i quit my $350k job as a lawyer.
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- Äas pĆidĂĄn 2. 06. 2024
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i'm quitting - 0:00
intro - 0:21
short interlude - 0:58
reason #1: i do not want the partners' lives - 1:54
reason #2: it's time to take a risk - 5:56
reason #3: ownership - 9:50
what's next? - 10:53
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â F A Q s â
how old are you? 30 ('91 baby)
which schools did you go to? yale (undergrad) and harvard (law school)
what did you major in? economics
what was your gpa and lsat score? 3.86/176
what sign/MBTI/enneagram are you? aries, ENFJ, 3w4
are you sure you're not a virgo? no part of my star chart is virgo or an earth sign, i swear
I recommend you
1. Breast implant
2. Double eye lid operation
I recommend you learn how to treat people with respect and maybe get out of that rock you're under.
That was rude
wtf lmao
@@toxicyasuo2897 I know rite sheâs like crazy hott n smart đ„
Pin of shame I see. So uncalled for
becoming partner in a law firm is like winning a pie eating contest and the prize is.... more pie
đ€Łđ€Łđ€ŁTrue.
and way more money...way more
Lolllllll
@@erices621 Like you'd knowđ€Šđżââïžđ€Ą
The reward for hard work is more work
Iâm a lawyer who loves my job. But I have a lot of colleagues who hate theirs, and they tend to have one thing in common: They never liked the study of law in the first place. I see comments on this video from other lawyers who tell young people ânever go to law school!â This is so misguided. If you donât study something you genuinely do not like, youâre probably going to be miserable. Law school isnât the problem. Making bad choices for poor reasons is.
white and case , kirkland , allen and overy and all big law are the worst firm ever don't ever work their
I just made a similar comment. You have to love the practice of law. And itâs not for everyone. Itâs just not.
This is untrue. You can enjoy law but then realise corporate firms donât care about your abilityâŠthey just want you to make as much money as possible and donât care about your needs! You canât know at 19 that these jobs milk you dry and donât care about your health or needs
Wow, the American education system is truly baffling. How someone can earn 350k and still be shouldering student debt is beyond me...
If a person is making that much and after 4-5 years still has student debt it usually indicates that they havenât prioritized paying it down either because of financial irresponsibility and they donât think itâs a big deal, or more likely the interest on their debt is low enough that they would prefer to make the minimum payment and invest the money instead to earn a higher return. For doctors/lawyers their student debt is almost like a mortgage, they borrowed a large amount up front in order have an income stream and use that to pay back the money over time.
@@richardparadox163 Yep. You're spot on. I know people with a household income of $500k and crazy student debt that they could have easily paid off years ago. They don't want to prioritize paying it down because they enjoy the lifestyle their salary currently affords them and don't want to "cut back".
She needs better financial planning
@@richardparadox163 Exactly, if the lawyers she's talking about in the video are still "paying on their student loans after 20 years" then it's most likely their fault they still have debt. People assume just because someone has a financially viable job such as a lawyer or a doctor that they're financially literate as well, when in fact these people can be just as reckless with their money as a person making minimum wage. How many doctors we see driving around in $100,000 luxury cars with houses beyond their reach still in student debt? Plenty honestly. No matter how much you make, if you aren't responsible financially then it's irrelevant.
Beyond
quitting a job is the most "stressful stress reliver" there is XD
Not with that price tag! I wouldâve sucked it up if that was me. I grew up poor and would kill for a high paying job that I can pay off my student loans and buy a permanent home for me and my mom.
@@abikleinsmith thank you. Iâm just really tired of the struggle. Iâve stressed and worried myself into an eating disorder. I donât want to struggle anymore
Same situation as you. I have to recommend fixing your eating because I've made some dumb mistakes because of my struggle life mentality. You come first, not your dreams of home ownership. Not even your mother. You go first, and that includes your health, mental and physical.
2 worst things in the world: having a job and not having a job
@@ShortenMonteCristo ainât that the truth!đđđđ
Big law is similar to investment banking. Long hours. Big pay. You ultimately sacrifice a lot and donât know why.
Big pay
Long hours lmao you act like they're out there doing construction work. I can pull off office work all day and not complain about it.
Well good for you but remember everyone is different. As an intern in a big law firm in France there are months where I begin at 9am and finish at 2 am... The most I had to do this was 3 months in a row... I can tell you, I was depressed and I don't have to specify that those months were stressful
@@triggerfish2711 You sound like someone who hasn't done a lot of office work. Its not physical but its still tiring in a different way
Indeed. The quality of life is very low.
