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I'm a relatively new lateral at a firm (been here less than a year). Since starting, I have been working almost exclusively with one partner in my practice group who is in another office. However, recently (particularly August, which is a slow month for most firms), I've been extremely slow.

So I did what a lot (?) of biglaw associates do. I approached a partner or two (or their sr. associate if they have one) and offered my help.

One partner did the weirdest thing. He sat me down and asked for all matters I'd worked on since starting, and the partner supervising me on it. Of course, since I primarily worked with the one partner, he only called up that partner to ask about me. Then a week later, he tells me he's heard good things and will consider giving me work sometime.

I wasn't super irked by this until I talked to a coworker about it, who insisted that wasn't normal. I don't believe this partner does the same thing for other associates too. There's an associate he staffed on a matter recently who is considered a huge f!@# up. Is this normal, and/or should I avoid this partner going forward?

It's a little unusual that he sat you down and asked about your matter list. But one partner asking another for a recommendation on a totally unknown (lateral) commodity right after he was burnt by another associate? I think that's totally normal and don't know why you would be bothered by it.

Did you tell him you already work at the firm?

This partner sounds a little weird (and definite warning signs of being a jerk) but if you need the work you can't be picky.

OfThriceandTen wrote:It's a little unusual that he sat you down and asked about your matter list. But one partner asking another for a recommendation on a totally unknown (lateral) commodity right after he was burnt by another associate? I think that's totally normal and don't know why you would be bothered by it.

To be clear, he hasn't been burned by the other associate yet. He staffed her on a deal for the first time, and they haven't begun working together yet, unless non-billable work counts.

The fact that he sat down and asked for a list of matters, and actually admitting that he called your primary partner and saying "so maybe I'll give you some work eventually" is pretty weird.

But IME it's pretty common for a partner to call another partner to ask about you before giving you work, or for partners to call each other up to make sure it's "okay" with the partner you primarily work with if they give you more work (to avoid partner A coming to them in a few months complaining that you're doing partner B's work instead of more of partner A's work).

Also if the associate hasn't actually done work for him yet, but it's no secret that she's a f**kup and it's possible the partner found out about it some time after he put her on the deal, that could still be a large reason why he's vetting people the way he is going forward.

I feel like this weird but not a red flag.

Agreed that he handled this weirdly but that the act itself is totally normal. I've overheard many snippets of partner phone calls talking about the merits of different associates and whether they can handle being staffed on a particular matter. They just usually have the social graces not to tell the associates about it.

A partner talked with another partner about a relatively unknown associate at the firm? OMG! The horror! Are you serious? What would you expect? Totally normal.

enibs wrote:A partner talked with another partner about a relatively unknown associate at the firm? OMG! The horror! Are you serious? What would you expect? Totally normal.

+1

Totally normal typical human behavior. When it's a slow period, and other associates known in the office (about whom the partner can chat over the water cooler) may also be looking for work, why would he not do a bit of due diligence on a "new" associate just to check you out? Almost seems irresponsible not to.

Congrats on maybe getting to work for a person who will speak to you candidly at the potential expense of "lawyer social graces" mentioned above.

OP here. Perhaps I am reading too much into this. Perhaps I'm just irked because I've been told this is not the norm for the firm or the partner (at least, if it is, it isn't made known to associates), so his doing it felt like little more than a power trip. I also work for an influential partner and have pretty good creds (not to be a credentials snob), so his going through that ritual felt like it had no reason other than to make a point.

Yeah, OP just relax on this one. Put yourself in any partner's shoes. In what world would you not ask about whether a new hire you have worked with yet is good to work with?

It's not about you. It's about the partners and their work that they've hired you to help with. No room for your ego here. Also, other associates definitely aren't qualified to say whether or not partners talk with one another.

Yea, it's definitely weird, but not a big deal. Most partners are weird.

Anonymous User wrote:OP here. Perhaps I am reading too much into this. Perhaps I'm just irked because I've been told this is not the norm for the firm or the partner (at least, if it is, it isn't made known to associates), so his doing it felt like little more than a power trip. I also work for an influential partner and have pretty good creds (not to be a credentials snob), so his going through that ritual felt like it had no reason other than to make a point.

He was probably just trying to get attention/feel good in relation to your influential partner. IOW, not about you

^^^^Accidental anon, that was me

Anonymous User wrote:I'm a relatively new lateral at a firm (been here less than a year). Since starting, I have been working almost exclusively with one partner in my practice group who is in another office. However, recently (particularly August, which is a slow month for most firms), I've been extremely slow.

So I did what a lot (?) of biglaw associates do. I approached a partner or two (or their sr. associate if they have one) and offered my help.

One partner did the weirdest thing. He sat me down and asked for all matters I'd worked on since starting, and the partner supervising me on it. Of course, since I primarily worked with the one partner, he only called up that partner to ask about me. Then a week later, he tells me he's heard good things and will consider giving me work sometime.

I wasn't super irked by this until I talked to a coworker about it, who insisted that wasn't normal. I don't believe this partner does the same thing for other associates too. There's an associate he staffed on a matter recently who is considered a huge f!@# up. Is this normal, and/or should I avoid this partner going forward?

I think this is fine/normal tbh. Maybe the partner who did this is neurotic after getting burned before or something. It looks like you got good reviews so that's good.

I can only imagine this is very normal except for the part where the associate actually knows it's being done.

Yeah this is normal.