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Rating: 
Summary: OK - but if you WANT to be a lawyer, see Keith Evans book
Review: An excellent book for lawyers who WANT to be lawyers and effective advocates is "Common Sense Rules of Advocacy for Lawyers," by Keith Evans. Great book for new associates and 3Ls.Mr. Evans practiced as a trial lawyer in California for many years after a decade as a barrister in England. He also taught as an adjunct law professor and gave many presentations to American Inns of Court. Common Sense Rules of Advocacy for Lawyers is published by TheCapitol.Net, and more information about Evans' book is available on Amazon: search Amazon for ISBN 1587330059 If you want to be an excellent attorney and an effective advocate, you should buy Common Sense Rules of Advocacy for Lawyers. If you're miserable and want company, buy "Proceed With Caution."
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Summary: WILL CONVINCE YOU NOT TO GO TO LAW SCHOOL!
Review: I would never even consider going to law school after reading this book. The excerpts from the author's diary enable readers to see through the veneer of prestige associated with large-firm law practices and understand what life is really like at a top law firm. For years, I've been hearing that lawyers are often highly dissatisfied with their jobs and lives, despite the high salaries and professional prestige. Until I read this book, though, no one could effectively articulate the specific reasons WHY lawyers tend to be so unhappy (other than the long hours they often work). This book finally fills that void by slowly building the case, chapter by chapter, against life in a large law firm. Through his diary entries, Keates does a fantastic job of describing not only why he is professionally and personally dissatisfied, but also HOW his dissatisfaction affects him over time.
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Summary: An interesting look at the big law firm experience
Review: I'm investigating careers in the legal field, and I got this from a friend of mine. The book is honestly written and straightforward. However, it must be approached for what it is: a first-job perspective from a 26-27 year old student, fresh out of a grueling 7 or 8 years of law school and academia in general, with no real-world job experience and some highly idealistic preconceptions of how things should work. He gets a job in a top-flight high paying law firm in NYC (apparently, a Hollywoodesque big-time scenario for a lot of young lawyers) and documents his work experiences, interaction with fellow workers, and life in general in an engaging journal-entry style. This is definitely a one-sitting read.
I think it's a valuable read for anyone interested in a law career, especially if interested in working for a firm. It documents one scenario from a junior associate's perspective who worked for one large firm in NYC. From Keates' standpoint, I have come to understand that while the salary and perks might be initially very appealing, the job experience can be horrifying.
I completely disagree with the reviewer who thinks this is a "be-all, end-all" decision-making reference for law school (if reading this book scares you away from practicing law in entirety, maybe you shouldn't be approaching law school in the first place). Keates helped me to think about one possible work scenario out of hundreds that a law degree might make possible, and I'm grateful for the knowledge. If you're a 3rd year law student and your goal is to become a JA and make $90,000 your first year at a big law firm, maybe you should read this.
Also recommended is Susan Estrich's How To Get Into Law School (ISBN 1594480354), which discusses not only the approaches to get into law school but career paths and law practice in general.
Rating: 
Summary: Not quite the good book it could have been
Review: If you are an attorney and considering reading this book, I urge you to think again. You already know everything in this book, even if you haven't worked for a big firm. On the other hand, law students who are considering working at a big firm, or who need to reassure themselves that their choice not to work at a big firm was a good choice, probably should read this book. It's short - about 150 pages, and not intellectually difficult to read. Frankly, I thought it was fairly dry - after 50 pages or so, the general theme of "I hate my job" is crystal clear and begins repeating itself. There are other books out there that give you a glimpse at big law firm life, and I'd recommend passing this one up.
Rating:
Summary: Not quite the good book it could have been
Review: If you are an attorney and considering reading this book, I urge you to think again. You already know everything in this book, even if you haven't worked for a big firm. On the other hand, law students who are considering working at a big firm, or who need to reassure themselves that their choice not to work at a big firm was a good choice, probably should read this book. It's short - about 150 pages, and not intellectually difficult to read. Frankly, I thought it was fairly dry - after 50 pages or so, the general theme of "I hate my job" is crystal clear and begins repeating itself. There are other books out there that give you a glimpse at big law firm life, and I'd recommend passing this one up.
