After Graduation?	Select ...BigLawMidsize FirmSmall FirmSolo PractionerPublic InterestGovernmentIn-House CounselPoliticsLaw ProfessorNonLaw JobOther	BigLaw 0% (10) Public Interest 0% (3) Government 0% (3) Midsize Firm 0% (2) Other 0% (1)
Ten Years After Graduation?	Select ...BigLawMidsize FirmSmall FirmSolo PractionerPublic InterestGovernmentIn-House CounselPoliticsNonLaw JobLaw ProfessorOther	Public Interest 0% (6) Government 0% (4) NonLaw? Job 0% (3) Other 0% (2) Solo Practioner 0% (1) Small Firm 0% (1) Politics 0% (1) In-House Counsel 0% (1)
When you Retire?	Select ...BigLawMidsize FirmSmall FirmSolo PractionerPublic InterestGovernmentIn-House CounselPoliticsLaw ProfessorNonLaw JobOther	NonLaw? Job 0% (6) Other 0% (5) Public Interest 0% (3) Politics 0% (3) Government 0% (1) In-House Counsel 0% (1)

Now...same question, but what if debt was not (or is not) a factor?

After Graduation?	Select ...BigLawMidsize FirmSmall FirmSolo PractionerPublic InterestGovernmentIn-House CounselPoliticsLaw ProfessorNonLaw JobOther	Government 0% (7) Public Interest 0% (6) Other 0% (2) BigLaw 0% (2) Midsize Firm 0% (1) Small Firm 0% (1) NonLaw? Job 0% (1)
Ten Years After Graduation?	Select ...BigLawMidsize FirmSmall FirmSolo PractionerPublic InterestGovernmentIn-House CounselPoliticsLaw ProfessorNonLaw JobOther	Public Interest 0% (7) NonLaw? Job 0% (5) Government 0% (4) Solo Practioner 0% (2) Politics 0% (1) In-House Counsel 0% (1)
When you Retire?	Select ...BigLawMidsize FirmSmall FirmSolo PractionerPublic InterestGovernmentIn-House CounselPoliticsLaw ProfessorNonLaw JobOther	NonLaw? Job 0% (7) Other 0% (4) Public Interest 0% (4) Politics 0% (3) Government 0% (1) In-House Counsel 0% (1)

Small sample set, but it looks like ten years after graduation and by the time you retire are virtually identical for each question, meaning the only difference is the prevalence of BigLaw right after graduation given debt. Obviously not surprising, but it begs the question why so many people don't expect to stay at big firms but end up doing it- a question with different sets of answers for everyone I suppose.

-- RorySkaggs - 25 Feb 2010