Big Law isn't the dream anymore. Young lawyers are betting on startups instead.

Courtesy of Laura Toulme, Jonathan Melke, and Nehan Sethi; Getty Images; Tyler Le/BI

• Long viewed as laggards, lawyers have begun to adopt AI to deliver better, faster services.
• Legal-tech startups are now attracting young attorneys with opportunities to shape the future.
• Startups offer stock options and flexible work, but can't match Big Law's high salaries.

Last spring, Laura Toulme made a decision that would have raised more than a few eyebrows on her old litigation team.