Junior flexing on a partner or sr assoc Forum

[Anonymous User]

What is your definition of expensive?

Anything that is considered to be in the "luxury" market. That is, its intrinsic value is much, much less than its price. To the above poster, cars above 20-30k are considered "luxury."

[legalpotato]

I have a Longines divers watch. the ladies love it.

insane emoji choice

this post made me do an actual lol

[Anonymous User]

3 pages in did we ever get a relevant answer to the prompt or just arguing about a watch

[Anonymous User]

I occasionally wear a Patek to the office. No one cares.

[Anonymous User]

I was a second year on a call with one of the firm's most important clients. This idiot partner responds to a question from the client with utter nonsense that's completely wrong, and then asks if I have anything to add. I say "thanks [partner], totally agree. Just a few things to add" and proceed to completely contradict everything the partner had just said. Client did what I recommended.

FWIW, I was wearing a Timex.

[The Lsat Airbender]

I have a Longines divers watch. the ladies love it.

insane emoji choice

this post made me do an actual lol

[Anonymous User]

I occasionally wear a Patek to the office. No one cares.

No one cares, that you know of -- but only the most socially inept person would actually comment on it -- the rest of us would just do the socially acceptable thing and silently judge/gossip behind your back.

[Res Ipsa Loquitter]

I occasionally wear a Patek to the office. No one cares.

No one cares, that you know of -- but only the most socially inept person would actually comment on it -- the rest of us would just do the socially acceptable thing and silently judge/gossip behind your back.

You think badmouthing your coworkers is the socially intelligent move? The socially intelligent move is to let meaningless things go and say/do nothing because they’re meaningless

[Anonymous User]

I occasionally wear a Patek to the office. No one cares.

If a coworker showed up to the office wearing a Patek, I’d be fairly excited and ask to take a look at it

[12YrsAnAssociate]

Once I asked a junior to write an easy brief and he sent me back a shell with some copy and paste legal standards and "facts go here," "analogy of facts here," etc. I was astonished. I couldn't tell if he realized he had assigned me the work I had just assigned him. I ended up giving him the benefit of the doubt because he was a nice guy and fairly new, but he was let go pretty early, and I learned it was because he did something similar to a senior partner that was super particular and a total ass even when you sent good work.

[Anonymous User]

Once I asked a junior to write an easy brief and he sent me back a shell with some copy and paste legal standards and "facts go here," "analogy of facts here," etc. I was astonished. I couldn't tell if he realized he had assigned me the work I had just assigned him. I ended up giving him the benefit of the doubt because he was a nice guy and fairly new, but he was let go pretty early, and I learned it was because he did something similar to a senior partner that was super particular and a total ass even when you sent good work.

Don't spam the thread. What watch did he wear?

[Sackboy]

I occasionally wear a Patek to the office. No one cares.

No one cares, that you know of -- but only the most socially inept person would actually comment on it -- the rest of us would just do the socially acceptable thing and silently judge/gossip behind your back.

The seems like the quality of post I'd expect from an unnecessary anon. I can't differentiate any of these watches from $9.95 Kohl's watches, so I'd just shrug and move on with my life.

[Joachim2017]

I occasionally wear a Patek to the office. No one cares.

No one cares, that you know of -- but only the most socially inept person would actually comment on it -- the rest of us would just do the socially acceptable thing and silently judge/gossip behind your back.

The seems like the quality of post I'd expect from an unnecessary anon. I can't differentiate any of these watches from $9.95 Kohl's watches, so I'd just shrug and move on with my life.

Yeah, I'm not sure why watches in particular get this kind of weird hate on this thread. I can't differentiate a $30 chicken parm dinner prepared at the Italian deli across the street from the $100 chicken parm dinner served at one of those fancy midtown Michelin-star restaurants Big Law associates love to make a "res" at and then talk about endlessly the next week at work. But yeah, I'll appreciate a Patek, and can distinguish it from a $300 Hamilton from Macy's...So what? It's just a matter of taste and preference. Talking about one is more "socially acceptable" than the other? Are we background characters on the set of Mean Girls?

