New associate fuck up thread (and tips for slacking) Forum

[rpupkin]

It's mainly the first week or two that baffles me. I get eventually falling into that groove, but 60+ right away seems absurd to me.

Yeah, something is wrong there.

[brotherdarkness]

My secretary and I are having a power struggle. I turned the thermostat down in my office (I like it cold); a little while later, my secretary comes in and says she's cold and asks if she can turn the temperature up. Apparently the cold air drifts out of my office. Anyway, I said fine and she turns it up.

The next weekend I'm in the office finishing up some work and get warm. Turn the AC down. Forget to turn it up. Following week, she comes in complaining that she's cold. I tell her to turn the thermostat up. She calls maintenance to check the temperature and while they're in my office she asks if they can put a locking device on the thermostat. I laugh, loudly. The maintenance people left without installing a lock. But LOL at her even asking about this while I sit there as if I'm not in the room!

Also, she hasn't added my name to her footer. All of the other secretaries appear to have added their new associates, but not mine. Don't want to seem petty by bringing it up, but it's been a month now.

What is a footer?

Give her some work. If she is surly or doesn't do it. Freeze her out forever. Never give her a gift, etc. Give her bad yearly reviews. You don't really need a secretary anyway.

If you need one for some reason, just ask for a new one.

How do you not need a secretary?

I get mine to do a bunch of random stuff that the partners don't want to see on the bills (or want to see very little time on)

Like calling a judges assistant to ask about something mundane

Footer is the thing at the bottom her her emails saying "secretary to [person]." We share secretaries with one or two other people, but she hasn't added my name to the little list of people. Largely irrelevant because she doesn't sent emails on my behalf, but it's the principle.

I've been giving her whatever work I can--not much to delegate yet, frankly. I've had her add things to my calendars, print/scan/mail things for me, and so on. She seems to do fine and doesn't give me any attitude, but the thermostat thing makes me think there's some confusion on her part about our dynamic.

ETA - I share her with a partner who I work with, so I've gotta play nice

[brotherdarkness]

It's mainly the first week or two that baffles me. I get eventually falling into that groove, but 60+ right away seems absurd to me.

Yeah, something is wrong there.

Sink or swim.

[Desert Fox]

[smaug]

It's mainly the first week or two that baffles me. I get eventually falling into that groove, but 60+ right away seems absurd to me.

Yeah, something is wrong there.

Sink or swim.

Which do you think you're in the process of doing, babby shark?

[Desert Fox]

[brotherdarkness]

It's mainly the first week or two that baffles me. I get eventually falling into that groove, but 60+ right away seems absurd to me.

Yeah, something is wrong there.

Sink or swim.

Which do you think you're in the process of doing, babby shark?

Some days I feel like I'm swimming. Other days...not so much.

[rpupkin]

I've been giving her whatever work I can--not much to delegate yet, frankly. I've had her add things to my calendars, print/scan/mail things for me, and so on. She seems to do fine and doesn't give me any attitude, but the thermostat thing makes me think there's some confusion on her part about our dynamic.

Dude, between billing 250+ hours in your first month and getting into a thermostat war with your secretary, all the signs point to you lasting 18 months. Maybe 24 months. Seriously, this isn't good. You aren't impressing anyone by billing so much as a stub and your attitude towards your secretary ("there's confusion on her part about our dynamic") will prove toxic. Chill out. Chill out soon.

[brotherdarkness]

It's mainly the first week or two that baffles me. I get eventually falling into that groove, but 60+ right away seems absurd to me.

I'm all about calling BD a insane workaholic striver. But sometimes that shit just happens. A girl I went to school with had it happen at my firm. It was insane from the get go. I didn't bill a 40 hour week until 6 months in.

Yeah I mean I get my reputation and admit it's largely true, but I wasn't asking for a full plate right off the bat--it just happened. I've been slow for the past two days and haven't gone soliciting work yet.

[brotherdarkness]

I've been giving her whatever work I can--not much to delegate yet, frankly. I've had her add things to my calendars, print/scan/mail things for me, and so on. She seems to do fine and doesn't give me any attitude, but the thermostat thing makes me think there's some confusion on her part about our dynamic.

