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I am an attorney with a few years of experience at two firms. I was recently let go from my last law firm and am currently applying to new jobs. I have three strong references from the two firms, including two senior attorneys who often supervised me (and another junior attorney who's a couple of years ahead of me), but neither of my bosses. They were both small firms with only one partner. My last firm fired me and I can't use that boss as a reference. For my first firm, I got along well with my boss and I left on good terms, except that we had a dispute over pay after I left. We resolved it, but there were some contentious emails back and forth and I basically had to threaten to sue my old boss before they finally paid me. So I don't know if I'd be comfortable asking them for a reference, even though aside from that we were on good terms.

Is it a red flag to employers if I've left two firms in the past couple of years, and neither of my former bosses is a reference? Should I try to see if my first boss would be a reference for me, or can I rely on the other attorneys I have as references even though none of them were partners? How common is it for an attorney with a few years of experience to not have either of their prior bosses as a reference?

I recently had an interview where the interviewer mentioned that neither of my bosses were a reference and I kind of just brushed it aside. If that comes up again, can I mention that I had a pay dispute with my first boss and that's why I don't list them as a reference? It wasn't my fault, they owed me money and wouldn't pay until I threatened to sue, but I don't know how I can get that across in an interview without looking bad, especially since I can't use my second boss as a reference either.

Few times something similar this came up I said, truthfully, my interactions with my former bosses were limited and the references listed knew me better.

icansortofmath wrote:Few times something similar this came up I said, truthfully, my interactions with my former bosses were limited and the references listed knew me better.

Thanks, I can try that. How did that go over in interviews, did the interviewer just accept that? It is true for me, both bosses were hands-off and my current references would be more familiar with my work product. I was just worried that a hiring partner would think I have issues and can't get along with bosses, when I got along great with my first boss until the pay dispute shortly after I left. And my second boss was pretty toxic and didn't get along with anybody.