Thanks for putting it in perspective. It's really helpful advice. Just got back some of my drafts from the associate and it's covered in corrections. I don't remember a time in law school where a research paper I wrote had so many corrections. It's frustrating.

One thing I wonder is why law firms are so bent on hiring dean listers and summa cum laudes when the knowledge acquired in law school is so irrelevant to corporate practice. If everyone starts on an equal footing, i.e. new, on their first day of work, it simply does not add weight to such a hiring policy.

I have friends working as management associates in private banking this year and their work hours are surprisingly good. I don't mind long hours but what I find frustrating is that there is so much wastage involved when you don't know and the whole exercise becomes one of trial and error.