life for nine years doesn't mean it's the only path available or the one others should follow. Dismissing work-life balance as a "fashionable term" undermines the genuine concerns of professionals seeking a sustainable career and personal life. Progress in any field comes from challenging outdated norms, not resigning ourselves to them. If adapting means compromising our well-being indefinitely, perhaps it's the profession that needs to evolve, not our expectations.

Several comments seem to suggest you just deal with it, which is an option for sure, if the $ is enough of a payoff for you.

Truthfully, there are many different ways to live, and when we are stuck in the law firm loop (I was as well) it is hard, in that low-energy state, to even allow yourself to imagine how else you might build a life and find happiness.

But that’s a limitation of imagination. I quit that life and went on to make good money as a lawyer but by making different choices that allowed me more time and freedom. I would obviously have made more in pure cash terms by staying with a tier-1 - but I honestly felt the ‘price of that money was too high.

Thanks for addressing my concerns and sharing your own experience. I felt very discouraged with the comments section as I was just suggested to deal with it. Happy to know that you were able find your balance upon taking the leap. Your words - 'Limitation of imagination' - have definitely given me something to think about. Thanks again! :)

You're right. Just that you need to be sure of your basic economics. You're at a starting stage and can actually experiment with the things, with your financial cushion. But do make sure that you don't burn any bridges with the profession. You may end up coming back in any capacity.

Hey, don't feel so disheartened

I feel that you may be in a toxic and demanding team

You can definitely consider moving to a different firm or team

It is better in some places for sure

Leverage your 2+ PQE. Try to spend some time every day, even 10 minutes, working towards shifting jobs.

You can always look for another job. I know people who work in PSUs for example are chilling all day. It's not like this everywhere! Take heart

In the meantime set some boundaries. Nothing is ever so urgent you know. If you have made up your mind to quit you can try setting some boundaries. Worst case you leave the job. Right?

Keep your head up :)

It seems everyone on LI is working at a T1. Anyway, I guess you must be under a lot of stress. Why don't you try blowing all that money you make, buy things, lots of things. I have heard that schizoid consumerism and burying yourself under the weight of shiny new toys money can buy will generally keep you happy.

Honestly, Mumbai is very expensive, and after spending on rent/cabs/food and investing a portion of my pay check not much is left to spend. In fact, I have been advised by some seniors to not worry about saving in the initial years and enjoy the money that I make. But I think that's just not my vibe. I would rather have some savings to fall back in case I end up quitting or for any other emergency in general. I see that many of colleagues spend lavishly and have no savings. I don't want to plan my life like that. And most importantly material things don’t really bring me happiness. I value other things more—like time spent with friends and family, having control over my life, some undisturbed free time, or a good trip or weekend getaway.

Idk whether you will like this advice or not, but just try to be spiritual... not that "spirituality" which these so called new people teach. Joining some cult or something. NO.

Just read your religious texts, may be you will get your answers. To be honest, here blinds are advising blinds. We all are blind.

I read all the comments, and you are very brave and strong that you didn't indulge yourself into smoking and stuff.

But just try to just read those texts and understand it, in starting you may not get it, but slowly you'll see a change.

And bro, talk to your parents or family may be on call, if you can.

Don't worry, one day everything will pay you off. And sab theek hojaega.

Nothing to say except for that this is incredibly parallel to my own experience as a person with 2.5 years of experience at a T1, including the mental exhaustion, and it was nice to feel not so isolated in that experience when reading this post. May we all gather the strength to change something in our lives, even if just the mental trap.

I understand your concern, and you are well aware of your priorities. I worked at a Tier 2 boutique law firm for two years and felt the same. At the time, I had multiple offers from Tier 1 firms as well as in-house roles. I took time to reflect and created a checklist of my priorities. Tier 1 firms offered significantly higher pay, including tax exemptions, with a difference of over ₹8 lakh. However, after reviewing my priorities for a week, I realized that my true calling was an in-house role at a startup. No matter what, life at a Tier 1 firm would remain intense—that's the nature of the job. I trusted my instincts, and five years later, I have a balanced lifestyle that allows me time for my interests and family.

Since my company operates at the intersection of multiple regulatory areas, such as finance and e-commerce, there have been periods of intense work, sometimes requiring me to cancel planned leaves. However, for the most part, I have control over my time. Financially, I’m doing better than some of my friends at Tier 1 firms. If the nature of work at a Tier 1 firm isn’t aligned with your priorities, it’s worth considering a different workplace. One of the best things about a legal career is the flexibility to explore various roles—in-house, law firms, research organizations, and more. Therapy also played a significant role in helping me decide what was right for me.