Wow, judging the success or failure of your entire life based on how much money you earn compared to your law school classmates. That's so...arbitrary. Do you know that if I judged my life based on how many rollercoasters I've been on compared to my friends, I'd be an utter failure. I HATE rollercoasters, while most of my friends love them. But if I judged myself based on how many miles I've commuted on a bicycle, I would probably win, because I love riding my bike! Maybe your law school classmates LOVE always competing and pushing to get more money. Does that make them better than you, or does that just mean they are very competitive people, maybe overly so? Maybe it's time to start judging yourself based on something else, something you would ENJOY being the best at.

Also, you're just assuming how much money other people make, just because of what survey categories they happen too give?!? I worked for a lawyer last year. He was very "successful" for a while, then he nearly bankrupted himself with two different divorces and practically ran his firm into the ground due to poor management. Now he has to put his own savings into the firm to keep it afloat and hasn't broken even. Not all lawyers are doing well in this economy. A lot are struggling. Just so you know...