Dude, between billing 250+ hours in your first month and getting into a thermostat war with your secretary, all the signs point to you lasting 18 months. Maybe 24 months. Seriously, this isn't good. You aren't impressing anyone by billing so much as a stub and you're attitude your secretary ("there's confusion on her part about our dynamic") will prove toxic. Chill out. Chill out soon.

Lol dude the thermostat war is one of the most entertaining aspects of firm life thus far.

ETA - I'm super pleasant with my secretary and don't try to be her boss or whatever. I just think it's a bit absurd for her to ask about putting a lock on my thermometer in my office while I'm sitting there.

[Desert Fox]

[rpupkin]

It's mainly the first week or two that baffles me. I get eventually falling into that groove, but 60+ right away seems absurd to me.

I'm all about calling BD a insane workaholic striver. But sometimes that shit just happens. A girl I went to school with had it happen at my firm. It was insane from the get go. I didn't bill a 40 hour week until 6 months in.

A girl I went to school with got staffed on an ITC trial in her third week, so she went from 0-to-80 hours/wk right away. An associate can't do anything about that kind of situation. But if, as appears to be the case with BD, random associates and partners are just shoveling discrete tasks your way, then it's time to start practicing your "sorry, can't do it now" skills. If you're already billing 12 hours a day during your first month and then some mid-level associate asks you to research an issue or something, explain that you're busy and ask if a response is needed right away. There's probably some other associate who has nothing to do.

[brotherdarkness]

It's mainly the first week or two that baffles me. I get eventually falling into that groove, but 60+ right away seems absurd to me.

I'm all about calling BD a insane workaholic striver. But sometimes that shit just happens. A girl I went to school with had it happen at my firm. It was insane from the get go. I didn't bill a 40 hour week until 6 months in.

A girl I went to school with got staffed on an ITC trial in her third week, so she went from 0-to-80 hours/wk right away. An associate can't do anything about that kind of situation. But if, as appears to be the case with BD, random associates and partners are just shoveling discrete tasks your way, then it's time to start practicing your "sorry, can't do it now" skills. If you're already working 12 hours a day during your first month and then some mid-level associate asks you to research an issue or something, explain that you're busy and ask if a response is needed right away. There's probably some other associate who has nothing to do.

My situation is analogous to that of the girl you know.

[rpupkin]

It's mainly the first week or two that baffles me. I get eventually falling into that groove, but 60+ right away seems absurd to me.

I'm all about calling BD a insane workaholic striver. But sometimes that shit just happens. A girl I went to school with had it happen at my firm. It was insane from the get go. I didn't bill a 40 hour week until 6 months in.

A girl I went to school with got staffed on an ITC trial in her third week, so she went from 0-to-80 hours/wk right away. An associate can't do anything about that kind of situation. But if, as appears to be the case with BD, random associates and partners are just shoveling discrete tasks your way, then it's time to start practicing your "sorry, can't do it now" skills. If you're already working 12 hours a day during your first month and then some mid-level associate asks you to research an issue or something, explain that you're busy and ask if a response is needed right away. There's probably some other associate who has nothing to do.

My situation is analogous to that of the girl you know.

Well that's understandable then. Good luck riding it out!

[brotherdarkness]

Well that's understandable then. Good luck riding it out!

Thanks.

[Anonymous User]

Is it acceptable to leave at 5 when you don't have any work even if others in your vicinity stay past 7? In all honesty, while I would love to get at least some exposure, as between pretending to work and R&R, I feel like I'd be more useful if I keep refreshed till it gets busy. However, I'm concerned about appearing lazy.

[Danger Zone]

Is it acceptable to leave at 5 when you don't have any work even if others in your vicinity stay past 7? In all honesty, while I would love to get at least some exposure, as between pretending to work and R&R, I feel like I'd be more useful if I keep refreshed till it gets busy. However, I'm concerned about appearing lazy.

I'd feel uncomfortable leaving that early. Even if I have nothing, I end up here til around 6, mainly because that dick partner is close to my office and randomly screams my name.

[lawschoolftw]

Is it acceptable to leave at 5 when you don't have any work even if others in your vicinity stay past 7? In all honesty, while I would love to get at least some exposure, as between pretending to work and R&R, I feel like I'd be more useful if I keep refreshed till it gets busy. However, I'm concerned about appearing lazy.

