rough relation with partner at 1L SA firm Forum

[Anonymous User]

lots of friction, doesn't approve of me going downstairs for a 20 min break without telling everybody where i'm at, doesn't approve of boyfriend visiting over lunch break, doesn't approve of my research work - basically overall nasty guy with no plans on softening up.

My theory is, he's a brand spankin new partner, and its gone to his head.

My problem is, what if my 2L SA interview firm calls up my 1L SA interview firm, how does that work, do I tell them which attorneys are my work references, or do they contact the firm and allow anyone to respond?

[270910]

Very few employers will do anything more than verify prior employment, as a result of which very few employers bother making calls to prior employers.

[blsingindisguise]

Your boyfriend should not be visiting your office during lunch break.

[Kiersten1985]

Your boyfriend should not be visiting your office during lunch break.

Have to agree with this one. And if you're leaving your desk for 20 minutes, you should at least have your Blackberry on you. If these are the things that are ticking him off, it not might be just him that you're not liking - it might be the size/level of the firm you're at.

[Grad_Student]

Where are you going for 20 mins anyways?

[NYAssociate]

.

[DelDad]

My problem is, what if my 2L SA interview firm calls up my 1L SA interview firm, how does that work, do I tell them which attorneys are my work references, or do they contact the firm and allow anyone to respond?

If you do the same sort of stuff at your 2L SA gig and don't get objectively better at research it won't matter whether they call this guy for a reference or not. Even if your 2L SA partner is nicer about it, you won't get the offer.

(IOW, what NYAssociate said...)

[worldtraveler]

OP have you ever had a full time job before, especially one in an office? This kind of stuff would be a problem most places, let alone a law office.

[howcani111]

OP have you ever had a full time job before, especially one in an office? This kind of stuff would be a problem most places, let alone a law office.

hahaha

I was thinking the same thing.

[12262010]

ENJOY

[Anonymous User]

I agree w everything ITT except for the 'everyone has to know where you are when you leave your desk for 20 mins'. That is not the case at my firm (which is in a secondary market so may be different from NYC). When I go to talk to an attorney (which can take as long as an hour), to the library for research, or whatever, I don't inform my legal assistant and I don't think any other summers do either.

[howcani111]

I agree w everything ITT except for the 'everyone has to know where you are when you leave your desk for 20 mins'. That is not the case at my firm (which is in a secondary market so may be different from NYC). When I go to talk to an attorney (which can take as long as an hour), to the library for research, or whatever, I don't inform my legal assistant and I don't think any other summers do either.

you just have to suck it up. How about you put a note on your desk as to where you are?

[sarahd]

OP have you ever had a full time job before, especially one in an office? This kind of stuff would be a problem most places, let alone a law office.

hahaha

I was thinking the same thing.

+1

Seriously...grow up. Breaks? lol I haven't had a lunch break or any other break in years...lunch is for catching up on work, meetings or business discussions not trips with your boyfriend to the local deli.

[DelDad]

I agree w everything ITT except for the 'everyone has to know where you are when you leave your desk for 20 mins'. That is not the case at my firm (which is in a secondary market so may be different from NYC). When I go to talk to an attorney (which can take as long as an hour), to the library for research, or whatever, I don't inform my legal assistant and I don't think any other summers do either.

I didn't necessarily tell someone, but I dd have to put those activities on my time sheet, and my secretary could find me that way.

[sarahd]

I agree w everything ITT except for the 'everyone has to know where you are when you leave your desk for 20 mins'. That is not the case at my firm (which is in a secondary market so may be different from NYC). When I go to talk to an attorney (which can take as long as an hour), to the library for research, or whatever, I don't inform my legal assistant and I don't think any other summers do either.

you just have to suck it up. How about you put a note on your desk as to where you are?

A sticky note with your location posted on your desk/monitor goes a long way toward proper office communication, especially if you will be unavailable by electronic means.

[12262010]

OP have you ever had a full time job before, especially one in an office? This kind of stuff would be a problem most places, let alone a law office.

hahaha

I was thinking the same thing.

+1

Seriously...grow up. Breaks? lol I haven't had a lunch break or any other break in years...lunch is for catching up on work, meetings or business discussions not trips with your boyfriend to the local deli.

obvious flame is obvious

[psychomohel]

Seriously...grow up. Breaks? lol I haven't had a lunch break or any other break in years...lunch is for catching up on work, meetings or business discussions not trips with your boyfriend to the local deli.

Meeting your boyfriend for lunch at a deli every once in a while seems alright. But, if you are bringing him into the office to have lunch with you or going out with him every single day, that is pretty clearly a problem.

[Anonymous User]

I agree w everything ITT except for the 'everyone has to know where you are when you leave your desk for 20 mins'. That is not the case at my firm (which is in a secondary market so may be different from NYC). When I go to talk to an attorney (which can take as long as an hour), to the library for research, or whatever, I don't inform my legal assistant and I don't think any other summers do either.

you just have to suck it up. How about you put a note on your desk as to where you are?

A sticky note with your location posted on your desk/monitor goes a long way toward proper office communication, especially if you will be unavailable by electronic means.

I'm not the OP. Sorry for any confusion. For the record, I've had no problems at all with my MO, and gotten nothing but great reviews on my work.

[Jack Smirks]

What's up with these breaks? Do you smoke? If you just need a mental break just learn to stare at the comp and move the mouse around or shuffle through the same stack of papers for 10 min. That's what I usually do.

[roranoa]

This thread is NOT going the way the OP intended.

[ggocat]

This thread is NOT going the way the OP intended.

Haha. That's how TLS works.

ITT: OP asks a question, a few posters answer, and the rest decide to give their two cents about the situation without answering the question.

[12262010]

This thread is NOT going the way the OP intended.

good... she obviously needs a serious reality check and we're probably helping her not get DLA Ipered.

[Person]

Man, I hope my summer class is full of people like this.

[BobSacamano]

If this is a paid 1L SA, then I agree with everything in this thread. They're paying you an unconscionable sum of money for you to sacrifice those little niceties.

On the other hand, if this is one of those unpaid "volunteer" 1L positions, all bets are off.

[CG614]

This thread is NOT going the way the OP intended.

Haha. That's how TLS works.

ITT: OP asks a question, a few posters answer, and the rest decide to give their two cents about the situation without answering the question.

The question is flawed in that it assumes that the firm her 2L summer would be okay with her current practices.

EDIT: Re-read the question, I guess it doesn't necessarily assume the above. But if her goal is to get an offer from her 2L summer, then she should take some of the advice ITT. No matter how crass people are on this site, they tend to give solid advice. Well, most do.