Better to resign or be terminated? Forum

[Anonymous User]

Sorry, my post is kind of long:

I've been working at my firm for just over a year (June 1 was a year). My firm is a mid-size firm out here in Nevada (23 attorneys including partners). The way my firm works is each associate is part of a team under a partner. When I was hired, I was part of a team with one other associate. In January, the other associate was fired. At the beginning of May, the partner who I was under was fired. He had been with the firm for 15 years. For the entire month of May I was the only associate not placed on a team. I worried about being fired every day of May. From mid-May to June 1st, the managing partner of my firm was overseeing my cases. Compared to my old partner, he is very hands on and likes to be involved in everything. I need his permission to do anything and he needs to review everything that goes out. Before that, I just sent my work to my supervising attorney who would tell me to send stuff out. The managing partner is known in my office for being "on edge" and for his temper. My biggest gripe with this firm is that there was zero mentor ship and very little guidance. It has very much been a sink or swim environment, and until the beginning of May I felt like I was at least treading water. Since May, every week there seems to be some disaster and I feel like I am walking on egg shells. My intention when I got this job was to get a years experience and then start looking for other jobs. Unfortunately there have not been very many other jobs. After the partner got fired in May, I applied for three jobs and got one interview. I did not get the job because they wanted someone with more experience (they said).

In March, there was a new firm policy that no one is eligible for a performance review/raise unless they exceed 2000 hours. Before that, everybody got at least some kind of raise every year.

I was super worried about being fired because I didn't make my 2000 hour requirement my first year even though I was told that most first years do not even break 1900. I made a couple of screw ups in May which made the firm look "sloppy" or cost the firm money.

I was placed on the team of the managing partner of my office at the beginning of June which gave me some confidence. I did not receive a performance review or raise. Last week I was absolutely swamped with work, and I missed a deadline to file an important reply. When the partner came into my office today he pounded on my desk in anger like a mad man. I later talked to him in his office and he again pounded on his desk and began wildly ripping pages out of a binder in anger. I am about 95% convinced that I am going to be fired tomorrow morning because this is not the first mistake I've made and I'm not a billing master.

My question is, is it better to resign or be terminated from a law position?

Thanks.

[GreenEggs]

Don't you lose out claiming unemployment if you resign? Also better just take the chance you don't get fired then lose the paycheck

[Anonymous User]

Dude, start meeting headhunters.

[dixiecupdrinking]

In order:

1. Don't resign.
2. Look for other jobs, like, yesterday if you haven't already been. Your firm sounds toxic.
3. That said, definitely don't miss filing deadlines, no matter what else is going on. There are few mistakes that aren't fixable but blowing deadlines is one of them. But you already know that.
4. THAT said, don't get down on yourself. It's hard enough to learn to be a lawyer in a supportive environment, let alone one where you lack guidance and people are waiting for you to fail.

[rpupkin]

Last week I was absolutely swamped with work, and I missed a deadline to file an important reply. When the partner came into my office today he pounded on my desk in anger like a mad man. I later talked to him in his office and he again pounded on his desk and began wildly ripping pages out of a binder in anger.

OP, I do feel for you, but I must confess that these sentences made me laugh out loud. The "ripping pages out of a binder" imagery was the topper.

Anyway, as others have said, don't quit. Keep trying your best at the current firm, partner screaming, pounding, and ripping notwithstanding. In fact, go talk to the managing partner tomorrow and explain that you're having a hard time but that you really want to improve. Meanwhile, find a recruiter and look elsewhere. Good luck.