Congratulations Cece! I quit Big Law 2 years ago and it was the best decision I've ever made. It's scary to leave a big paycheck and the prestige of Big Law, but I think you'll find that it's worth it to pursue your 'why'!
That's why I follow Erika!
Can we get Julian to reply too? haha
Love this video, but question: what was your journey on getting a big law job? What field of law you were in? How does one make over 300k in law?
@@sylviacutie3649 iâll make a video about all this, but the top law school to biglaw conveyor belt is incredibly easy. biglaw salaries are public and start at $215k now, i believe
@@CeceXie thank you! The thing is I have a premed background and I am currently working in the medical field, and I recently graduated from college. I am studying for the LSAT and Gre, but I think I might just apply with the Gre. Is the Gre good for law school? What is your take?
An uncle who was a partner in a big law firm advised me when I was young not to go to law school. Best advice for me, careerwise. His rationale, I was meant to do something else (I have multiple grad degrees) Long story short, followed my passions... Today, I have everything I ever wanted (health, wealth, happiness, and freedom). You are a bright young lady and have a lot of options. Best of luck!
So what did you end up doing ? Did those grad degrees help ?
hahaha almost every attorney i spoke with before going to law school told me not to do it. I thought it was an industry joke, or at the very least, said in jest. well, 1 year fresh out of law school and working my first job as an attorney... i can say the attorneys I spoke with we're not lying, the job is so demanding and every minute of your day has to be billed, the billing requirement is what hurts me.
Can't leave us hanging like that! What did you end up doing?
@@kawaiikoibito3268 I ended up a business owner and investor (it's what I am good at). The first half of my life was to please others (parents). The second half, to discover my Why (are you here, what gives you satisfaction, etc). Hold on to your dreams people...
@@yqf051 became a business owner (tech)/investor. Today, semi-ret, started a non-profit and mentoring the next generation. Grad degrees helped open doors but for pure education, you can learn as much or more on YT these days for free. Find your Why and follow your dreams (the road less traveled) Best of luck!
Been a lawyer almost 9 years. Decided to quit and built my own business. I am here after 6 years and been doing well....^^
Super proud of you!
Great job! What kind of business do you run?
@@kawaiikoibito3268 entertainment business :)
Good job
@@BlueNJ1905 Congrats!
I have a similar story! I quit my job in supply chain after 6.5 years when I was 30. I was making a salary I felt so proud of. I had so much anxiety putting in my 2 weeks, but It turned out to be the best decision. I have never looked back or dwelled on my decision! Luckily I got married soon after and was able to get on my husbands health insurance. A year later I am now a stay at home mom to a 2 month old. The feelings of hard work, reward and accomplishment I was used to in my career, I now get with (trying) to be the best mom!
i love that!! supply chain probably has a TON of transferable skills, too :)
Wow! I hope I can accomplish something similar to this someday! Thatâs so amazing! Happy for you âșïžâ€ïž
There is no higher occupation than Mama or Papa
@@TrancEndingMedia lies. anyone can be a parent.
@@limlim481 doesn't mean they would be a good parent, this takes work.
Good for you for quitting. It takes a lot of courage to do what you did. Iâm debating leaving nursing. Healthcare has many cracks and the pandemic has only magnified them. Iâm fed up with the culture of nursing, being treated like garbage by management, and having to beg for time off. I never signed up for abuse when I became a nurse. Canât wait for the day I can quit this sh&#.
That was exactly what i said to myself before quitting my job as a nurse! Take enough time to take the right decision!
I hear travel nurses are paid more and nurse anesthesist get paid way more and the NAs don't interact with patients as much
@@alexanderfrederich7993 Iâve thought about it for 10yrs. đ€Łđ€Łđ€Ł
@@spicychad55 same here. I know of some Nurse Practitioners who are making great money and enjoy their jobs. Good luck to @Jen C.
I have recently started thinking about not being a nurse anymore, but I feel stuck. Iâve been doing cardiac rehab nursing for the past 17 years & Iâm burned out!
congratulations cece! you've been such an inspiration throughout my whole law school application process and your rationale throughout this video was so eloquently laid out! very excited to follow along as you navigate this next chapter in your life~
Youâre so articulate. I hope you keep us updated in your journey.
Good luck. Sending good vibes and many blessings
OMG NOW WAY GIRL! GO YOU!! SO PROUD OF YOU AND SO PROUD OF WHAT YOU HAVE DONE. YOU ARE AN INSPIRATION TO SO MANY AND MOSTLY ME. I LOVE YOU GORL
Congratulations Cece!!! As a law student with a similar mindset to yours at 22, your reasoning & path really resonated with me. Iâm so excited to watch you follow your dreams & passions!!Oh, and to buy your BOOK !!! Youâve got this!!!
