Well, Looks Like My Time is Up Forum

[Anonymous User]

I'm sorry this is happening to you. It sounds like this is the classic big law push out - they're slowly freezing you out because they've selected you as the person to go when hours were down. I get wanting to make them actually make a decision (which is what a mature employer would do...) and in normal times, you might be able to ride this out for a while as they grow colder and colder (maybe six months or a year, at some firms maybe even two years). Because of how things have been going with the pandemic I wouldn't want to risk a hiring freeze in January if they decide to give you the talk then - I had some colleagues in a similar position and when COVID hit they were stuck unable to move but also knowing they were being frozen out. It sucks, but start looking to lateral. You don't need to quite go into desperation mode yet (since presumably they'll give you some time once you get that negative review), but definitely look and see if you can move now.

Even if somehow there's a way to "fix" it so you don't get pushed out in the next six months to a year, you deserve to be at a place that treats you with more respect, and I think that's reason enough to look around.

Seconded. No one deserves to be treated poorly, and by how you summarized your experience, you seem like a competent writer. Use the extra down time to start discussions with a recruiter and find a better work environment. This, to me, sounds like a firm problem. Partners aren’t generating work, and the seniors are hoarding what they can get.

[sparty99]

I'm sorry this is happening to you. It sounds like this is the classic big law push out - they're slowly freezing you out because they've selected you as the person to go when hours were down. I get wanting to make them actually make a decision (which is what a mature employer would do...) and in normal times, you might be able to ride this out for a while as they grow colder and colder (maybe six months or a year, at some firms maybe even two years). Because of how things have been going with the pandemic I wouldn't want to risk a hiring freeze in January if they decide to give you the talk then - I had some colleagues in a similar position and when COVID hit they were stuck unable to move but also knowing they were being frozen out. It sucks, but start looking to lateral. You don't need to quite go into desperation mode yet (since presumably they'll give you some time once you get that negative review), but definitely look and see if you can move now.

Even if somehow there's a way to "fix" it so you don't get pushed out in the next six months to a year, you deserve to be at a place that treats you with more respect, and I think that's reason enough to look around.

Seconded. No one deserves to be treated poorly, and by how you summarized your experience, you seem like a competent writer. Use the extra down time to start discussions with a recruiter and find a better work environment. This, to me, sounds like a firm problem. Partners aren’t generating work, and the seniors are hoarding what they can get.

Why are you responding to this? This post is 4 years old.

[Lifesonalex]

Who cares how old the post is.
The same stuff has been happening for decades
1) No partner takes an interest in your career
2) Mind numbing paperwork
3) Minimal training
4) At end of your usefulness, you're politely but firmly told that your services are no longer required
5) You've watched numerous people come to the firm after you. They are partners. You're not. Lovely going up in the elevator with them at 7am.

I have seen guys plotting and planning for this since the age of 18. I have seen guys take summer sessions to graduate with 2 degrees as an undergrad, and the only reason they did that is to get into T14

I have seen guys enroll in a grad program after college. Only reason for it was to stack up degrees that they have no interest in. And buy them time to study for LSAT. Numerous LSAT prep courses.

I've seen all of this

But the one last con job they could not accomplish was getting on partnership track.
And it destroyed their mental state.
It was supposed to be their biggest accomplishment but instead it was their biggest and final failure.

[Anonymous User]

Who cares how old the post is.
The same stuff has been happening for decades
1) No partner takes an interest in your career
2) Mind numbing paperwork
3) Minimal training
4) At end of your usefulness, you're politely but firmly told that your services are no longer required
5) You've watched numerous people come to the firm after you. They are partners. You're not. Lovely going up in the elevator with them at 7am.

I have seen guys plotting and planning for this since the age of 18. I have seen guys take summer sessions to graduate with 2 degrees as an undergrad, and the only reason they did that is to get into T14

I have seen guys enroll in a grad program after college. Only reason for it was to stack up degrees that they have no interest in. And buy them time to study for LSAT. Numerous LSAT prep courses.

I've seen all of this

But the one last con job they could not accomplish was getting on partnership track.
And it destroyed their mental state.
It was supposed to be their biggest accomplishment but instead it was their biggest and final failure.

It matters bc these posts rarely update with what actually happened. There's a lot of fear mongering but little in the way of concrete information.

[GFox345]

Who cares how old the post is.
The same stuff has been happening for decades
1) No partner takes an interest in your career
2) Mind numbing paperwork
3) Minimal training
4) At end of your usefulness, you're politely but firmly told that your services are no longer required
5) You've watched numerous people come to the firm after you. They are partners. You're not. Lovely going up in the elevator with them at 7am.

I have seen guys plotting and planning for this since the age of 18. I have seen guys take summer sessions to graduate with 2 degrees as an undergrad, and the only reason they did that is to get into T14

I have seen guys enroll in a grad program after college. Only reason for it was to stack up degrees that they have no interest in. And buy them time to study for LSAT. Numerous LSAT prep courses.

I've seen all of this

But the one last con job they could not accomplish was getting on partnership track.
And it destroyed their mental state.
It was supposed to be their biggest accomplishment but instead it was their biggest and final failure.

Always with the scenarios.

[Anonymous User]

Who cares how old the post is.
The same stuff has been happening for decades
1) No partner takes an interest in your career
2) Mind numbing paperwork
3) Minimal training
4) At end of your usefulness, you're politely but firmly told that your services are no longer required
5) You've watched numerous people come to the firm after you. They are partners. You're not. Lovely going up in the elevator with them at 7am.

I have seen guys plotting and planning for this since the age of 18. I have seen guys take summer sessions to graduate with 2 degrees as an undergrad, and the only reason they did that is to get into T14

I have seen guys enroll in a grad program after college. Only reason for it was to stack up degrees that they have no interest in. And buy them time to study for LSAT. Numerous LSAT prep courses.

I've seen all of this

But the one last con job they could not accomplish was getting on partnership track.
And it destroyed their mental state.
It was supposed to be their biggest accomplishment but instead it was their biggest and final failure.

Everyone thinks he can make partner, but actually most of them leave at some point. Hard truth.