Navigating Big Law Ambition Without Letting Go of Public Service
I am currently in the height of Big Law recruiting season. I’ve had the privilege of attending firm events and connecting with incredible attorneys whose careers I deeply admire. This process has only further affirmed my legal aspirations. Each firm has its own personality, a mix of practice strengths, innovation priorities, and pro bono commitments. Learning more about each of them has been genuinely exciting. Still, choosing where I want to begin my legal career is daunting in its own right.
Applying to Big Law firms can feel overwhelming. The process is competitive and feels incredibly high-stakes. I have always wondered if I could face that challenge, but it is clear to me now that this is precisely the kind of environment where I’ve learned to thrive. Yet even in the moments of excitement, I’ve found myself pausing to ask whether this is truly the path I want. I’ve always envisioned a future rooted in public service, using the law to advance criminal justice reform. At first, choosing Big Law felt like choosing against that dream.
What has surprised me most, however, is how many Big Law attorneys have assured me that I don’t have to choose. The more firms I’ve visited in D.C. and the more candid conversations I’ve had with associates and partners, the more I’ve realized that meaningful pro bono work is possible and encouraged. These lawyers have told me that no matter your practice area, you can still make a real impact through pro bono cases. For many of them, this work is the most fulfilling part of their careers.
Big Law demands excellence, resilience, and long hours, but it also provides unmatched training, resources, and exposure to sophisticated legal work. Rather than pulling me away from my values, I’m learning that these experiences can strengthen my ability to serve the causes I care about. The skills I will develop as an associate at a firm, such as strategic thinking, precision, and advocacy, are tools I can later use to support not only my everyday clients but pro bono as well.
I recently read an article about the increase in incarceration rates that we have seen since 2023, and this past year, 118 people have died in LA Jails Since the Start of 2023. Further, 41 people have died in county jails so far in 2025. This has made 2025 the deadliest year on record. It is easy for advocates to feel hopeless in the face of such systemic failures. But for me, knowing that I may one day have the skills, resources, and institutional support to help even a handful of wrongfully incarcerated individuals, at no cost to them, is energizing. I may not be able to save everyone, but I can make a real difference for someone.
As I move forward in my career, I’m inspired by the idea that I can develop as a corporate lawyer while staying deeply connected to the public-service mission that brought me to law in the first place. Big Law and criminal justice reform are not mutually exclusive. And I’m ready to build a career where I don’t have to choose between ambition and service.