Hows law schooll going for you?
Do you think there's a gender pay gap?
Congrats! Chasing your dreams is so important. I also decided to jump head first into starting my own CZcams channel. Taking risks and following your passion is scary but can be so worth it..
Love how honest this is! The reasons are exactly the reasons why I didnât even pursue big law. I learned early on about everything you said and I realized early on I would much rather make less money but be happy. I make just under 100k as an attorney in MN but I have a pretty good work life balance, My supervising attorney looks to my opinions and advice about staffing, diversity and firm life and I am truly happy. Youâre right, I know SO many attorneys paying off their loans 20+ years after law school. I accepted that will be me and I love comfortably. I go on vacations and treat myself once in a while and work for my future, not jsut to pay loans. So happy for you and look forward to seeing all you do!
Great to hear. Cost of living is also a big factor, so making an impressive salary in NYC/LA could mean less buying power than a lower salary in another city.
Do you think there's a gender pay gap?
You go Cece!! So proud of you and excited for whatâs to come!
Congratulations on your next adventure! I can't wait to see what the future has in store for you, and I look for to reading your book!!
I feel like Ive been having this thought forever.It does takes a lot courage to sacrifice what youve achieved and start anew.But deep down you know youre doing the right thing.Congrats youve set a good model for us!
Love the transparency. Thank you for your testimony.
Everyone's quitting their job! Good on you for leaving - only good things comes out from leaving, best of luck
congratulations!!!! so proud of uđđ„ș i canât wait to see all the accomplishments u make along the way, forever my inspo!!!!!đ ILY
ILY!!! so blessed to have you in my life
Congratulations! Excited to watch you pursue your dreams!
Good for you! Enjoyed reading this and very well researched. Loved your way of managing your down side risk!!! Best of luck.
Go Cece! I'm so excited to see where life takes you next. As a first-gen law student heading into the big law life, I really appreciate your content!
thank you!! it felt like entering wonderland when i entered these âeliteâ spaces bc it can be hard to navigate. biglaw can be very helpful, but remember to not lose yourself!
Congrats Cece! As a naive college student, your content has been very refreshing to watch! Canât wait to follow you on your journey!
Not always easy leaving a high salaried job. I know many people who wouldn't. But congrats and I hope you become successful!
If true. Could be feel good click bait
Excited to see where life leads you! Thanks for sharing
Aw your book is going to the lawyer version of The Help:) good luck with everything!! Iâm rooting for you and thank you for being inspirational and honest!
THE WAY I OPENED CZcams AS SOON AS I SAW YOUR IG STORYYYY. CONGRATULATIONS, CECE!!! WE ARE TRULY HAPPY AND WITH YOU ALL THE WAY!!
THANK YOU!!!
Ahh Cece!! I am so excited for your journey and to see all that you do in this next chapter. Signing up for everything on every platform right now!!!!!
omgosh clarke THANK YOU!! your day in the life vlogs are such an inspo for me, i can't even
So happy and proud of you Cece!!! Wishing you all the success and happiness in all your future endeavors.
Iâm really proud of you and Iâm so excited to see what you do in the future. Congratulations for taking back your life, Cece.
Congrats Cece. Iâm excited to see what is to come for you. I enjoy watching your journey and TikTok. Iâve learn so much from you regarding how to be organized.
Good luck Cece, keep ur head up and enjoy your new journeys!
Hi Cece! Thanks so much for sharing thisđ
While I am only legal staff and not a lawyer, I agree that working in law is incredibly isolating and I love how youâll be speaking out more about it. So excited to follow you in your newest journey!!
Good luck moving forward! As someone just finishing up a PhD program now and considering law school in the future I'm so interested to see what you do next!
Hi Cece this video is really great. I love how well spoken and open you are. Best of luck in your next endeavors!
So grateful I found your channel! Sharing your experience will certainly benefit many with similar life challenges. Take Care
Congrats on making the decision! This is so inspiring to hear. Iâll be one of the many loyal fans of your incoming book!
congratulations on taking the risk! i really related to the 'safety net' you spoke about and wishing you lots of luck on your new journey!
Wow! A huge congrats for your amazing courage! I'm not in the law field but just wanted to say what you are doing is so incredible! All the best! : )
Amazing cece!! Iâm excited to watch your journey.
