I worked in Big Law for 4 years but felt like I was sacrificing my morals. I took a 75% pay cut but love my work now

• Priscilla Hamilton was a fourth-year associate at a Big Law firm making $315K when she quit.
• As a corporate lawyer, she worked long hours with little personal time, and pro bono work kept her going.
• She now works at a nonprofit that supports survivors of domestic violence and loves the work.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with 33-year-old Priscilla Hamilton, a lawyer based in New Rochelle, New York. Her salaries and work history have been verified by Business Insider. The following has been edited for length and clarity.