Rating:
Summary: A true depiction indeed
Review: Life for a young lawyer in a large firm is replete with challenges. One may think money and power are enough to compensate for the struggles, but often they are not. A great book for the young attorney and a better book for those contemplating taking the LSAT.
Rating:
Summary: enough complaining -- find a new job
Review: The appendix in the back of this book, titled "Starting Salaries for New Associates at the 250 Largest Law Firms in America" explains it all -- it's difficult for the top-performing law students, often saddled with thousands of dollars of student loan debt, to pass up the signing bonuses, six-figure salaries, and tremendous prestige of big-city large-firm practice, especially when the salaries are often triple or quadruple what one could earn in the public service or government law. Keates is somewhat aware of the drawbacks of big firm practice, yet like many given the opportunity, he goes for the "brass ring" anyway. It doesn't take long for Keates to discover that he hates his job -- and this diary details the path by which his disillusionment about the glamour of the law is dispelled. He quickly discovers that big firm practice can be a 24/7 commitment, being on the hook to fickle partners, fickle clients, and fickle judges, all of which can be extremely stressful. Keates discusses the incidence of depression in lawyers, how one in ten lawyers thinks of suicide at least monthly. The solution to Keates' situation is apparent early on -- move on, find a different job in the law, change fields completely, but that would take the courage to give up the security of the huge paycheck, the Porsche 944, the prestige.
Rating:
Summary: OK - but if you WANT to be a lawyer, see Keith Evans book
Review: The appendix in the back of this book, titled "Starting Salaries for New Associates at the 250 Largest Law Firms in America" explains it all -- it's difficult for the top-performing law students, often saddled with thousands of dollars of student loan debt, to pass up the signing bonuses, six-figure salaries, and tremendous prestige of big-city large-firm practice, especially when the salaries are often triple or quadruple what one could earn in the public service or government law. Keates is somewhat aware of the drawbacks of big firm practice, yet like many given the opportunity, he goes for the "brass ring" anyway. It doesn't take long for Keates to discover that he hates his job -- and this diary details the path by which his disillusionment about the glamour of the law is dispelled. He quickly discovers that big firm practice can be a 24/7 commitment, being on the hook to fickle partners, fickle clients, and fickle judges, all of which can be extremely stressful. Keates discusses the incidence of depression in lawyers, how one in ten lawyers thinks of suicide at least monthly. The solution to Keates' situation is apparent early on -- move on, find a different job in the law, change fields completely, but that would take the courage to give up the security of the huge paycheck, the Porsche 944, the prestige.
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Summary: Read this book to make an informed decision about the law
Review: This book does a great job of informing people in high school, college, and anyone else thinking about going to law school what practicing law in a prestigious law firm is actually like. The book is an easy read because each chapter begins with an entry from the author's journal, and then focuses on a particular aspect of a large-firm legal practice. The journal entries provide startlingly personal and realistic insights into a top lawyer's lifestyle, while the chapters describe what lawyers really do on a daily basis. The book effectively offers the information that people need in order to make an informed decision about whether to go to law school.
Rating:
Summary: Notes from a lawyer
Review: This book was a disappointment. I've only been a law student for a month, and most of what he said I've already learned. I think it'd be good for outsiders to understand what goes on, but most law students should already know that the big firms are slavedrivers. "Double Billing" is a much better, much more readable book dealing with the same topic. Keates is an intellectual, and at times he does a good job teaching (even if his audience should already be aware of the facts) and at times he does a good job writing, but he doesn't seem to be able to combine the two. The book gets dull. I would have to recommend "One L" or "Double Billing" for people interested in the same topic.
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