This kind of dovetails with the other thread about how to approach summer gigs in Big Law and what to wear/how to behave at lunch. Within reason, there's no reason you can't express your personality if it's distinctive or out of the ordinary.

The only folks I feel sorry for are the ones who never left behind that middle-school mentality where you navigate your life based on what's "socially acceptable" as opposed to "weird" from some basic Pumpkin spice latte perspective. It's the people who have passions and hobbies, unusual perspectives, and do things a little differently that makes life interesting rather than rote. You can be a professional, successful Big Law associate without living according to the milquetoast lowest common denominator of avoiding anything that could possibly be deemed odd by your peers.

[Anonymous User]

This kind of dovetails with the other thread about how to approach summer gigs in Big Law and what to wear/how to behave at lunch. Within reason, there's no reason you can't express your personality if it's distinctive or out of the ordinary.

My personality is GMT lyfe but h8ter5 gunna h8.

[12YrsAnAssociate]

Once I asked a junior to write an easy brief and he sent me back a shell with some copy and paste legal standards and "facts go here," "analogy of facts here," etc. I was astonished. I couldn't tell if he realized he had assigned me the work I had just assigned him. I ended up giving him the benefit of the doubt because he was a nice guy and fairly new, but he was let go pretty early, and I learned it was because he did something similar to a senior partner that was super particular and a total ass even when you sent good work.

Don't spam the thread. What watch did he wear?

Oh ya sorry. He wore this super tasteful watch: https://www.melodynecklace.com/products ... 0247702576

[Anonymous User]

Once I asked a junior to write an easy brief and he sent me back a shell with some copy and paste legal standards and "facts go here," "analogy of facts here," etc. I was astonished. I couldn't tell if he realized he had assigned me the work I had just assigned him. I ended up giving him the benefit of the doubt because he was a nice guy and fairly new, but he was let go pretty early, and I learned it was because he did something similar to a senior partner that was super particular and a total ass even when you sent good work.

Don't spam the thread. What watch did he wear?

Oh ya sorry. He wore this super tasteful watch: https://www.melodynecklace.com/products ... 0247702576

5 stars what a master(time)piece.

[Anonymous User]

Once I asked a junior to write an easy brief and he sent me back a shell with some copy and paste legal standards and "facts go here," "analogy of facts here," etc. I was astonished. I couldn't tell if he realized he had assigned me the work I had just assigned him. I ended up giving him the benefit of the doubt because he was a nice guy and fairly new, but he was let go pretty early, and I learned it was because he did something similar to a senior partner that was super particular and a total ass even when you sent good work.

Don't spam the thread. What watch did he wear?

Oh ya sorry. He wore this super tasteful watch: https://www.melodynecklace.com/products ... 0247702576

This is so beautiful, like the time I saw a street vender selling reversable belts with a different logo on each side.

[Anonymous User]

OP here.

Minimal flexing going on unfortunately. Expected more in light of the proliferation of boundary setting on the forum (which I support btw)

[Lacepiece23]

OP here.

Minimal flexing going on unfortunately. Expected more in light of the proliferation of boundary setting on the forum (which I support btw)

Agreed. I had a senior associate swear that she told the biggest rain maker to fuck off. Rainmaker was a notorious yeller. Not sure how true that one is.

[Anonymous User]

We get an NDA from institutional client that has to be done that day; partner asks 1st year to do it; she says she can't because she is at a power-woman conference and asks if I can handle in a reply-all email (I was a 5th year); I do

I can relate to this and it’s rampant. I had 4-5 jrs leave early (think 4pm, doesn’t answer emails) / take days off first couple weeks after starting. I know I’m gonna sound like an old fart but wtf is going on with new gen of jrs? There’s little to no work ethic. I thought maybe it was just me but other mid/seniors have said the same thing. Its like you know there are always those associates that just want to “ride it out” but now its like 80% of them do or simply don’t care.