So proud of you for making a decision for YOU! I am so happy for you and canât wait to see what you do nextđ
Congrats Ce, your story is inspiring. I once quit a $100K job and i still have mixed feelings about it during the harder times when i'm running my business but I'm glad i did it. Life's too short to wonder "what if". One thing i do know is that it's not as "risky" as you think. Your experience isn't going to just go to zero. Good luck in your journey and regards from chennai, india.
Congrats!!! Thatâs amazing!! So excited for you! â„ïžâ„ïžâ„ïž
thanks kathleen!! â€ïž
Congratulations!! Can't wait to see what's in store for you :)
These reasons are why I stopped pursing the careers that I initially wanted. As I got older, I realized what was more important to me & how the specific careers I wanted wouldnât really allow time for that.
Iâm heading into a different career that will not make me rich, but keep me stable with good benefits and allow me to have time for my partner, family, and friends. This career is also purposeful and meaningful to me which does matter.
I will now also have time for my hobbies too. Financial security is important, but spending time doing what you like to do & spending time with those you love is priceless. You donât need to make a lot of money to be happy.
Smart human you areâźïžđđœđ° to you and family.
what career are you heading into if you dont mind me asking?
Go you! I worry all the time about taking financial risks and this was a perfect time for me to hear this!
Thank you for being vulnerable, authentic, and unapologetically yourself. This is a great video for everyone but particularly young Asian Americans in conservative/traditional households. You are amazing!
Congrats! Iâm super happy for you and your big heart. Love from Australia Xoxo
You're so switched on and eloquent. You will be amazing at whatever you pursue! Thanks for taking us all on this journey with you đ«
Harvard... it's a given.
After nearly 9 years as a registered nurse, I retired two years ago. It was not an easy decision, but life is too short to dread going to work every day. No amount of money can buy real happiness Lol. But, friends, I'm not asking you to quit your work or forsake your business, but rather be wise!
@Olivia Jayden While I was still in the service, I prepared for early retirement, earning roughly $2,000 per week from my investment portfolio and working hard to establish new side hustles and extra income
@Brown Jones There are numerous investment options available, including real estate, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), stocks, and cryptocurrency, but my best suggestion is to hire a professional to guide you through the process
@Brown Jones I recommend the services of Jennifer James, she's a licensed financial expert and she has been very helpful in my financial journey
@Jacob Zate You can reach her on telegram
Jenniferjames001
Iâm not even in the law field but this is still all so interesting to me. I wish you the best of luck and success, Cece! Came here from TT and subscribed.
thank you!
i love that u r so strong and articulate power to u , i am subscribing
Congratulations!!!!! Not a lawyer, but absolutely love your content for âbehind the curtainâ on working with big law.
Girl thatâs so badass, I love your decisiveness thatâs amazing we need more people like you on the planet wanting to make a change and willing to sacrifice for it. Keep doing your thing!
Love how real you are. Congrats and will support you in any platform!!
OMG! Thank you for making this video!
Congratulations on pursuing what feels right for you! Beyond inspiring!
Iâm so excited, impressed and proud of you for taking these steps and canât wait to see whatâs next! *subscribed
Congratulations Cece! Youâre such an inspiration and Iâm excited to see all thatâs in store for you :)
Thanks for your testimony to life Cece, Godspeed!
congrats! i think youâd also do really well helping hs + undergrad students who are first - gen also. đ€©
literally slay! so excited for you cece :)
You speak so articulate, your very inspirational as well. Keep up the grindđđ
amazing and thanks for sharing congrats to you Cece!
I love this ! Itâs so insightful and inspiring and really puts things into real life perspective âșïž
Wow this is such an insightful walkthrough of your thought process. So excited for your next chapter of writing, content, and more CeCe!! Supporting you all the way, girl!!!
thanks so much, chloe! i remember watching your quitting tiktok video and enjoying it a lot, so i'm so honored that you watched mine!
@@CeceXie omg! tbt haha. Iâm honored youâve watched my video too. Youâre probably extremely well connected, but happy to help you out any way I can! Enjoy transitioning out of biglaw life for now!
Good for you girl đđ». The stress sometimes not worth it. You can do other amazing things
Thank you for the amazing insight!
Congratulations on this journey đ€
i totally get your points regarding work hours and wanting to make a difference. these are actually the points i grapple with on deciding to go to law school!! i really want a healthy work life balance, but because i want to make a difference it will definitely require long work days especially because i want to be a public defender or prosecutor.
good luck in your next journey!! i wish you the best of luck and am manifesting that yale acceptance for you
PD/prosecution can definitely be a lot of hours, but remember you can also always take your experience and long hours somewhere to elsewhere and still make a difference. definitely do your research but there are periods in life where grinding for X years pays off multiples later on.
and tysm!! i love teaching so hope to continue doing that in any manner, even if just on youtube :)
I see last names like yours when I do research alllll the time! Don't let that stop you at all!!
