First off, congrats!

"Law firm" is a nebuous term, as it could mean anything from a one-person shop to mega-multinational firm - like in "The Firm," only even more soulless.

So, yes, a big firm want you to bill x hours a year. Smaller firms may require fewer hours (or not even a hours requirement!). Smaller firms may also be more willing negotiate a hourly pay rate instead of requiring billable hours. These are things you would ask about in an interview. Another possibility would be contract work.

Public interest/public sector work also have more reasonable work expectations. You'll probably end up making more money than the average person your age, but much less than your fellow newbie lawyers. And school loans is something to consider.

The bigger the firm, the bigger the hourly rates, and the bigger the pay, the bigger the hourly billing requirements, stated or unstated.

There are few exceptions to this rule.

My experience with hours at law firms is that most of them expect new lawyers to prove themselves by, among other things, working their asses off .

After you have proven yourself, they may let you cut back to a more humane billing requirement or case load. That depends on the firm.

I consistently worked 60 hours a week during my first two or three years as a lawyers, and the partners acted like that was slouching. The real ambitious young associates were putting in 80 hour weeks. These souless zombies had their eyes on the prize, to make partner. There are people who go to work for these big firms whose sole purpose in life is to make partner. They are there seven days a week, and late at night, whether they need to be or not. Freaks.

At plaintiff's firms with contingency fee cases, it is not about the hours, but the results. So, if you are an efficient, smart worker, you may be able to make a good impression on fewer hours. However, the partners at successful plaintiff's firms tend to be just as big a workoholic as their defense counterparts.

If you really must have a normal, 40 hour work week as you start out your career, I think finding a match at a private firm is going to be tough.

That's all doom and gloom, right?

Well, maybe a very small firm will be the place to look, especially if they are paying you by the hour. They are the ones who are often receptive to shorter hours, in exchange for their lower pay scales. And if they pay by the hour, they may not even want you to work more than 40 hours.

Congrats on passing the Cal Bar, that's a day you will never forget, I remember it well when I passed that bar, and that was 12 years ago.

Good luck.