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I'm not sure where to put this, but this forum seems like a good start. I am currently accepted and deposited at a T14, with plans to attend in the fall. About a month ago I started working at a small (~15 employee) tech company that was founded by my father-in-law and several other family members.

Long story short, recently the company has brought in outside investors and I've just learned that some of these new investors, along with my father-in-law's business partner are pushing my father-in-law out of the company. I'll spare you the details (and I supposed I'm biased) but I believe what they've done is horribly two-faced and borderline unethical. My job is safe as I'm just a lowly customer support person, but I can't stand the thought of working for these guys anymore.

I'm planning on quitting and want to give these guys a piece of my mind before I leave. I want to make them feel like the assholes that they really are. I realize that this probably won't accomplish anything, but I feel like I owe it to my father-in-law to call them out on all the shit that they've been pulling.

However, I don't want to do anything that could jeopardize my future law career. Worse case scenario, I imagine the conversation might devolve into lots of swearing and yelling. Suppose one of these guys gets jaded enough that they call my law school to tell on me. Do you think that would cause any issues? Should I just tone my thoughts down into a sharply worded email?

Thanks, you guys are the best.

if they call your law school and tell on you, the punishment is probably going to be light: a few hours in timeout, maybe some extra chores for the week. still, is that how you want to start out in a new environment? i wouldn't risk it.

So, you're asking TLS if you should or shouldn't get into a shouting match with someone?

I would advise against it. It's likely it won't lead to any issues, but it potentially could.

Specifically, most states contact EVERY prior employer you've had in the last X years (X typically being 5-10), regardless of whether you list it on your resume. While theoretically they only confirm that you worked there, your title, that you weren't fired for cause, etc., I personally wouldn't risk it.

I'm no expert on this subject, but I recall reading that for the C&F part of the New York bar exam, you need to get letters from previous employers regarding your character and fitness for the legal profession.

Seems like an unnecessary danger to me. What if they bear a grudge and lie about you or exagerate the truth? It's them vs you.

ETA: imchuckbass58 made the same point before me!

Never burn bridges that don't have to be burned. ....you never know

I say go for it. Then again, I am a 0L and have no idea what impact it could have in your future.

Your word choices made me lol though (particularly "borderline unethical" and using "jaded" to describe the quality of a nark).

Just be really passive aggressive. Like when he emails you, asking you to do something, respond with only “k”. That’ll show em’

aekea wrote:So, you're asking TLS if you should or shouldn't get into a shouting match with someone?

When you put it that way, it does sound kind of stupid haha. It's been a long day and I'm just so pissed about all this. I hadn't even thought about implication with the bar...so I guess I'll just quit and leave it at that. Thanks for being the voice of reason, everybody.

imchuckbass58 wrote:I would advise against it. It's likely it won't lead to any issues, but it potentially could.

Specifically, most states contact EVERY prior employer you've had in the last X years (X typically being 5-10), regardless of whether you list it on your resume. While theoretically they only confirm that you worked there, your title, that you weren't fired for cause, etc., I personally wouldn't risk it.

I would think it would be just to verify you aren't lying about working there. I mean how would the BAR know that your boss isn't just a blithering idiotic asshole. Seems like a very dumb reason not to admit someone.

bringit wrote:

aekea wrote:So, you're asking TLS if you should or shouldn't get into a shouting match with someone?

When you put it that way, it does sound kind of stupid haha. It's been a long day and I'm just so pissed about all this. I hadn't even thought about implication with the bar...so I guess I'll just quit and leave it at that. Thanks for being the voice of reason, everybody.

Haha. Well I think the fact that you felt the need to ask us if this was a good idea or not tells you that it's probably not. Don't give those assholes anything to hold over you.

when did tls turn all serious sally?

OP, out the company that's buying your employer

Just stop working and just show up and collect checks. You aren't going to hurt their feelings. Doing a shitty job it better.

There probably won't be any negative issues for the bar. Still, a more professional thing to do would be to tell them you are leaving because you think the way they treated your father in law was wrong in a calm, professional way. Getting mad will only discredit your position. The most tactical thing to do to just quit without giving specific reasons and tell your father and law you did it because of the way those slimy backstabber motherfuckers treated him.

Don't do this, seriously. I have no idea about the C&F implications but it could really bite you in job applications. In particular, most serious employers like to check your background, and if you leave your current company hating your guts, you never know what they might say or do when someone calls to check whether you really worked there.

I think it's really great that you are standing up for your FIL like this, but just don't want to see your good intentions get turned against you in the future by bitter ex-employers.

I think only you know what you should do. Sometimes you have to do things that may potentially not be smart/hurt your future. If you feel strongly enough about what they did to your father-in-law that you need to call them out, just do it. You might regret keeping your mouth shut. As a reserved person myself, there are many times I regret not standing up for what I believed in.

It won't affect your chances at law school, unless they pull some really unethical stuff where they accuse you of things that call your character into question. That being said, if I was an admission officer and an employer called me out of the blue to badmouth an employee, I'd think that person was crazy and not take what they said seriously.

However, it could impact your career afterwards. You never know who knows whom, and who might have a brother who's the hiring partner of a firm in which you're interested working. Also, if you put the company on your resume so as to not have any gaps, they'll likely call them up to ask about the type of employee you are.

So, in short, my advice is to not do it. It won't gain you anything, except a brief period of adrenaline high and a feeling of superiority. It might cost you something down the road. Their bad behavior doesn't excuse your bad behavior (which getting involved in/starting a screaming match is).

Mr. Pancakes wrote:Never burn bridges that don't have to be burned. ....you never know

This. This again and again.

This thread is full of terrible advice. They screwed over your father-in-law. That's family! I can't believe you stopped to come post here. Go forth and give them a piece of your mind! You're about to be a lawyer! Stand up for what you believe in!



And please post the story afterwards...

I agree with the not burning bridges sentiment.

But.... I once (a few years ago) had this job in a firm where everyone was repeatedly treated like shit, allllll the time. When I quit (I left the firm to go work at a different, larger firm), I did something similar, but much more fun than what you sugget above. The satisfaction was great.

So, I'll leave the decision to you. I know that the bridge I was about to burn wasn't one that I'd ever need again, so I burned that bitch down pretty nicely, so you know... Good luck

Seriously? First thing you need to do is lose the self-righteousness. You have nothing to gain by stirring up an altercation, so just put in your two weeks, and let this whole thing die. There's absolutely no need to go out guns-blazing. And besides, I'm sure your father-in-law can handle himself, he doesn't need you to fight his battles for him.

Mr. Pancakes wrote:Never burn bridges that don't have to be burned. ....you never know

+1

...

They screwed over your FIL, not you. He's an adult. If he wants to get revenge in a grand way, that's up to him. If you want to make a statement, it should probably be restricted to "In light of recent events, I am unable to continue in my position at Acme Corporation. I hereby submit my resignation, effective 5/11/2012."

You guys are boring.

Do it and post video ITT.