Slow First Week in BigLaw Forum

[Anonymous User]

Hi guys,

I just started my first week on the job (after the orientation week). Is it normal not to get any projects yet? All I’ve been doing is reviewing more training videos since I haven’t received any work even though I’ve asked around about getting some. Thanks

[rokiv]

Yes, it will likely take you at least 3-6 months to get busy.

Everybody is finishing out their year and it will take time for you to get billable projects.

[JHP]

Yes very normal. It will take a few months for things to ramp up as people get a bearing on what projects they can start trying to integrate first years on--don't worry. If you really want to, you can try to grab coffee with people or get lunch meetings or something with people whose work you're interested in and that'll jump start them thinking about what projects they can start asking to get you on.

[NonTradHealthLaw]

If you were busy already, I'd advise you to make friends with a recruiter. Biglaw is a long game.

[kaiser]

Thats totally normal and expected. Your workload will slowly build up over the coming months, but it shouldn't be an avalanche for a brand new associate.

[inter-associate]

I remember worrying a lot about ramping up during my first year as well. Was stressed daily with worry about not getting going. 5 straight 2400+ hour years later I really wish I had enjoyed that time (or at least endured without stressing). You should be proactive in getting to know people and making yourself available to do work as needed, but believe us when we say it will come soon enough, so no need to stress in the meantime.

[Wild Card]

several of my colleagues were placed in dead groups and billed only about 10 hours a week for months; and now, after almost a year, they're finally getting crushed

you're fine

[$$$$$$]

I remember worrying a lot about ramping up during my first year as well. Was stressed daily with worry about not getting going. 5 straight 2400+ hour years later I really wish I had enjoyed that time (or at least endured without stressing). You should be proactive in getting to know people and making yourself available to do work as needed, but believe us when we say it will come soon enough, so no need to stress in the meantime.

How do you handle 2,400 hours a year 5 years in a row? Feel like that is a recipe for some sort of mental/physical health breakdown.

[inter-associate]

I remember worrying a lot about ramping up during my first year as well. Was stressed daily with worry about not getting going. 5 straight 2400+ hour years later I really wish I had enjoyed that time (or at least endured without stressing). You should be proactive in getting to know people and making yourself available to do work as needed, but believe us when we say it will come soon enough, so no need to stress in the meantime.

How do you handle 2,400 hours a year 5 years in a row? Feel like that is a recipe for some sort of mental/physical health breakdown.

Sadly you kind of get used to it. I usually get a solid mix of 300 hour months and 120 hour months, so I’ve learned to just smile when busy and really chill when slow. Expectations are everything and at this point I don’t expect too much, so not hard to just keep pushing on.

[Anonymous User]

Piggybacking off of this thread. I also started biglaw 2 weeks ago and am coming from a clerkship. Will I ever stop feeling like a total moron?

[bbsexclusively]

Trust me. They are not paying you 190k for nothing.

[Hutz_and_Goodman]

I remember worrying a lot about ramping up during my first year as well. Was stressed daily with worry about not getting going. 5 straight 2400+ hour years later I really wish I had enjoyed that time (or at least endured without stressing). You should be proactive in getting to know people and making yourself available to do work as needed, but believe us when we say it will come soon enough, so no need to stress in the meantime.

This (although I’ve worked 2,000-2,300). Also being slow to start is much, much better than getting involved in a matter that is billable and terrible. Enjoy the time.

[Anonymous User]

The policy in my office (that I learned by being slow) is that partners do not even look at your hours during your stub year, and won't talk to you about low hours until after Q1 of next year. So as long as your hours are up to "mediocre" by March, no one would ever care. If not, a partner might drop by and put on a "I'm sorry we just haven't been able to give you opportunities" type speech and tell everyone in your group to send work to you. That's how you get buried in April and onward from there. I'm not bitter though... Anyway, you're fine.

[Anonymous User]

Piggybacking off of this thread. I also started biglaw 2 weeks ago and am coming from a clerkship. Will I ever stop feeling like a total moron?

I'm struggling with this, too. Can't tell up from down.

[Yardbird]

Depending on your group, it might also be because the market is slower right now too for some areas.

[Anonymous User]

Thanks for the responses everyone! I have calmed down a bit.

I’m still feeling a bit worried that it seems other new associates in my group have at least some substantive work to break up their training, but not me. I’ve made an effort to talk to mid-level associates and partners letting them know that I’m just doing training but haven’t received any work from them.

Any tips what I should do/how I should use my time productively until work lands on my desk?

[RaceJudicata]

Thanks for the responses everyone! I have calmed down a bit.

I’m still feeling a bit worried that it seems other new associates in my group have at least some substantive work to break up their training, but not me. I’ve made an effort to talk to mid-level associates and partners letting them know that I’m just doing training but haven’t received any work from them.

Any tips what I should do/how I should use my time productively until work lands on my desk?

YouTube.tv, Netflix, popular websites, etc

[Wild Card]

Thanks for the responses everyone! I have calmed down a bit.

I’m still feeling a bit worried that it seems other new associates in my group have at least some substantive work to break up their training, but not me. I’ve made an effort to talk to mid-level associates and partners letting them know that I’m just doing training but haven’t received any work from them.

Any tips what I should do/how I should use my time productively until work lands on my desk?

I clocked 300 hours in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.

[LaLiLuLeLo]

Find a show that has a lot of seasons. Stargate SG-1, The West Wing, etc.

[SFSpartan]

Thanks for the responses everyone! I have calmed down a bit.

I’m still feeling a bit worried that it seems other new associates in my group have at least some substantive work to break up their training, but not me. I’ve made an effort to talk to mid-level associates and partners letting them know that I’m just doing training but haven’t received any work from them.

Any tips what I should do/how I should use my time productively until work lands on my desk?

Honestly, it sounds like you've done what you can do here. Check back in again with the midlevels towards the end of next week, and the partners the week after that, if things haven't picked up. I get that it's super stressful to not be doing anything, but try to enjoy it.

[smokeylarue]

Just chill dude. In a few months time you will be wishing you had some slow weeks.

[whats an updog]

This thread title cracks me up when i see it