As a veteran of the big law world, I’ve seen my fair share of burnout, disillusionment, and clever strategies for survival. Today, I’m pulling back the curtain on a topic that’s often whispered about but rarely discussed openly: coasting in big law. If you’re feeling trapped in the golden handcuffs of a prestigious firm but can’t quite bring yourself to leave, this post is for you.

The Burnout Reality

Before we dive into coasting strategies, let’s acknowledge the elephant in the room: big law burnout is real, and it’s crushing. I’ve watched brilliant colleagues morph from eager first-years to jaded senior associates, all while maintaining a facade of enthusiasm. One particularly poignant comment from a fellow lawyer stuck with me: “It’s crazy that I’ve done this job for six years, have had nothing but praise and amazing reviews, and yet I feel like I’m losing my mind.”

This sentiment isn’t unique. The relentless demands, the impossibility of truly disconnecting (goodbye, relaxing vacations), and the soul-crushing nature of some practice areas (I’m looking at you, M&A) create a perfect storm for burnout. Add in the lifestyle inflation that comes with those six-figure salaries, and you’ve got a recipe for feeling utterly trapped.

So, what’s a burnt-out lawyer to do? Enter the art of coasting.

Coasting 101: The Basics

Coasting in big law is a delicate balance. The goal is to do just enough to maintain your position and good standing without burning yourself out further. It’s about reclaiming some semblance of work-life balance while still cashing those hefty paychecks. Here are some foundational strategies:

1. Find Your Sweet Spot Look for a practice group that’s neither too large (where you’re just a cog in the machine) nor too small (where your absence is immediately noticed). Bonus points if you can find a group with older partners who don’t live at the office.
2. Build a Solid Reputation First Before you start coasting, establish yourself as reliable and efficient. Produce excellent work consistently for at least a year or two. This goodwill can carry you through leaner times.
3. Leverage Technology Be responsive on your phone and use apps that allow you to answer calls as if you’re in the office. This creates the illusion of constant availability.
4. Master the Art of Strategic Visibility Have your secretary open your office door and turn on lights early. Leave a coat on your chair when you leave. Be seen when it’s advantageous, and invisible when it’s not.
5. Work Remotely Whenever Possible Especially after 7 pm on weeknights and on weekends. If no one’s looking for you, no one knows you’re not there.

Advanced Coasting Techniques

For those ready to take their coasting to the next level, consider these more advanced strategies:

6. The Weekend Work Illusion Complete weekend work early (think Friday night or early Saturday morning), but don’t send it until Sunday night or Monday morning. Your colleagues will think you’ve been diligently working all weekend.
7. Aggressive Delegation As you become more senior, delegate aggressively. Someone asks for edits? Send it to the junior associate. Use document services for formatting and filing departments for all filings.
8. The Art of Saying No Turn down work from non-equity partners or counsel. Say no to non-billable work and business development tasks. If an email goes out to multiple people asking for volunteers, don’t respond.
9. Embrace the Quick Pass When asked to check something, do a brief review to confirm it looks right. You don’t need to read every case or spend hours researching if you’re comfortable with the answer.
10. Strategic Non-Responsiveness Don’t respond to emails on weekends unless explicitly asked or if it would interfere with a deadline. If you do respond, a simple “will do” suffices – you can actually do it on Monday.

The Extreme Coaster: A Case Study

I once knew an associate who took coasting to an art form. In their first year, they billed only 1150 hours, playing dumb and saying it took longer to learn. The second year, split between two firms due to lateraling, they billed a total of 1000 hours, blaming it on onboarding at the new firm.

Their work was consistently sloppy but just presentable enough. They didn’t proofread memos or properly cite sources, doing just enough to get something to the partner for review. However, they made sure to occasionally provide insightful opinions on certain matters, impressing partners with these sporadic contributions.

The key to their success? Likability. They attended every social event, got to know all the partners and assistants, and went to every happy hour. This social capital made it harder for the firm to consider firing them, despite their clear underperformance.

While I don’t recommend this extreme approach (it’s not sustainable long-term and can damage your future prospects), it illustrates just how far some lawyers will go to cope with a job they find unbearable.

The Ethical Considerations and Long-Term Implications

Now, I know what some of you are thinking: “Isn’t this unethical? What about our duty to clients?” It’s a valid concern, and one that each lawyer must grapple with individually. The strategies I’ve outlined aren’t about providing subpar work to clients. Rather, they’re about managing your time, energy, and the expectations of those around you.

The goal is to find a way to do good work for your clients without sacrificing your entire life and mental health in the process. It’s about pushing back against a culture that often demands more than is reasonable or necessary.

That said, coasting isn’t without its risks. It can limit your advancement prospects within the firm and potentially make it harder to lateral to another prestigious firm if that’s your goal. It’s a strategy best employed when you’re fairly certain that making partner isn’t your endgame.

The Exit Strategy: What Comes After Coasting?

For many, coasting is a temporary solution while they figure out their next move. The ultimate goal for most is to find a way out of big law, preferably to a less demanding in-house position or a different career altogether.

However, this transition isn’t always easy. The specialized nature of big law work doesn’t always translate well to other fields, and the lifestyle inflation that comes with big law salaries can make it hard to consider lower-paying alternatives.

Interestingly, some lawyers report that colleagues who struggled or even failed in big law settings have gone on to secure comfortable in-house positions with better work-life balance. This observation can be both frustrating and encouraging for those still in the trenches.

If you’re considering an exit, start planning early. Network with former colleagues who have made the jump to in-house positions. Consider whether you’d be willing to take a pay cut for a better quality of life. And don’t rule out the possibility of leaving law entirely – your skills are more transferable than you might think.

Finding Your Path

The decision to coast in big law isn’t one to be taken lightly. It’s a survival strategy, a way to reclaim some control over your life in a profession that often demands everything you have to give and then some.

Remember, the stories and strategies shared here aren’t a prescription, but rather a reflection of the lengths to which some lawyers go to cope with an often unsustainable career path. They serve as a call to action for the legal industry to reevaluate its approach to work-life balance and employee wellbeing.

Ultimately, whether you choose to coast, to lean in, or to seek an exit strategy, the most important thing is to prioritize your wellbeing and happiness. The prestige and paycheck that come with big law aren’t worth sacrificing your mental health, your relationships, and your sense of fulfillment.

So, to all my fellow big law survivors out there: know that you’re not alone in your struggles. Whether you’re burning the midnight oil or mastering the art of the strategic coast, remember to take care of yourself. After all, you’re more than just a billing machine – you’re a human being deserving of a life beyond the office walls.