Getting sick while working in big law Forum

[Anonymous User]

I'm not necessarily asking about being sick with Covid. I used to struggle with my immune system and was frequently sick throughout the year. Felt fatigued the majority of the day and sometimes could not sit up straight. I've had flexible jobs in the past where I was able to manage this without exhausting the number of sick/vacation days I had available to me.

Do most people in big law try to power through a cold/flu/sickness? Are partners inflexible with this? I'll be a first year associate next year (hopefully) and I'm worried about annoying my team / partners with how often I might have health issues.

[Anonymous User]

I don’t know how it would work with repeated illnesses but I know partners and seniors I’ve worked with have been pretty accommodating with one off illnesses (push deadlines, help find coverage, etc).

[Anonymous User]

If you’re like “I’m too sick to work” more than a couple of times a year, no one is going to actively say anything to your face but you’ll end up on some peoples shit list. If it’s the wrong people your career is over. That’s just how it is.

(As one example: My friend at a V5 was in and out of hospital with an issue she couldn’t control. And everyone was like “oh no I hope you get better” and nice to her for 18 months, then on month 19 she had a call that was like “ya you have six months bye” and then she spiraled downward into several other jobs that all paid below market until she said fuck it and married a doctor and now she’s a housewife. YMMV)

[Anonymous User]

I got Covid last year and everyone was super understanding about it and people jumped in to help out with stuff I was working on and partners ensured I got time to recuperate. I was really impressed.

But as a result I didn’t make hours so I’m not going to get a bonus. I’m personally fine with this tradeoff, but that it’s a tradeoff says a lot about this industry.

IOW, I’m very sympathetic but I don’t see how someone with chronic fatigue issues can manage this schedule. I’d also be concerned for you that an extended period of big law might be adverse to your health.

[Anonymous User]

I got Covid last year and everyone was super understanding about it and people jumped in to help out with stuff I was working on and partners ensured I got time to recuperate. I was really impressed.

But as a result I didn’t make hours so I’m not going to get a bonus. I’m personally fine with this tradeoff, but that it’s a tradeoff says a lot about this industry.

IOW, I’m very sympathetic but I don’t see how someone with chronic fatigue issues can manage this schedule. I’d also be concerned for you that an extended period of big law might be adverse to your health.

Yeah, those are fair points. I'm a little over halfway through with law school and I haven't been sick or had health issues (fatigue) yet so I hope my health is generally improving. However, it was an issue for maybe 3-4 years on and off.

That trade off you described does say quite a bit about the industry but that much I expected. Thanks for the insight.

[Anonymous User]

If you’re like “I’m too sick to work” more than a couple of times a year, no one is going to actively say anything to your face but you’ll end up on some peoples shit list. If it’s the wrong people your career is over. That’s just how it is.

(As one example: My friend at a V5 was in and out of hospital with an issue she couldn’t control. And everyone was like “oh no I hope you get better” and nice to her for 18 months, then on month 19 she had a call that was like “ya you have six months bye” and then she spiraled downward into several other jobs that all paid below market until she said fuck it and married a doctor and now she’s a housewife. YMMV)

How often in those 18 months was she getting sick?

[Anonymous User]

If you’re like “I’m too sick to work” more than a couple of times a year, no one is going to actively say anything to your face but you’ll end up on some peoples shit list. If it’s the wrong people your career is over. That’s just how it is.

(As one example: My friend at a V5 was in and out of hospital with an issue she couldn’t control. And everyone was like “oh no I hope you get better” and nice to her for 18 months, then on month 19 she had a call that was like “ya you have six months bye” and then she spiraled downward into several other jobs that all paid below market until she said fuck it and married a doctor and now she’s a housewife. YMMV)

How often in those 18 months was she getting sick?

She ended up billing like 1500 her first year, but was really busy when she wasn’t sick. She spent maybe 4 months in hospital, probably 2-3 weeks at a time spread evenly throughout year.

[Anonymous User]

If you’re like “I’m too sick to work” more than a couple of times a year, no one is going to actively say anything to your face but you’ll end up on some peoples shit list. If it’s the wrong people your career is over. That’s just how it is.

(As one example: My friend at a V5 was in and out of hospital with an issue she couldn’t control. And everyone was like “oh no I hope you get better” and nice to her for 18 months, then on month 19 she had a call that was like “ya you have six months bye” and then she spiraled downward into several other jobs that all paid below market until she said fuck it and married a doctor and now she’s a housewife. YMMV)

How often in those 18 months was she getting sick?

She ended up billing like 1500 her first year, but was really busy when she wasn’t sick. She spent maybe 4 months in hospital, probably 2-3 weeks at a time spread evenly throughout year.

Dang. That's a lot of time checked out of work but I feel for her. Seems like she's thriving though. Thanks for the info!