12 hours
i just worked my first twelve-hour day. (well, not first ever, but first as a lawyer.) i was in the office from 9 to 9. i feel kind of proud of myself - this is what being a first-year associate is supposed to be like!
but i'm also glad that i haven't felt pressured to stay this late before now (and even this was really my own choice - i wanted to get some extra work done because i'm planning on leaving a little earlier than usual tomorrow. shh, don't tell). i don't want to get into a pattern where i feel like i have to work super-long hours all the time. i want to work hard at my job - i honestly enjoy the work, and it's kind of exciting to work hard and work long hours, like running a marathon or something - but i want to be sure to have a life, too.
life is short. i want to accomplish cool things, which takes work, but i also want to enjoy myself. i only have, what, 60 more years left? i don't want to look back and say, "now why did i spend those five years living behind a desk 16 hours a day?" i think you can be a great lawyer and still have time to play scrabble.
but i'm also glad that i haven't felt pressured to stay this late before now (and even this was really my own choice - i wanted to get some extra work done because i'm planning on leaving a little earlier than usual tomorrow. shh, don't tell). i don't want to get into a pattern where i feel like i have to work super-long hours all the time. i want to work hard at my job - i honestly enjoy the work, and it's kind of exciting to work hard and work long hours, like running a marathon or something - but i want to be sure to have a life, too.
life is short. i want to accomplish cool things, which takes work, but i also want to enjoy myself. i only have, what, 60 more years left? i don't want to look back and say, "now why did i spend those five years living behind a desk 16 hours a day?" i think you can be a great lawyer and still have time to play scrabble.
2 Comments:
At 7:17 AM, Anonymous said…
What kind of work are you doing, so far?
At 7:32 PM, ilona said…
research, research, and more research. it's basically the only thing i'm qualified to do right now. i've spent a couple of entire days staring at Westlaw on my computer screen, trying dozens of combinations of search terms, looking for needles in haystacks. but even that can be weirdly satisfying.
Post a Comment
<< Home