[Right2BearArms]

We get an NDA from institutional client that has to be done that day; partner asks 1st year to do it; she says she can't because she is at a power-woman conference and asks if I can handle in a reply-all email (I was a 5th year); I do

I can relate to this and it’s rampant. I had 4-5 jrs leave early (think 4pm, doesn’t answer emails) / take days off first couple weeks after starting. I know I’m gonna sound like an old fart but wtf is going on with new gen of jrs? There’s little to no work ethic. I thought maybe it was just me but other mid/seniors have said the same thing. Its like you know there are always those associates that just want to “ride it out” but now its like 80% of them do or simply don’t care.

I blame the pandemic, especially if you are talking about first year associates that started last fall. They spent half of law school remote, pass/fail (if graded at all) and are 100% into WFH generally. I also generally blame the current law school/higher ed culture and economy. Lower standards = less competent people, I do not care what the education seminars or faculty that has not worked in a private setting since the 90's (if ever) says. Add to that absurd amounts of work and the hottest lateral market in recent memory and many seem to feel like "go ahead, try and fire me".

I am out of the BL game now, but noticed a decline in JR associate quality over the last 2-3 years. Some was absolutely the fault of covid, wfh and the inability (or unwillingness to get on yet another teams call after being on them for 8 hours in my case) to train effectively/answer questions timely. I realize this site is generally anti-return to office, but it is much harder to call someone to ask a question (especially if you have never met in person) than it is to walk down the hall to their office.

Finally, to answer the question of the thread, it happens I guess, but many partners could buy out most associates on a monetary level, and really, no one cares what watch you wear.

[nixy]

I also generally blame the current law school/higher ed culture and economy. Lower standards = less competent people, I do not care what the education seminars or faculty that has not worked in a private setting since the 90's (if ever) says.

What lower standards?

[Right2BearArms]

I also generally blame the current law school/higher ed culture and economy. Lower standards = less competent people, I do not care what the education seminars or faculty that has not worked in a private setting since the 90's (if ever) says.

What lower standards?

During Covid - pass / fail on all courses, no or shorter finals, etc.

pre-covid - moving curve medians up (my law school did this), states making the bar exam easier (e.g., TX going to UBE and dropping the length from 3 to 2 days), larger hiring classes and people being hired because "we need a body" - a conversation I had multiple times before I left BL.

[nixy]

I also generally blame the current law school/higher ed culture and economy. Lower standards = less competent people, I do not care what the education seminars or faculty that has not worked in a private setting since the 90's (if ever) says.

What lower standards?

During Covid - pass / fail on all courses, no or shorter finals, etc.

pre-covid - moving curve medians up (my law school did this), states making the bar exam easier (e.g., TX going to UBE and dropping the length from 3 to 2 days), larger hiring classes and people being hired because "we need a body" - a conversation I had multiple times before I left BL.

What do bar exam standards have to do with this when biglaw hires people well before they take the bar?

[Anonymous User]

We get an NDA from institutional client that has to be done that day; partner asks 1st year to do it; she says she can't because she is at a power-woman conference and asks if I can handle in a reply-all email (I was a 5th year); I do

I can relate to this and it’s rampant. I had 4-5 jrs leave early (think 4pm, doesn’t answer emails) / take days off first couple weeks after starting. I know I’m gonna sound like an old fart but wtf is going on with new gen of jrs? There’s little to no work ethic. I thought maybe it was just me but other mid/seniors have said the same thing. Its like you know there are always those associates that just want to “ride it out” but now its like 80% of them do or simply don’t care.

Most of the expectations on juniors are unwritten and are easier to pick up if you’re all in the office (I.e. don’t go home early if the seniors are all still in working). Most associates and partners are also very passive aggressive and won’t explicitly correct behaviour of their jrs.

I think you have a lot of jrs that have no idea what this job really entails, they rarely see or talk to their classmates so they have no idea what others are doing, and they make assumptions about how to practice that are wildly different.