Lateral - Is it okay to "IDGF" when exiting firm? Forum

[Anonymous User]

Associate, transactional. I'm absolutely sick of my current firm/group. it's been two years of toxicity since I arrived here. I'm fortunate now to have gotten an offer at a firm better firm, with old law school friends, and I honestly can't wait. But it will be a while before I start (likely not till end of Feb). I'm still in the midst of conflicts, but honestly, I can't bare a single thing anymore from the current place. Basically focus is shot and motivation is dead. However, I still cant get myself to just "IDGF" it. I still feel the urge to quickly respond to emails and turn things.

Question: Should you do it and how to? What are the circumstances that you think it's permissible to slack when about to leave? The group is busy, and my senior is particularly, while the most toxic partner I've ever experienced continues to load up on work and tasks. Once concern of course is conflicts is still ongoing and I may get screwed over--but that doesn't seem all that likely.

[Anonymous User]

I’m in the same position. I was going to try to do like 20-30 hours a week until I leave, but I ended up doing like 50+ this week so far. I’m still not turning away work even though I tell myself I should.

I’m assuming work will stop coming my way once I give notice once conflict checks happen.

But, yeah, it is hard to just stop caring sometimes unless you don’t care about burning all bridges.

[Sackboy]

I'd just start to aggressively decline work to the extent that you can. Don't drop off to zero. But, if you're billing 40-60/wk., try to bring that down to 30 and coast.

[Rooks]

Just wait for conflicts to clear then put in your notice and the idgf way of life will basically be expected. Hopefully you hear something next week

[target_corp]

Once conflicts clear, yes.

[Anonymous User]

I'm in the same boat. I'm so miserable at my current firm. I keep fighting with staffers to not take more work but find myself giving in easily. I want to put in my notice but everyone says wait until conflicts clear.

[Sixtyfour46]

try to gradually slow down your matters but you want to leave on a good note. legal field is small, you never know when you will run into them again.

[Anonymous User]

One of the anons above. I completely stopped responding to weekend emails (not urgent matters). At this point, I’m assuming the firm knows I’m leaving even though I haven’t given notice yet.

I’m wondering if this will affect my two weeks notice. My firm has asked some people to leave immediately (or by the end of the week) after giving notice before.

[Anonymous User]

One of the anons above. I completely stopped responding to weekend emails (not urgent matters). At this point, I’m assuming the firm knows I’m leaving even though I haven’t given notice yet.

I’m wondering if this will affect my two weeks notice. My firm has asked some people to leave immediately (or by the end of the week) after giving notice before.

If you're bonus and/or pay adjustment happens in 2/15, you should make sure to not give notice till then at least.

Are you still waiting on conflicts clearance?

[Anonymous User]

For those of you in conflicts--how many days since you started? I accepted and sent material on wednesday last week, so hoping it gets wrapped up this week.

[Anonymous User]

I sent mine last Tuesday. Still no word.

[Anonymous User]

For those of you in conflicts--how many days since you started? I accepted and sent material on wednesday last week, so hoping it gets wrapped up this week.

I'm at 2.5 weeks. It's been hard to focus at work and without knowing whether everything's cleared, it's difficult to plan a cross country move.

[Anonymous User]

For those of you in conflicts--how many days since you started? I accepted and sent material on wednesday last week, so hoping it gets wrapped up this week.

I'm at 2.5 weeks. It's been hard to focus at work and without knowing whether everything's cleared, it's difficult to plan a cross country move.

This is exactly where I am, though it's been just under 1 week for me. I can't imagine what I'd feel at 2.5, though the conflicts associate has reached out to me several times with follow-up questions, so I know they are on it, but afraid to bother them to ask if there is any update.

[papermateflair]

I would say it's fine to like, not be the BEST employee in the weeks before you leave (everyone will understand why you weren't crushing it with 60 hour weeks three weeks before you leave!) but I wouldn't burn bridges or leave people in the lurch right before you go - you want to leave people with a positive memory of you. Again, that doesn't mean you work yourself to death, just be thoughtful about your interactions with others at your firm. We had an associate leave my firm recently who just bungled every step of the way out the door (just being rude and attempting to burn every possible bridge, basically) and it really soured the rest of us on that individual.

[Anonymous User]

I would say it's fine to like, not be the BEST employee in the weeks before you leave (everyone will understand why you weren't crushing it with 60 hour weeks three weeks before you leave!) but I wouldn't burn bridges or leave people in the lurch right before you go - you want to leave people with a positive memory of you. Again, that doesn't mean you work yourself to death, just be thoughtful about your interactions with others at your firm. We had an associate leave my firm recently who just bungled every step of the way out the door (just being rude and attempting to burn every possible bridge, basically) and it really soured the rest of us on that individual.

What was involved in the bridge burning?

[papermateflair]

I would say it's fine to like, not be the BEST employee in the weeks before you leave (everyone will understand why you weren't crushing it with 60 hour weeks three weeks before you leave!) but I wouldn't burn bridges or leave people in the lurch right before you go - you want to leave people with a positive memory of you. Again, that doesn't mean you work yourself to death, just be thoughtful about your interactions with others at your firm. We had an associate leave my firm recently who just bungled every step of the way out the door (just being rude and attempting to burn every possible bridge, basically) and it really soured the rest of us on that individual.

What was involved in the bridge burning?

