Firm Holiday Gifts
Posted: Thu Dec 10, 2020 9:24 pm
Do associates in biglaw typically get partners gifts?
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yes, dealing with the inevitable christmas day and NYE bullshitAnonymous User wrote: ↑Thu Dec 10, 2020 9:24 pmDo associates in biglaw typically get partners gifts?
Yes, all good associates get their partners really expensive gifts. They're called billable hours.Anonymous User wrote: ↑Thu Dec 10, 2020 9:24 pmDo associates in biglaw typically get partners gifts?
I think the $100/class year rule tends to apply to when you're assigned a single secretary. I think, if you work with a pool of 4, I'd divide your gift in fourths, and maybe round up a little.Anonymous User wrote: ↑Fri Dec 11, 2020 11:51 amI'm a second year, but I clerked, in M&A group so have been here for a year, most of that WFH.
I've literally never emailed our team of 4 assistants. I'm not really upset about sending out $800, but I have no idea how to do it especially now that we are work from home. How are other people actually doing the sending?
Yeah, I don't really know what to do this year. My previous firm switched to a pool, but only in our office/group, so I still used the assistant assigned to me even though I technically wasn't supposed to.Dcc617 wrote: ↑Fri Dec 11, 2020 1:49 pmTechnically I have two practice assistants in my pod, but I only ever interact with my primary one and have never spoken to the other one (I assume vice versa for her primary attorneys).
Obviously planning to gift to my practice assistant, but will not to the practice assistant I never work with (I also did not rate her, as I literally never talk to her).
IMO, if you really never work with any of them, you don't need to give any of them a gift. Get something nice for some junior associates / paralegals or donate it to charity. Maybe next year you develop a closer/personal relationship and you reevaluate.lolwutpar wrote: ↑Fri Dec 11, 2020 2:00 pm
Yeah, I don't really know what to do this year. My previous firm switched to a pool, but only in our office/group, so I still used the assistant assigned to me even though I technically wasn't supposed to.
New firm is a "pool" but, again, used one person. But she left right before 'rona and the pool expanded to the entire west coast...so no clue who to give a gift to, if anybody. I don't really use 'em much and have no relationship. I've asked around and people are just giving gifts to "their" assistant rather than a pool gift for our office, so I REALLY don't know who to give one to.
If this is literally true, then don't give her anything, despite what people here will say. If you have a working relationship with your assistant, you should give her a generous holiday gift. No need to give gifts to someone you do not know or ever work with.Anonymous User wrote: ↑Fri Dec 11, 2020 2:28 pmI'm in my stub year and have never communicated with my designated secretary. Not trying to stiff her or anything but really not sure how/what to give.
If you're a stub year then you mean haven't used her YET. You have no idea what sort of relationship you'll need to develop over the next few years, I don't think you should start your relationship by stiffing her.Anonymous User wrote: ↑Fri Dec 11, 2020 2:28 pmI'm in my stub year and have never communicated with my designated secretary. Not trying to stiff her or anything but really not sure how/what to give.
Are you a boomer? Secretaries barely do anything nowadays, FYI.Dcc617 wrote: ↑Fri Dec 11, 2020 3:59 pmIf you're a stub year then you mean haven't used her YET. You have no idea what sort of relationship you'll need to develop over the next few years, I don't think you should start your relationship by stiffing her.Anonymous User wrote: ↑Fri Dec 11, 2020 2:28 pmI'm in my stub year and have never communicated with my designated secretary. Not trying to stiff her or anything but really not sure how/what to give.
Also, you should definitely reach out to your secretary.
I'm certainly not and use my secretary a lot. She enters my time, submits my expenses, books me rooms at the firm, proofreads stuff for me, puts together binders for my personal use, handles all my travel arrangements (less applicable now), and is my first call whenever I don't know who to ask something about at the firm. If you're not using your secretary effectively, that's on you.cisscum wrote: ↑Fri Dec 11, 2020 4:19 pmAre you a boomer? Secretaries barely do anything nowadays, FYI.Dcc617 wrote: ↑Fri Dec 11, 2020 3:59 pmIf you're a stub year then you mean haven't used her YET. You have no idea what sort of relationship you'll need to develop over the next few years, I don't think you should start your relationship by stiffing her.Anonymous User wrote: ↑Fri Dec 11, 2020 2:28 pmI'm in my stub year and have never communicated with my designated secretary. Not trying to stiff her or anything but really not sure how/what to give.
Also, you should definitely reach out to your secretary.
I mean, you're objectively a shitty person if you're making (as a junior) well over $200K a year but refuse to give your secretary a hundred bucks for the holidays because you don't think she's "earned it". Like are you Lucille Bluth?
She gets a salary for her work just like I do. I’m not her employer. The partners are welcome to pay her more if that’s what they want to do. But what they’re actually doing (at least at my firm) is laying them off en masse because they don’t actually do anything.Dcc617 wrote: ↑Fri Dec 11, 2020 5:12 pmI mean, you're objectively a shitty person if you're making (as a junior) well over $200K a year but refuse to give your secretary a hundred bucks for the holidays because you don't think she's "earned it". Like are you Lucille Bluth?
You suck if you're planning to stiff your secretary. You're just a greedy selfish pig.
You suck then. I hope you tell other people about your stance on stiffing your secretary so they know that you're terrible.cisscum wrote: ↑Fri Dec 11, 2020 5:30 pmShe gets a salary for her work just like I do. I’m not her employer. The partners are welcome to pay her more if that’s what they want to do. But what they’re actually doing (at least at my firm) is laying them off en masse because they don’t actually do anything.Dcc617 wrote: ↑Fri Dec 11, 2020 5:12 pmI mean, you're objectively a shitty person if you're making (as a junior) well over $200K a year but refuse to give your secretary a hundred bucks for the holidays because you don't think she's "earned it". Like are you Lucille Bluth?
You suck if you're planning to stiff your secretary. You're just a greedy selfish pig.
Nah, it’s not really anyone’s business. Only self righteous turds like you who like to go around lecturing people about what to do with their own money really care.Dcc617 wrote: ↑Fri Dec 11, 2020 5:32 pmYou suck then. I hope you tell other people about your stance on stiffing your secretary so they know that you're terrible.cisscum wrote: ↑Fri Dec 11, 2020 5:30 pmShe gets a salary for her work just like I do. I’m not her employer. The partners are welcome to pay her more if that’s what they want to do. But what they’re actually doing (at least at my firm) is laying them off en masse because they don’t actually do anything.Dcc617 wrote: ↑Fri Dec 11, 2020 5:12 pmI mean, you're objectively a shitty person if you're making (as a junior) well over $200K a year but refuse to give your secretary a hundred bucks for the holidays because you don't think she's "earned it". Like are you Lucille Bluth?
You suck if you're planning to stiff your secretary. You're just a greedy selfish pig.