Signs you're doing badly in BigLaw? Forum

[joanneofarc]

1st year here. In general, I get little or no feedback on the work I hand in. How do I know if I'm doing well? Doing badly? How do you guys read the tea leaves?

[unlicensedpotato]

First year or stub? You'll start getting more unsolicited feedback but I've also heard people say to ask how they did on a large assignment immediately after they've wrapped it up.

Assuming you aren't on a cravath-style rotation, you'll know you're doing good enough if you keep getting work.

From my experiences as a junior, the partner won't necessarily notice much of a difference on an assignment that I think I did poorly versus one I think I knocked out of the park. Only rarely will you have the chance to really shine or really flop.

[joanneofarc]

Stub year.

[jd20132013]

as a stub year if you give enough of a shit to ask this question and not blowing deadlines you're definitely doing fine

[Anonymous User]

If you're not hearing any feedback but still receiving work from that same partner/senior associate, you're doing fine.

If you're not hearing any feedback and have stopped receiving work from that partner/senior associate (assuming they are decently busy), you were probably bad and they wanted to find a different junior.

If the partner/senior associate asked you to redo some of your assignments, they were probably bad.

If you have stopped receiving work from everyone, then you're doing really bad.

Just my 2 cents.

[unlicensedpotato]

Yeah no one's going to give any feedback on your work as a stub, just show effort and have a good attitude.

In some sense, the main risk you have to look bad as a stub is if you're bugging people for work and/or feedback.

[jkpolk]

Life is human relationships. Find a 1st/2nd year in your practice group. Go out to drinks. Get to know them. Ask them about life. Do that a lot. Find out what works for you.