New associate banter Forum

[thesealocust]

Do most of you intend on coming into work the day after thanksgiving? I currently am in NY but family is in CA. Am considering flying out Wed. night and coming back Saturday or Saunday. While the firm I work for isn't discouraging associates from making these plans, its not really encouraging it either.

I'd just make the plans and make sure the people you work with know. Worst case is they need you to work remotely. I don't think anyone will ever encourage you to take time off, seems like it's probably up to you to take the initiative and make sure there isn't a conflict.

How many days does the avg 1st or 2nd year associate take off for Xmas? I know you're all about to say "well it depends on if they have a lot of work..." but I'm just looking for an average. Barring legal emergencies, are the 24th and 25th generally safe?

0?

The 25th is probably safe at basically any firm baring emergencies, so it won't be a "day off" so much as a firm holiday. This year the 25th is a Wednesday and so a lot of firms are still open on the 24th, and as a junior associate your odds of being able to take proper vacation around the holidays are zilch.

[mr. wednesday]

I'm hoping that my office will be closed around the holidays and I'll be able to work from home. But if it's not, I plan on being there the 24th and 26th.

[NinerFan]

My firm told the first years that we're free to try to take some vacation days around the holidays if we don't have work. That's pretty much the policy for trying to take a vacation day at any time, except that since everyone else will be trying to get those days off, you're more likely to get stuck with work while other people vacation.

[20160810]

I'm taking vacation the whole week. YOLO brothers.

[rad lulz]

m

[09042014]

I'm going to try to work from the road.

[Anonymous User]

You probably bill clients around $300/hour (or more!) for your services. How much are you allowed to bill for dinner? How many minutes extra do you have to bill per day to "pay" for the meal?

Associate Pro Tip: the firm is buying you dinner because it keeps you grinding. Dinner is a very cheap and effective way to exploit their bottomless pool of labor. It's a bit of cheese that gets you to spin your wheel faster and longer. Nightly Pad Thai delivery is a very profitable investment on the firm's part.

my firm only pays dinner if you log more than 11 hours for the day.

[Anonymous User]

Just curious, do NYC biglaw attorneys really work (not bill) ~80 hrs/week?

[5ky]

Just curious, do NYC biglaw attorneys really work (not bill) ~80 hrs/week?

Sometimes. Not all of the time.

[Anonymous User]

Just curious, do NYC biglaw attorneys really work (not bill) ~80 hrs/week?

Sometimes. Not all of the time.

Someone told he got out of office at 9ish on a good day. That was maybe 10, 15 yrs ago.

[5ky]

Just curious, do NYC biglaw attorneys really work (not bill) ~80 hrs/week?

Sometimes. Not all of the time.

Someone told he got out of office at 9ish on a good day. That was maybe 10, 15 yrs ago.

Okay. You don't work 80+ hours a week for 50 weeks a year, though.

Bear in mind that half the people at my firm get in at 10-10:30, so leaving at 9 would be like leaving at 7:30 if you had a job that started at 8:30.

[thesealocust]

Also, nobody tells stories or has strong memories of their normal/slow days/weeks.

You only hear the war stories.

[Big Shrimpin]

Also, nobody tells stories or has strong memories of their normal/slow days/weeks.

You only hear the war stories.

Currently having some down time and loving EVERY minute of it.

[wiseowl]

Currently hurtling towards a 270-hour month. I should be a real joy at Thanksgiving.

[KeepitKind]

Currently hurtling towards a 270-hour month. I should be a real joy at Thanksgiving.

first-year? 270 projected for your second or third month?

[wiseowl]

Currently hurtling towards a 270-hour month. I should be a real joy at Thanksgiving.

first-year? 270 projected for your second or third month?

I am a second year. I sincerely suggest that you all that are firsties enjoy, nay cherish, every second of this holiday season. The game is different 2nd year onward.

[Big Shrimpin]

Currently hurtling towards a 270-hour month. I should be a real joy at Thanksgiving.

first-year? 270 projected for your second or third month?

I am a second year. I sincerely suggest that you all that are firsties enjoy, nay cherish, every second of this holiday season. The game is different 2nd year onward.

TMFCR. The only advice I ever give to anyone is to enjoy the downtime.

Work pounded my angus last holiday season (well, actually more like the last 11 months). This one is shaping up to be merry and bright.

[fearESQ]

Currently hurtling towards a 270-hour month. I should be a real joy at Thanksgiving.

billable hours.. i can't imagine

[masterbrowski]

Do most of you intend on coming into work the day after thanksgiving? I currently am in NY but family is in CA. Am considering flying out Wed. night and coming back Saturday or Saunday. While the firm I work for isn't discouraging associates from making these plans, its not really encouraging it either.

I'd just make the plans and make sure the people you work with know. Worst case is they need you to work remotely. I don't think anyone will ever encourage you to take time off, seems like it's probably up to you to take the initiative and make sure there isn't a conflict.

How many days does the avg 1st or 2nd year associate take off for Xmas? I know you're all about to say "well it depends on if they have a lot of work..." but I'm just looking for an average. Barring legal emergencies, are the 24th and 25th generally safe?

0?

The 25th is probably safe at basically any firm baring emergencies, so it won't be a "day off" so much as a firm holiday. This year the 25th is a Wednesday and so a lot of firms are still open on the 24th, and as a junior associate your odds of being able to take proper vacation around the holidays are zilch.

And here I was thinking I could leave the state for a couple days. I've got the ticket, got the trip insurance... Thinking I'll just play it by ear. I worked remotely while I traveled during the summer, and it panned out OK for me.

If I have to work Christmas I'm going to expense a roast goose to the firm.

[Old Gregg]

I feel like trip insurance never pays out except in the most particular circumstances. And I'm pretty sure being called into work isn't one of then, but could be wrong.

[Anonymous User]

Sorry if this is a stupid question -- still a 3L -- just curious.

I know this varies by firm, but if your firm has a structure where you get the Cravath bonus at 2000, but then other bonuses at a few hundred hours more (let's say $10k at 2200), does that mean that if you bill 2199, you just worked a ton more hours, but still don't get a dime more than your base salary plus the Cravath bonus, or do firms have ways to compensate for this (e.g. pro-rate what the bonus above that would be)?

[quakeroats]

I feel like trip insurance never pays out except in the most particular circumstances. And I'm pretty sure being called into work isn't one of then, but could be wrong.

Many firms will make you whole if they need you during a scheduled vacation.

[quakeroats]

Sorry if this is a stupid question -- still a 3L -- just curious.

I know this varies by firm, but if your firm has a structure where you get the Cravath bonus at 2000, but then other bonuses at a few hundred hours more (let's say $10k at 2200), does that mean that if you bill 2199, you just worked a ton more hours, but still don't get a dime more than your base salary plus the Cravath bonus, or do firms have ways to compensate for this (e.g. pro-rate what the bonus above that would be)?

Yes in nearly all cases.

[Old Gregg]

I feel like trip insurance never pays out except in the most particular circumstances. And I'm pretty sure being called into work isn't one of then, but could be wrong.

Many firms will make you whole if they need you during a scheduled vacation.

Only if the client is willing to foot the bill.

[BeenDidThat]

.