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no job hack: give yourself a job

aka start a SHITTY ASS COMPANY/LAW FIRM

Isn't this what Johann does, or is his hack more of the "Bartleby the Scrivener" variety?

Desert Fox wrote:Best way to get good experience.

Not flame. I'm always thinking of assignments that I would find interesting to work on. Most partners actually like that kind of thing. Of course, you've always got to think about the client--don't come up with assignments that the billing partner can't justify.

This can also help you avoid becoming a senior associate's bitch. In team meetings, propose assignments for yourself that you know the partner will like. Later, when a senior associate tries to dump some work on you, you can say: "Sorry, I'm working on X right now." It won't always work. But if the senior associate knows that the partner is into the assignment you made up for yourself, he or she is less likely to interfere.

Please give us more wisdom, DF.

Desert Fox wrote:

rpupkin wrote:

Desert Fox wrote:Best way to get good experience.

Not flame. I'm always thinking of assignments that I would find interesting to work on. Most partners actually like that kind of thing. Of course, you've always got to think about the client--don't come up with assignments that the billing partner can't justify.

This can also help you avoid becoming a senior associate's bitch. In team meetings, propose assignments for yourself that you know the partner will like. Later, when a senior associate tries to dump some work on you, you can say: "Sorry, I'm working on X right now." It won't always work. But if the senior associate knows that the partner is into the assignment you made up for yourself, he or she is less likely to interfere.

Bonus points for assigning yourself something the senior associate would probably have to do later themselves.

Corollary hack: when you are a junior associate, your power vis a vis senior associates is at its zenith. The senior associates are operating under the delusion that they will make partner. They are generally desperate and overworked. They will treat you like shit and act like you are at their beck and call, but remember this: senior associates have no real power over you.

In fact, you have all the power in the relationship. The senior associate must show he can "deliver" so that he can make partner. Therefore, the senior associate can almost never say the following: "This task was fucked up because of the junior associate I farmed it out to." Any attempt to throw a junior associate under the bus is basically an admission that the senior associate can't competently run a case.

The only risk for you lies in the possibility that the senior associate actually makes partner. But, c'mon, that almost never happens anymore in big law.

tl;dr: don't live in fear of senior associates.

biglaw life hack - dont make up assignments for yourself and just take longer on the assignments other people give you. you should always try to do less.

rpupkin wrote:

Desert Fox wrote:

rpupkin wrote:

Desert Fox wrote:Best way to get good experience.

Not flame. I'm always thinking of assignments that I would find interesting to work on. Most partners actually like that kind of thing. Of course, you've always got to think about the client--don't come up with assignments that the billing partner can't justify.

This can also help you avoid becoming a senior associate's bitch. In team meetings, propose assignments for yourself that you know the partner will like. Later, when a senior associate tries to dump some work on you, you can say: "Sorry, I'm working on X right now." It won't always work. But if the senior associate knows that the partner is into the assignment you made up for yourself, he or she is less likely to interfere.

Bonus points for assigning yourself something the senior associate would probably have to do later themselves.

Corollary hack: when you are a junior associate, your power vis a vis senior associates is at its zenith. The senior associates are operating under the delusion that they will make partner. They are generally desperate and overworked. They will treat you like shit and act like you are at their beck and call, but remember this: senior associates have no real power over you.

In fact, you have all the power in the relationship. The senior associate must show he can "deliver" so that he can make partner. Therefore, the senior associate can almost never say the following: "This task was fucked up because of the junior associate I farmed it out to." Any attempt to throw a junior associate under the bus is basically an admission that the senior associate can't competently run a case.

The only risk for you lies in the possibility that the senior associate actually makes partner. But, c'mon, that almost never happens anymore in big law.

tl;dr: don't live in fear of senior associates.

yeah i definitely play this game. if youre really a gambler you pick the senior you think will make partner nd do their work and absolutely none of the work the others you think wont make partner give you. its ballsy but fun.

rpupkin wrote:

Desert Fox wrote:

rpupkin wrote:

Desert Fox wrote:Best way to get good experience.

Not flame. I'm always thinking of assignments that I would find interesting to work on. Most partners actually like that kind of thing. Of course, you've always got to think about the client--don't come up with assignments that the billing partner can't justify.

This can also help you avoid becoming a senior associate's bitch. In team meetings, propose assignments for yourself that you know the partner will like. Later, when a senior associate tries to dump some work on you, you can say: "Sorry, I'm working on X right now." It won't always work. But if the senior associate knows that the partner is into the assignment you made up for yourself, he or she is less likely to interfere.

Bonus points for assigning yourself something the senior associate would probably have to do later themselves.

Corollary hack: when you are a junior associate, your power vis a vis senior associates is at its zenith. The senior associates are operating under the delusion that they will make partner. They are generally desperate and overworked. They will treat you like shit and act like you are at their beck and call, but remember this: senior associates have no real power over you.

In fact, you have all the power in the relationship. The senior associate must show he can "deliver" so that he can make partner. Therefore, the senior associate can almost never say the following: "This task was fucked up because of the junior associate I farmed it out to." Any attempt to throw a junior associate under the bus is basically an admission that the senior associate can't competently run a case.

The only risk for you lies in the possibility that the senior associate actually makes partner. But, c'mon, that almost never happens anymore in big law.

tl;dr: don't live in fear of senior associates.

What about tyrannical midlevels? Any tips on how to deal with them?

What is really fun is doing almost no work and seeing how long you can last in biglaw. I've had a former colleague go 2+ years before being asked to lateral.

Where do Of Counsel fall in this power play?

whats an updog wrote:Where do Of Counsel fall in this power play?

they have no power. its basically whoever takes pity on them or just cant say no at all. you gotta learn to say no in biglaw.

ITT all the biglaw advice you need.

JohannDeMann wrote:

whats an updog wrote:Where do Of Counsel fall in this power play?

they have no power. its basically whoever takes pity on them or just cant say no at all. you gotta learn to say no in biglaw.

Don't a lot of firms use the counsel designation as essentially a trial/test period for partnership tbough?