Great video! This resonated with me so much! âš
Very inspiring! Iâve been stuck between going to law school to make my parents proud or pursuing a career where Iâll still have time to do things I enjoy and spend time with loved ones â€ïž I think In the end thatâs what life is all about. So happy for you!
Such an inspiration for chasing your dreams and taking a risk. I came from Tik Tok, but Iâll definitely be staying for the CZcams updates! Canât wait to see where this new adventure takes you!
I LOVE YOU †GO CECE! KEEP US UPDATED ON WHATS BOUND TO BE AN INCREDIBLE JOURNEY. im inspired đ„ș
Good luck on your journey! Hopefully we will be able to buy and enjoy one of your books in a few years.
I am so excited to watch your journey! I'm a master's student right now but have considered going to law school. I am excited to learn more about big law, but also just to watch your content :)
Cece,
While I am not a lawyer, I work in finance and a lot of what you said really hit home. Thank you for your video. I really needed to see this and hear this today.
Youre amazing and crazy how the pandemic made so many professionals blow up on tiktok and rethink their traditional careers. Girl boss!
Do you believe in a gender pay gap?
thank you so much for sharing your brave and thoughtful decision. I truly gain courage from it!!! â€â€
Not sure why this was recommended to me, but youâre presentation was on point and worthwhileđđœ
This is how I feel about leaving my job in insurance. I've been with my company for 11+ years and have become entirely disillusioned with them and have accepted that I won't see the change in work culture that I've tried so hard to achieve. I initially had plans to leave after 1Q 2023 but my husband has decided to get out of the military that same time so I'll be staying on until he picks up a civilian job. I can't wait for the day that I can give my notice. It'll be soooo freeing and terrifying at the same time.
Congrats, Iâm still debating leaving my job - but I have a mortgage & have to find a job just to cover the basics first
The level of stress is really not worth it
How exciting, Cece!! Submitting an Aussie big law perspective now!
The fact you gave up a seemingly good situation is amazing because you have wisdom to appreciate the present and life rather that life that is comfortable and unhappy
Thanks so much for sharing this! 28 yr old Bay St lawyer here - great overview and you echoed so many of my own concerns about long term practice. Excited to watch ur freedom!
thank you so much! :)
Bay Street like Toronto? I'm from Toronto and associate Bay Street with Downtown Toronto. Congratulations on your success at 28!
Wish you many more blessings, taking a step of faith is always great!
Love it !! Nothing but happiness and success to you !!
You inspired me to make my jump .
Loved this video and that you are shedding light on life in biglaw! Looking forward to seeing the changes you bring to the field. -HLS â15, left biglaw last year after trying to work while parenting during a pandemic, moved to & currently enjoying life in New Zealand!
thank you! congrats on the move--you seem happier! please reach out if you have any stories or observations that you'd like to share, as well :)
Cece - so cool to see you creating content like this! Iâll keep an eye out for your future books :)
ahh thanks sarah! :)
Wow, de verdad estoy mĂĄs que sorprendida, pero muy orgullosa de ti, te sigo desde hace un tiempo en Tik Tok me encanta tu contenido y claro aun estas super joven para hacer muchas cosas mĂĄs de tu vida, mucha suerte en tu aplicaciĂłn al Doctorado :D
Congrats and thanks for making this video! I relate so much to looking at your boss and really evaluating if you want to be them one day. They are a great prediction of your work/life balance. I actually had this conversation with my fiance this weekend. I tried to explain why I would never want to be VP of my department. I already work 10-12 hours each weekday and frequently work at least a few hours each weekend. Yes, it brings prestige and a better salary, but looking at the way our senior leadership team devotes their life to work is just concerning for me. I never want to be that.
Good luck on your journey to becoming a professional writer: Exciting! đ
I really appreciate your efforts to make big law more transparent! As an in-coming 1L who is a first-generation immigrant (and also has parents who emphasize financial security above all else), I feel an overwhelming amount of pressure to secure that highest paying job at the end of my degree. Seeing you take risks is incredibly inspirational!
i'm so glad to hear that! the high pay definitely does help, but be sure to never forget who you are and what your passions are
Congrats! Totally will buy your book.
Congratulations!! You are one of my favorite creators on the tik tok platform! VERY excited for the newsletters life vlogs and study vlogs đ happy for you in this new chapter!!!!!!
thanks leah!! your support is so meaningful to me