First year disaster Forum

[Anonymous User]

I just started this week at a big NYC law firm, V50. We are remote. The very first task I got, I just did the wrong thing. I asked questions, generally thought I understood the assignment, but I actually both (1) didn't really get it and (2) had like 3 dumb typos in just a 4 page double spaced memo. The partner told me that I need to focus on getting things right. I feel like I already blew it my first week.

Then I had a task I needed to do over the weekend, but I just have procrastinated and now it's Sunday night.

I've had a really hard time with COVID and the pandemic and living alone. I am trying to think positively. My best spin is that everyone makes dumb mistakes early, partner feedback is normal, and procrastination is normal (especially during the pandemic). But I just feel like I'm a failure. I always thought I wouldn't be good enough for big law and somehow I immediately started making easy mistakes many of my friends aren't making.

Any thoughts?

[Sackboy]

You're not a failure. All of these things are fairly typical and aren't going to get you booted out of the door. This almost sounds like self-sabotage; you think you're a failure, so you're procrastinating and not proof reading properly to fail and confirm your beliefs. Again, you're not a failure. Just take this job seriously, and you'll do great. Tomorrow is Monday, and it's a new week, so just take that as a fresh start.

[2013]

You mentioned that you waited until Sunday night to do an assignment that you had to do over the weekend. Lucky for you it’s still the weekend. Don’t be so hard on yourself one week into a new job.

[Jkcm1977]

One mistake is not a big deal. What matters is how you recover.

Please try printing out your work product and reading it in physical form. I find it much easier to catch mistakes that way. Or, you can ask your assistant to proofread for you. That has the added benefit of keeping your billable time in check.

[RaceJudicata]

Even if your friends haven’t made this type of mistake yet, they definitely will. Chin up, and buckle down. This doesn’t feel at all like - and almost certainly isn’t - a “disaster”

[bwh8813]

Agreed with everything above. Don't beat yourself up but don't let yourself start missing deadlines because you're in your head about minor mistakes. Also, your friends are definitely making similar mistakes but don't worry about them.

[papermateflair]

It's been a week. Like what everyone else is saying, your friends just haven't had enough assignments to make these mistakes yet. I once put the wrong middle initials in a will I drafted for a client, and the partner didn't catch it and it came back with the middle initial scratched out and we had to send them new documents - it feels awful to make what feels like a stupid mistake. 20 years of formal education for this??

But really, you're learning a ton and it's hard to focus on the stuff you CAN do when there's so much new information, which is why you're making typos. If you have an assistant, ask them to read anything before it goes out the door until you feel more comfortable (or you can ask your service center to read things that are more significant). Don't anxiety-procrastinate (we've all been there, right now I have like 5 things I've anxiety-procrastinated). There are plenty of threads here on tips for new associates, but I'm sure you know what to do: start your work early, turn off things that will distract you (don't work at home while watching tv...), and follow up with a partner or senior associate if you think you're heading in the wrong direction on something or you don't get it. If you have a week to do the assignment, and you turn it in a week later without having checked in, it needs to be perfect. But if after a day you check in with someone and ask your follow up questions, you can avoid making (as many) mistakes.

There's a huge learning curve for first years - everyone knows it and expects it. You'll have plenty of weeks like the last one, but there will be good weeks too. It can be overwhelming and stressful in the beginning, but just focus on one week at a time and you'll be fine.

[biglaw_advice]

You are not a failure and don't buy into that voice in your head. I'm a midlevel now and made some downright terrible mistakes during my second month at the firm ([REDACTED])

I also thought I wasn't cut out for this but things eventually got better. I understood the substance better after time, I got familiar with what partners were looking for, and I got better at spotting typos. On the last point, use Grammarly as another check on finding typos. I know you're remote, but invest in a printer and print everything out - typos jump off the page when I'm reading a physical copy.

Looking back, it's also amazing (to me) how my definition of "mistake" has changed. In that second month, what I thought was a mistake barely registers on my list of top mistakes. I got better at not making them, and continue to get better at how I react to them. That's all that matters now - how you react: own it and learn from it.

[plantcoveredbuilding]

You are not a failure and don't buy into that voice in your head. I'm a midlevel now and made some downright terrible mistakes during my second month at the firm (I even wrote about it: [REDACTED])

I also thought I wasn't cut out for this but things eventually got better. I understood the substance better after time, I got familiar with what partners were looking for, and I got better at spotting typos. On the last point, use Grammarly as another check on finding typos. I know you're remote, but invest in a printer and print everything out - typos jump off the page when I'm reading a physical copy.

Looking back, it's also amazing (to me) how my definition of "mistake" has changed. In that second month, what I thought was a mistake barely registers on my list of top mistakes. I got better at not making them, and continue to get better at how I react to them. That's all that matters now - how you react: own it and learn from it.

Your site says you normally charge $50 or $100 for such advice, but you just gave it to op for free?! You're a good person.

[smile0751]

You are not a failure and don't buy into that voice in your head. I'm a midlevel now and made some downright terrible mistakes during my second month at the firm (I even wrote about it: [REDACTED])

I also thought I wasn't cut out for this but things eventually got better. I understood the substance better after time, I got familiar with what partners were looking for, and I got better at spotting typos. On the last point, use Grammarly as another check on finding typos. I know you're remote, but invest in a printer and print everything out - typos jump off the page when I'm reading a physical copy.

Looking back, it's also amazing (to me) how my definition of "mistake" has changed. In that second month, what I thought was a mistake barely registers on my list of top mistakes. I got better at not making them, and continue to get better at how I react to them. That's all that matters now - how you react: own it and learn from it.

Don’t use grammerly in your legal job unless you check with IT. Ive been told it stores information on its servers that can ruin client attorney confidentiality.

[Idontwanttomakeaname]

If you're at a V50, your firm's doc processing department likely has proofreaders. For things that aren't time sensitive, I will often send to them just to get a fresh pair of eyes. At least at my firm, they work 24/7 so I usually send them stuff when I am signing off for the night so its in my inbox in the AM.

[UnfrozenCaveman]

Agree with previous posters that you shouldn't beat yourself up over it, but as a counterpoint, the procrastination is impressive for it being your first week.

[Anonymous User]

Partner gave me a grammar book during my first year after an assignment...three years in and I’m one of the first associate he calls for a project. You’ll be fine.

[Ohiobumpkin]

Partner gave me a grammar book during my first year after an assignment...three years in and I’m one of the first associate he calls for a project. You’ll be fine.

Which grammar book?

[Anonymous User]

You are not a failure and don't buy into that voice in your head. I'm a midlevel now and made some downright terrible mistakes during my second month at the firm (I even wrote about it: [REDACTED])

I also thought I wasn't cut out for this but things eventually got better. I understood the substance better after time, I got familiar with what partners were looking for, and I got better at spotting typos. On the last point, use Grammarly as another check on finding typos. I know you're remote, but invest in a printer and print everything out - typos jump off the page when I'm reading a physical copy.

Looking back, it's also amazing (to me) how my definition of "mistake" has changed. In that second month, what I thought was a mistake barely registers on my list of top mistakes. I got better at not making them, and continue to get better at how I react to them. That's all that matters now - how you react: own it and learn from it.

Don’t use grammerly in your legal job unless you check with IT. Ive been told it stores information on its servers that can ruin client attorney confidentiality.

seconding this - legitimately terrible advice to use grammerly.

[Anonymous User]

Partner gave me a grammar book during my first year after an assignment...three years in and I’m one of the first associate he calls for a project. You’ll be fine.

Which grammar book?

Different anon, but a partner gave me “getting it right and getting it written.”