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Firm posts new opening - foreshadowing?

Posted: Mon Nov 12, 2018 11:16 pm
by Anonymous User
I started in a new firm recently and received a lukewarm opening from the attorneys there. Still getting used to the culture there, as it's markedly different than my last firm. Anyway, the same day that I started, the managing partner of my group posted a new opening for an associate of my level. I'm concerned that she reached a snap judgment that I suck and as a result she needs to hire someone new. Granted, I haven't made any mistakes yet, but who knows whether they are looking for something that I just plain don't have. Anyone ever witness an associate get laid off literally right after starting (assuming there was not a huge incident)?

Re: Firm posts new opening - foreshadowing?

Posted: Mon Nov 12, 2018 11:24 pm
by foregetaboutdre
Anonymous User wrote:I started in a new firm recently and received a lukewarm opening from the attorneys there. Still getting used to the culture there, as it's markedly different than my last firm. Anyway, the same day that I started, the managing partner of my group posted a new opening for an associate of my level. I'm concerned that she reached a snap judgment that I suck and as a result she needs to hire someone new. Granted, I haven't made any mistakes yet, but who knows whether they are looking for something that I just plain don't have. Anyone ever witness an associate get laid off literally right after starting (assuming there was not a huge incident)?
Absolutely no way that they'd want to replace you on day one. First days of work are awkward at least IME.

Re: Firm posts new opening - foreshadowing?

Posted: Mon Nov 12, 2018 11:27 pm
by Anonymous User
foregetaboutdre wrote:
Anonymous User wrote:I started in a new firm recently and received a lukewarm opening from the attorneys there. Still getting used to the culture there, as it's markedly different than my last firm. Anyway, the same day that I started, the managing partner of my group posted a new opening for an associate of my level. I'm concerned that she reached a snap judgment that I suck and as a result she needs to hire someone new. Granted, I haven't made any mistakes yet, but who knows whether they are looking for something that I just plain don't have. Anyone ever witness an associate get laid off literally right after starting (assuming there was not a huge incident)?
Absolutely no way that they'd want to replace you on day one. First days of work are awkward at least IME.
So why post a new opening for the same class year? I don't know exactly how much work the firm has, but adding a new associate is a substantial expense that has to be matched either by letting someone go or by bringing in 1900+ more hours of work per year.

Re: Firm posts new opening - foreshadowing?

Posted: Tue Nov 13, 2018 12:04 am
by nixy
Someone (else) may be leaving that you don't know about. Or they already left before you started. Seriously, relax. They did not make a decision to fire you on the first day you started.

Re: Firm posts new opening - foreshadowing?

Posted: Tue Nov 13, 2018 12:08 am
by RaceJudicata
Anonymous User wrote:
foregetaboutdre wrote:
Anonymous User wrote:I started in a new firm recently and received a lukewarm opening from the attorneys there. Still getting used to the culture there, as it's markedly different than my last firm. Anyway, the same day that I started, the managing partner of my group posted a new opening for an associate of my level. I'm concerned that she reached a snap judgment that I suck and as a result she needs to hire someone new. Granted, I haven't made any mistakes yet, but who knows whether they are looking for something that I just plain don't have. Anyone ever witness an associate get laid off literally right after starting (assuming there was not a huge incident)?
Absolutely no way that they'd want to replace you on day one. First days of work are awkward at least IME.
So why post a new opening for the same class year? I don't know exactly how much work the firm has, but adding a new associate is a substantial expense that has to be matched either by letting someone go or by bringing in 1900+ more hours of work per year.
Exactly. It’s a substantial expense... and therefore is a decision that needs to go through several layers of firm bureaucracy. Doesn’t happen in a day, and didn’t happen because you made a lukewarm first impression.