Young lawyer considering move to LA

[drshang]

Originally Posted by cmw2133

$3500 a month for a car? What do you drive? An SL? I'll be making $160k a year and my budget is $800 tops for a car payment and $2200 for a condo.

There is nothing special about this lifestyle though...it is not going to impress anyone. The OP is a young lawyer who is making 5x the average income of LA, he can do better than this.

[cmw2133]

Originally Posted by drshang

There is nothing special about this lifestyle though...it is not going to impress anyone. The OP is a young lawyer who is making 5x the average income of LA, he can do better than this.

Why does OP need to impress anyone though?

[John23]

I agree that average income is skewed in LA. You have a large section of the very poor, but then some are much higher than $100 k (much, much higher in century city, beverly hills, brentwood, etc).

It's not like moving to a medium sized city where the "Average" income is really closer to the average...those making $20-25, then $50-75, then the people at the top are $100-150 or over.

It's not hard to meet people at all. It's extremely easy to meet people with the great weather, people are outdoors so much, lots of outdoor activities, beach, bike riding, etc. You dont have to be particularly extraverted or the life of the party.

Would be different vs a city in the midwest for example, where people might be more likely to stay within themselves, or their group (I know a stereotype). Or with the winters or hot summers, you lose 4 months or 6 months out of the year to socialize. But here its extremely easy. Everyone is open (whether they're making $40 or $100).

If I was just moving here and didnt have to worry about money, I'd focus on getting out to different parts of LA. The beaches, hermosa, redondo, down to orange county, just seeing what the different communities are like. It can be easy just to stay in your little bubble here (within 5-10 miles of where you live) and not get out and enjoy the rest of it. You dont want to just stay in a little hole/dark apartment, thats no fun. And take in different games/events (lakers). You can certainly do alot.

$100 k plus in LA, get out and enjoy things.

$100 k in a smaller city (or more conservative), have a nice family life.

[Fantasm]

Originally Posted by cmw2133

$3500 a month for a car? What do you drive? An SL? I'll be making $160k a year and my budget is $800 tops for a car payment and $2200 for a condo.

yes, SL63

[juris2011]

Thanks for your advice, everyone. To answer some questions, yes, I'm at Vandy. As for grades, I'm keeping up with the pack. Not on the Dean's List, but well within contention for better-than-average jobs.

I don't need to show off or anything; I'm pretty simple. Yeah, I want a nice car and a house at some point, but the home can wait until I make partner. It's a 7-10 year track and I don't mind waiting for a while.

[stargazzer]

Don't forget , along the line life sucks for everyone, so even if you landed a million dollar a yr deal in a couple of years, somehow at some point life WILL seem a drag.
So buckle up and take refuge in this hopeful disposition; Hey I did my best under the cicumstances so buzz off ( alternate ego , alternate skeptic or even alternate bud)

[Solerpower]

To Juris: Considering you're middle of the pack at Vandy, you'll be lucky to find a job that pays above 100k. You're not at a T14 so BigLaw will not be in your future. Don't kid yourself thinking you already have it made because you go to Vandy. Lawyers are suffering now a days and trust me kid, you are an average applicant.

Now to the actually living in LA thing, 80k is very doable, just don't expect to drive a BMW living in Malibu.