Class of 2020 - Lost Generation of Big Law? Forum

[Buglaw]

But you can’t have it both ways. Sure could we get better at WFH, yes. But when you start saying things like it’s harder bc of WFH, the default from the powers that be is going to be to get rid of WFH.

Right...so overall we're just in a shit situation.

The reasoning here is perplexing. "It's so much harder at home that we are a lost generation. We don't want to go back in to the office because that's worse."

I don't see how both can be true.

[Anonymous User]

But you can’t have it both ways. Sure could we get better at WFH, yes. But when you start saying things like it’s harder bc of WFH, the default from the powers that be is going to be to get rid of WFH.

Right...so overall we're just in a shit situation.

The reasoning here is perplexing. "It's so much harder at home that we are a lost generation. We don't want to go back in to the office because that's worse."

I don't see how both can be true.

The WFH integration has been difficult for a lot of first years. We believe prior class years that being in the office can really suck. I haven't experienced it (aside from summer which doesn't count), so I don't really know. I don't really have a good solution.

[Anonymous User]

I don't really have a good solution.

Isn't the solution to push back to a new normal? It seems like, for the most part, firms are going to keep some version of WFH flexibility. Once vaccines are rolled out, COVID is relegated to a status similar to influenza, and offices reopen, junior associates, theoretically, should have the ability to go into the office or stay at home. Most new associates started in January, but WFH isn't going to last the entire year absent some change in the pandemic's trajectory.

Ultimately my guess is that, at the end of the day, whether you go to the office or stay at home, it's going to be terrible either way. Regarding WFH, as the old adage goes, this too shall pass.

[nealric]

*hikes up old man pants*

The "lost generation" term was initially applied to the law school classes of 2008-2011. Man of the class of 2011 never even got their foot in the door of biglaw, as summer class hiring was down nearly 50% compared the class of 2010. The class of 2010 often got summer positions, but then were no offered at the end, where firms that historically made 100% offers only made offers of 50% or less. The folks that missed the biglaw boat often had trouble finding anything in law at all, as other employers were hurting from the aftermath of the great recession. The class of 2008-2009 got summer positions and offers, but were laid off en-masse during the great recession or put in a holding pattern for a year or more.

Anyhow, while I appreciate the class of 2020 has had unique struggles, I don't think it makes sense to call them a "lost generation."

[Anonymous User]

But you can’t have it both ways. Sure could we get better at WFH, yes. But when you start saying things like it’s harder bc of WFH, the default from the powers that be is going to be to get rid of WFH.

Right...so overall we're just in a shit situation.

The reasoning here is perplexing. "It's so much harder at home that we are a lost generation. We don't want to go back in to the office because that's worse."

I don't see how both can be true.

I don't mean to be combative but, as a lawyer, I feel like you should be able to interpret this in the way it was meant. Starting as a first-year associate entirely remotely is clearly going to be much more challenging (w/r/t "learning the ropes") than starting in an office. However, working remotely has lots of advantages which I don't think I need to type out. It's possible to want to have started in the office so to have the opportunity to meet and get to know your coworkers/superiors while getting more hands on interaction and feedback. Yet still be able to acknowledge the many perks of working remotely. I feel like you are being intentionally obtuse here.

However, I do agree that calling the c/o 2020 the "lost generation" is a bit silly and definitely dramatic.

[Buglaw]

But you can’t have it both ways. Sure could we get better at WFH, yes. But when you start saying things like it’s harder bc of WFH, the default from the powers that be is going to be to get rid of WFH.

Right...so overall we're just in a shit situation.

The reasoning here is perplexing. "It's so much harder at home that we are a lost generation. We don't want to go back in to the office because that's worse."

I don't see how both can be true.

I don't mean to be combative but, as a lawyer, I feel like you should be able to interpret this in the way it was meant. Starting as a first-year associate entirely remotely is clearly going to be much more challenging (w/r/t "learning the ropes") than starting in an office. However, working remotely has lots of advantages which I don't think I need to type out. It's possible to want to have started in the office so to have the opportunity to meet and get to know your coworkers/superiors while getting more hands on interaction and feedback. Yet still be able to acknowledge the many perks of working remotely. I feel like you are being intentionally obtuse here.

However, I do agree that calling the c/o 2020 the "lost generation" is a bit silly and definitely dramatic.

I'm not. People are literally said this is way worse than every other year b/c people are working from home. Then said we can't go to the office cause that's worse. It literally can't be worse than it was before but going back to the way it was before would be even worse than it is now. I'm not trying to be obtuse, but the reasoning makes no sense.

The position you suggested, there are some difficulties with WFH, but also some positives, is obviously true (and also true of literally every change to anything ever) and in no way what the posters were saying. Re-read the thread.

[Anonymous User]

Remote litigation is dope. Praying we never go back full time.

[nixy]

You can want biglaw actually to address the problems that WFH makes worse (by actually working to train and integrate first years) without wanting to go back to the office.

[Anonymous User]

But you can’t have it both ways. Sure could we get better at WFH, yes. But when you start saying things like it’s harder bc of WFH, the default from the powers that be is going to be to get rid of WFH.

Right...so overall we're just in a shit situation.

The reasoning here is perplexing. "It's so much harder at home that we are a lost generation. We don't want to go back in to the office because that's worse."

I don't see how both can be true.

I don't mean to be combative but, as a lawyer, I feel like you should be able to interpret this in the way it was meant. Starting as a first-year associate entirely remotely is clearly going to be much more challenging (w/r/t "learning the ropes") than starting in an office. However, working remotely has lots of advantages which I don't think I need to type out. It's possible to want to have started in the office so to have the opportunity to meet and get to know your coworkers/superiors while getting more hands on interaction and feedback. Yet still be able to acknowledge the many perks of working remotely. I feel like you are being intentionally obtuse here.

However, I do agree that calling the c/o 2020 the "lost generation" is a bit silly and definitely dramatic.

I'm not. People are literally said this is way worse than every other year b/c people are working from home. Then said we can't go to the office cause that's worse. It literally can't be worse than it was before but going back to the way it was before would be even worse than it is now. I'm not trying to be obtuse, but the reasoning makes no sense.

The position you suggested, there are some difficulties with WFH, but also some positives, is obviously true (and also true of literally every change to anything ever) and in no way what the posters were saying. Re-read the thread.

What I said is exactly what prior posters were saying. For example:
'One thing I think has made this especially difficult (and I think is easy for more senior attorneys to overlook) is the lack of informal interaction. I think formal trainings are probably about as useful/useless remote as they are in-person, but we're missing out on many ways that actual learning often happens: we can't drop by someone's office to ask a quick question (or several), nor can we sit in a partner's or senior associate's office during a call so they can mute and explain to you what's going on as the call is happening."

Like I said, you are being obtuse.