Doing projects wrong on purpose (or putting in so little effort that it was more difficult to work with the person than not), making their dissatisfaction with specific partners widely known, not giving people on their team two weeks' notice, outlandish comments during meetings, it was a whole mess. I think if you're the type of person to ask "should I do this or not?" then you are not going to make these mistakes. When you're on the way out the door, just keep it professional.

[Anonymous User]

I would say it's fine to like, not be the BEST employee in the weeks before you leave (everyone will understand why you weren't crushing it with 60 hour weeks three weeks before you leave!) but I wouldn't burn bridges or leave people in the lurch right before you go - you want to leave people with a positive memory of you. Again, that doesn't mean you work yourself to death, just be thoughtful about your interactions with others at your firm. We had an associate leave my firm recently who just bungled every step of the way out the door (just being rude and attempting to burn every possible bridge, basically) and it really soured the rest of us on that individual.

What was involved in the bridge burning?

Doing projects wrong on purpose (or putting in so little effort that it was more difficult to work with the person than not), making their dissatisfaction with specific partners widely known, not giving people on their team two weeks' notice, outlandish comments during meetings, it was a whole mess. I think if you're the type of person to ask "should I do this or not?" then you are not going to make these mistakes. When you're on the way out the door, just keep it professional.

I have made my dissatisfaction with partners widely known to other associates, but that’s literally the only reason I’m leaving, so it’s not a surprise to anyone. Is that really something you shouldn’t do before you leave? I’m not going to tell the partner that I’m leaving because of them, but this partner has driven many associates away.

I have stopped reaching out for work, and no one has asked me to do any work, so I’m down to like 5 hours so far this week. I don’t want to reach out for more work because of potential conflicts issues and the fact that I’ll have to roll off matters once I give notice. At what point should I start reaching out. I’m hoping to hear back about conflicts this week.

[papermateflair]

I would say it's fine to like, not be the BEST employee in the weeks before you leave (everyone will understand why you weren't crushing it with 60 hour weeks three weeks before you leave!) but I wouldn't burn bridges or leave people in the lurch right before you go - you want to leave people with a positive memory of you. Again, that doesn't mean you work yourself to death, just be thoughtful about your interactions with others at your firm. We had an associate leave my firm recently who just bungled every step of the way out the door (just being rude and attempting to burn every possible bridge, basically) and it really soured the rest of us on that individual.

What was involved in the bridge burning?

Doing projects wrong on purpose (or putting in so little effort that it was more difficult to work with the person than not), making their dissatisfaction with specific partners widely known, not giving people on their team two weeks' notice, outlandish comments during meetings, it was a whole mess. I think if you're the type of person to ask "should I do this or not?" then you are not going to make these mistakes. When you're on the way out the door, just keep it professional.

I have made my dissatisfaction with partners widely known to other associates, but that’s literally the only reason I’m leaving, so it’s not a surprise to anyone. Is that really something you shouldn’t do before you leave? I’m not going to tell the partner that I’m leaving because of them, but this partner has driven many associates away.

I have stopped reaching out for work, and no one has asked me to do any work, so I’m down to like 5 hours so far this week. I don’t want to reach out for more work because of potential conflicts issues and the fact that I’ll have to roll off matters once I give notice. At what point should I start reaching out. I’m hoping to hear back about conflicts this week.

Associates are always chatting like this, it's not a big deal. It's only an issue if it's like, trying to take down a partner on your way out the door (and not for legit reasons like harassment or something). And it sounds like you're fine - you're not telling the partner they're the reason for leaving, or that they have intentionally destroyed your career, etc. Once you clear conflicts and things are final, then go ahead and start giving notice - you don't need to start telling people now. Taking a low-key few days while you're clearing conflicts is not a problem. Refusing to do anything helpful for months while you're on a lateral job hunt and then being unprofessional on your way out the door is a different story

[Anonymous User]

The ironic thing for me is the one associate who knows I’m leaving wants me to spill the beans on the our toxic partner. Which is kind of awkward. On the one hand, the partner truly deserves it. They have made my and every other associates life miserable. They are just generally detestable and they are also offensive, crude, racist and openly misogynistic. But, a part of me just wants to leave and be done with it, and just never look back at the practice.

[jdhfaksdhf324]

Do you mind sharing what firm you're leaving from? Feel free to private message, thanks.

[TigerIsBack]

The ironic thing for me is the one associate who knows I’m leaving wants me to spill the beans on the our toxic partner. Which is kind of awkward. On the one hand, the partner truly deserves it. They have made my and every other associates life miserable. They are just generally detestable and they are also offensive, crude, racist and openly misogynistic. But, a part of me just wants to leave and be done with it, and just never look back at the practice.

I used to work with a toxic partner at my old firm. I know from my time there that he got bad reviews and was specifically called out in the exit interviews of associates that came before me. I know when I gave notice he was concerned that I would do the same.

You will more than likely have an exit interview with HR where they ask you why you're leaving, etc. IMHO this is a more appropriate time to bring up the honest reasons for leaving. The firm might do nothing about it, or you might be the 10th person that has complained about that partner (at which point they may have a stern talk with the partner and then still ultimately do nothing if it's a rainmaker). At least in the exit interview if you give honest feedback you're not bad mouthing the partner to all of the other associates and partners, so it's less likely to make you look bad but hopefully becomes a minor headache for the toxic partner in their HR file.

[Anonymous User]

Anyone else still going through conflicts 3+ weeks in? I’m terrified that the other firm is going to pull my offer. I’ve seen the position I’ve accepted being reposted by recruiting on LinkedIn...