Wednesday, December 08, 2004

 
A sixth-year I work with came into my office to vent a little while earlier this morning. A partner he's been doing work for gave a good assignment, that usually would go to someone like a sixth-year, to a fourth-year, and the sixth-year feels slighted. I heard rumors that someone was upset with me for giving to a fifth-year an assignment a third-year might usually get, because he felt the work was beneath him. But this is flipped the other way. The sixth-year would have wanted the assignment, and thinks it's unfair the fourth-year gets to do it. The associates think about this much more than the partners do. If I'm giving someone an assignment, I'm really not that concerned with whether a second-year did it last time, or a seventh-year. I just want it done right. Although if someone feels slighted, and thus more motivated to step it up and "prove" he should have gotten the work, all the better.

Comments:
Fire him.

Tell him to call his mommy if he got his wittle feewings hurted.
 
Or maybe the 6th year is just a crappy associate.
 
I'm a 2L at a top 20 law school. This is a great way for me to keep morale up as I study for my next exam. I worked before I came to Law School. It sucked. It sounds like working after law school will suck too. I'm working at a firm this summer, and I'm hoping that not caring if I make partner, but still taking care of business will be enough to keep my diginity.
 
This is why I'm terrified of working for a big firm right out of law school. I don't want to have rank pulled on me if I am better suited for a particular task than another associate with more years at the firm. The specifics of my situation (I am not your typical straight out of college law student with a 1 year paralegal stint in between; I have significant work experience related to the area of the law I'm interested in) make the prospect of that incredibly unsettling.
 
Hey 5:32, you are the reason the words "pretentious prick" is redundant. There is not one reason to drop your school rank and year in the comment other than for self-gratification, another subject im sure you are used to. High five for your wit.

AL: your blog has become the equivalent of elevator music.
 
Hey 5:32, you are the reason the words "pretentious prick" is redundant. There is not one reason to drop your school rank and year in the comment other than for self-gratification, another subject im sure you are used to. High five for your wit.

AL: your blog has become the equivalent of elevator music.
 
Hey Alex - its 5:32 here. You know, I actually think you are right. I guess I dropped that in lieu of saying something to the effect of, I'm a serious student, blah blah blah... but sadly, I agree with you.
 
AL - Am curious what you think about Ex-Associate's latest post about associates who intimidate partners. Would love to hear your comments. (in case you haven't read the post: http://ex-associate.blogspot.com )
 
9:06, you give Ex-Ass too much credit. Ex-Ass is a graduate of a "top five law school" at a "prestigious law firm" who hates their job. What else is new? I love the fact that they thought they were too smart to succumb to the poisonous aspects of big law practice. The worst is Ex-Ass's pathetic rationalizations. "We bought into the arguable myth that a JD is a versatile degree that can take you virtually anywhere." Bull. Ex-Ass wanted prestige and money, but was stupid, naive or in denial about the price that had to be paid in the legal profession to get there. Admit it, Ex-Ass: you are a failure and a loser, albeit a well-compensated failure and loser. See your sad life go down the drain as you bill "200 hours a month" at the prestigious law firm. "I admit there are those few that think being a lawyer is actually great but that's probably only because they're too stupid and/or uncreative to be anything but a lawyer." How do you explain the fact that you have been a lawyer for four years, genius? In any case, Ex-Ass's blog should be a good read for those who enjoy seeing embittered douchebags spew bile and venom because of the miserable situation that they created for themselves.
 
8:16 - i liked ex-associate's blog as well and so have to disgree with you. i don't see what's pathetic about someone admitting that they don't like their career and making a change. and, given that it's december, this person is probably only at the beginning of their fourth year... it's not like he's a 7th year or something. and, he says today that he blames himself for being a lawyer and only blames others for making it a lame career in the first place. that's fair and i feel exactly the same way. and, btw, you seem like the embittered one. Ex is actually inspiring and as someone else said, refreshing.
 
Re the main post, sounds like all is as it should be. The work has to be done right for the client. The associate is taking responsibility for his professional growth and development, and is lobbying for assignments to accomplish that. If he doesn't speak up for himself, who will? Nobody.
 
Are you kidding? Ex-Ass is trite and boring, so far.

I'd rather get all steamed about AL's absolutely ridiculous behavior than read some assinine crap from a fourth year associate.
 


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