>A first year associate at a Big Law law firm starts off making
>160k. For many it's their first real job.


>
>Sure alot of them studied hard in school and work long hours


Nah, whatever preparation it takes from Undergrad to Law School to get hired by "a Big Law law firm" is work that is wayyyyyyyyyy "harder" than what the average worker does.

"Studying Hard" doesn't begin to approach what those type of law students did.

And the workload undertaken to excel at "a Big Law law firm" after being hired is also WAAAAAYYYYYYYYY more demanding "work" than what MOST could do.