Navigating free market systems
Posted: Fri Feb 25, 2022 8:14 pm
I'll be an introverted junior associate in the corporate group of a firm that is very proud of its free market system. There are a few threads on TLS about free market systems, but they're pretty empty or old.
Would like general advice on how to navigate the free market system as an introvert and have a few questions:
1. How competitive of an edge do assertive and outgoing people have in a free market system? Does this fluctuate depending on how much work there is to go around? I've always heard that it hugely advantages those that are more aggressive or gunner types, but it seems with so much work in corporate, this may no longer be a huge edge.
2. How often do you struggle with balancing deals and assignments? I like the idea of not having a central coordinator that divides work for associates but I think that leaves open the possibility that junior associates maybe struggle with the balancing and more easily become overwhelmed.
3. A little worried about messing up early on in my big law career and as a consequence striking out with certain partners. It may be unrealistic to expect not to strike out with any partners but concerned about not having any ties with partners that like me.
3(a). How do you even go about getting work? Do I knock on someone's office and ask for work? Am I getting work from senior associates as a first year? Or partners? Is email better? What do you say when you reach out? (I know this is silly but a paste / template would be useful in helping me conceptualize this process)
4. How do the implications of a free market system impact your practice group placement? I suspect that each firm differs in this area, but is it common for certain practice groups to not want you based on being unhappy with your work? If so, how bad do you have to be?
5. I'm sure there is a ton I haven't thought of so please reply with your experiences working in free market systems and what juniors should keep in mind.
Would like general advice on how to navigate the free market system as an introvert and have a few questions:
1. How competitive of an edge do assertive and outgoing people have in a free market system? Does this fluctuate depending on how much work there is to go around? I've always heard that it hugely advantages those that are more aggressive or gunner types, but it seems with so much work in corporate, this may no longer be a huge edge.
2. How often do you struggle with balancing deals and assignments? I like the idea of not having a central coordinator that divides work for associates but I think that leaves open the possibility that junior associates maybe struggle with the balancing and more easily become overwhelmed.
3. A little worried about messing up early on in my big law career and as a consequence striking out with certain partners. It may be unrealistic to expect not to strike out with any partners but concerned about not having any ties with partners that like me.
3(a). How do you even go about getting work? Do I knock on someone's office and ask for work? Am I getting work from senior associates as a first year? Or partners? Is email better? What do you say when you reach out? (I know this is silly but a paste / template would be useful in helping me conceptualize this process)
4. How do the implications of a free market system impact your practice group placement? I suspect that each firm differs in this area, but is it common for certain practice groups to not want you based on being unhappy with your work? If so, how bad do you have to be?
5. I'm sure there is a ton I haven't thought of so please reply with your experiences working in free market systems and what juniors should keep in mind.