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Paranoid first-year here. Just wondering if firms actually monitor our Skype messaging.

I don't think they have the manpower to. I mean, just think about how many messages get sent, just internally. So talk shit about the annoying XYZ all you want.

No. But it's good practice not to say anything that could get you in trouble, especially if the messages are archived.

Best practice is to assume that they have the microphones and cameras on our WFH set ups set to constantly record. Obviously they are archiving all Skype calls, phone calls, emails, and search history. It would be insane to think otherwise.

If, under any circumstances, you are going to regret having it in writing, don't say it in writing. simple as that.

Not at a firm, but my company regularly sends a list of all the websites we visited to our head hancho and they do review Skype messages. Scary

I’m in a particularly security-conscious setting, and I know our IT preserves and has the opportunity to review our Skype. I’m pretty sure they don’t unless there’s some specific reason they have to, but I’m not going to know that at the time. So I do try to avoid saying anything I wouldn’t want made public. I’ll Skype about case management kind of stuff, and for just general office chat, but if I’m going to be snarky or critical or talk about personal stuff I go to text.

If the messaging was done on a company device or while connected to the company network, it would almost certainly be viewable to the company if the need arose to dig into it. But in reality, the firm likely wouldn't have the time, resources, or desire to do that level of monitoring. Generally, that kind of thing only happens when there is a specific concern about a particular individual or situation and the decision is made to dig through all the data available.

lol i fuckin' hope not or i'd get shitcanned

My pre-law gig dealt with securities and we would regularly have archived chats brought up in disciplinary or other contexts. Just assume the worst at all times and your life should be pretty easy.

My biglaw firm does not archive Skype, and I understand the unstated purpose is to avoid retaining unsavory messages that may need to be handed over in a malpractice dispute. Associates talk shit about clients - the firm doesn’t want to save that.

lolwutpar wrote: ↑

Thu Mar 25, 2021 12:26 pm

lol i fuckin' hope not or i'd get shitcanned

lol yep

Anonymous User wrote: ↑

Thu Mar 25, 2021 1:29 pm

My biglaw firm does not archive Skype, and I understand the unstated purpose is to avoid retaining unsavory messages that may need to be handed over in a malpractice dispute. Associates talk shit about clients - the firm doesn’t want to save that.

This. There is absolutely no way a bunch of lawyers will purposely create a papertrail if it isn't absolutely necessary. And a firm will never create an audio/video recording on something like this.

Chrstgtr wrote: ↑

Thu Mar 25, 2021 2:36 pm

Anonymous User wrote: ↑

Thu Mar 25, 2021 1:29 pm

My biglaw firm does not archive Skype, and I understand the unstated purpose is to avoid retaining unsavory messages that may need to be handed over in a malpractice dispute. Associates talk shit about clients - the firm doesn’t want to save that.

This. There is absolutely no way a bunch of lawyers will purposely create a papertrail if it isn't absolutely necessary. And a firm will never create an audio/video recording on something like this.

Even beyond the potential risk, it’s a giant headache to have to figure out applying lit holds to stuff like that. I’m surprised at the other companies that apparently archive this stuff as it seems mostly downside with little upside. Maybe these are places that are more worried about HR suits than anything else?

Somewhat relatedly, is it an okay idea to use my firm laptop for job applications? It would be nice to be about to chip away at them during short breaks.

Anonymous User wrote: ↑

Thu Mar 25, 2021 3:23 pm

Somewhat relatedly, is it an okay idea to use my firm laptop for job applications? It would be nice to be about to chip away at them during short breaks.

Yes. People are overly paranoid about stuff like that. They aren't to monitor what you are doing on your laptop unless they have a reason to (e.g. too many flags getting thrown up in the system when you keep trying to access Brazilian fart porn).

lolwutpar wrote: ↑

Thu Mar 25, 2021 3:51 pm

Anonymous User wrote: ↑

Thu Mar 25, 2021 3:23 pm

Somewhat relatedly, is it an okay idea to use my firm laptop for job applications? It would be nice to be about to chip away at them during short breaks.

Yes. People are overly paranoid about stuff like that. They aren't to monitor what you are doing on your laptop unless they have a reason to (e.g. too many flags getting thrown up in the system when you keep trying to access Brazilian fart porn).

I just had a flashback to taking a group of first-years out to welcome drinks about six weeks after they arrived and when we were at the bar one of them very politely said that they appreciate us helping them learn how it all works and sorry for all the extra work it probably causes. I told them it was all part of the system, and we've all been there, and really the only part that sucks is at the end of the month when we have to read all the skype messages that the internal algorithm flags for review and it was dead silent at the table for a few heartbeats. I miss free drinks charged to the firm.

lolwutpar wrote: ↑

Thu Mar 25, 2021 3:51 pm

Anonymous User wrote: ↑

Thu Mar 25, 2021 3:23 pm

Somewhat relatedly, is it an okay idea to use my firm laptop for job applications? It would be nice to be about to chip away at them during short breaks.

Yes. People are overly paranoid about stuff like that. They aren't to monitor what you are doing on your laptop unless they have a reason to (e.g. too many flags getting thrown up in the system when you keep trying to access Brazilian fart porn).

As someone who just did conflicts for a lateral move, I have no idea how I would have filled the stuff out on my own computer without spending a number of additional hours on what already seemed like a never ending task.

A good rule of thumb is to act as if chat/email are monitored, even if they are not. Don't memorialize things in writing you'd regret.

My pre biglaw job involved retention and review of internal messages and emails (common in finance and a regulatory requirement). The manpower and tech required is far more than most biglaw firms are willing to spend, especially when they aren’t required to retain everything. That said, if they are reviewing messages, it’s almost certainly set up on certain keywords that wouldn’t pull up shit talking or resumes. For example in a securities context, we would look for messages containing “keep this /5 between us” to look for insider trading.