I'd stick around through six--but this is a better question for a mid-level associate you trust.

[Johann]

Is it acceptable to leave at 5 when you don't have any work even if others in your vicinity stay past 7? In all honesty, while I would love to get at least some exposure, as between pretending to work and R&R, I feel like I'd be more useful if I keep refreshed till it gets busy. However, I'm concerned about appearing lazy.

I'd stick around through six--but this is a better question for a mid-level associate you trust.

I have no problem leaving at 5, but I understand some people do. If that's the case, you should take a long ass lunch from 12-2 and walk around/meet up with friends/go home/gym it or whatever.

[dixiecupdrinking]

Thermometer may not control only your own office.

[20160810]

It's mainly the first week or two that baffles me. I get eventually falling into that groove, but 60+ right away seems absurd to me.

I'm all about calling BD a insane workaholic striver. But sometimes that shit just happens. A girl I went to school with had it happen at my firm. It was insane from the get go. I didn't bill a 40 hour week until 6 months in.

It's very unusual for a brand new associate to be getting important stuff that actually takes 60 hours a week right off the bat. Almost surely some of that time expenditure is learning-curve-related, and I would be very surprised if a bit of it wasn't a little of the ol' new associate macho complex.

[baal hadad]

It's mainly the first week or two that baffles me. I get eventually falling into that groove, but 60+ right away seems absurd to me.

I'm all about calling BD a insane workaholic striver. But sometimes that shit just happens. A girl I went to school with had it happen at my firm. It was insane from the get go. I didn't bill a 40 hour week until 6 months in.

It's very unusual for a brand new associate to be getting important stuff that actually takes 60 hours a week right off the bat. Almost surely some of that time expenditure is learning-curve-related, and I would be very surprised if a bit of it wasn't a little of the ol' new associate macho complex.

I sorta get the fear or messing up something simple and wanting to spend a lot of time w it

Don't want people to think that ur dumb right off the bat

Maybe they'll figure it out later

[20160810]

Is it acceptable to leave at 5 when you don't have any work even if others in your vicinity stay past 7? In all honesty, while I would love to get at least some exposure, as between pretending to work and R&R, I feel like I'd be more useful if I keep refreshed till it gets busy. However, I'm concerned about appearing lazy.

I'd stick around through six--but this is a better question for a mid-level associate you trust.

I have no problem leaving at 5, but I understand some people do. If that's the case, you should take a long ass lunch from 12-2 and walk around/meet up with friends/go home/gym it or whatever.

IMO working 9-5 is a mistake, but only because most law firms give associates work that just takes longer than that to complete well. If the work is getting done, I wouldn't worry about the optics of leaving a 5 unless he's actually telling people that he can't do work because he has to make it home in time for Big Bang Theory reruns at 5:30, which seems unlikely. The best advice is to figure out whether the people you work for are morning people or evening people and just adapt to that. I'm a morning person, so I generally get here by 7:00 but I'm rarely in the office past 6:00, and nobody seems to care.

[brotherdarkness]

It's mainly the first week or two that baffles me. I get eventually falling into that groove, but 60+ right away seems absurd to me.

I'm all about calling BD a insane workaholic striver. But sometimes that shit just happens. A girl I went to school with had it happen at my firm. It was insane from the get go. I didn't bill a 40 hour week until 6 months in.

It's very unusual for a brand new associate to be getting important stuff that actually takes 60 hours a week right off the bat. Almost surely some of that time expenditure is learning-curve-related, and I would be very surprised if a bit of it wasn't a little of the ol' new associate macho complex.

Oh I'm sure it wasn't important stuff. And I'm sure I could have cut the time in half if I wasn't inexperienced and inefficient. Plus I tried to review things and catch stupid errors--didn't work, but the effort took time.

[20160810]

Don't want people to think that ur dumb right off the bat

Maybe they'll figure it out later

Yeah but the associates who stress out about this are the ones who tend to write research memos like "Under the X test, the answer might be Y, but then again, it could be Z, though probably not Z, but maybe C, who can say?"