Just laid off from a T-40 law firm. I was told it was because I was not billing enough hours, even though I kept requesting more work and being told that it was slow. So I'm not sure if they interpret it as me being laid off for lack of work, or fired for poor performance (i.e., low billables). My reviews were good and (most) partners liked me. Worked out a pretty generous time of being "employed" for the next few months--on the website, making money, but functionally no longer able to do firm work.
I had a pending interview with main justice, with the last round next week. (Side note: The timing is pretty ridiculous.... They knew I was interviewing with DOJ, why not just wait? Makes me think this was part of broader cuts.)
In any event, I am worried about DOJ calling the partner I put down as a reference, and him giving a muted reference because he has just found out I've been fired. I want to reach out to him proactively and get out ahead of this news. But I only want to do so if he is going to be informed of my termination.
My question for you all: What's the probability they even tell the partner? In a firm as big as this, are there automated alerts sent to partners? Is there any way for me to help myself here? Anything I'm not seeing in my shell-shocked state? There is a non-disclosure agreement with the severance, but that probably won't stop a partner from saying "eh, he was fine, but I would stay away" or something to that effect. I don't think he'd do my dirty like that, but I have no idea.
Any advice from the sage masses would be appreciated.
Laid Off, How to Handle References Forum
Forum rules
Anonymous Posting
Anonymous posting is only appropriate when you are revealing sensitive employment related information about a firm, job, etc. You may anonymously respond on topic to these threads. Unacceptable uses include: harassing another user, joking around, testing the feature, or other things that are more appropriate in the lounge.
Failure to follow these rules will get you outed, warned, or banned.
Anonymous Posting
Anonymous posting is only appropriate when you are revealing sensitive employment related information about a firm, job, etc. You may anonymously respond on topic to these threads. Unacceptable uses include: harassing another user, joking around, testing the feature, or other things that are more appropriate in the lounge.
Failure to follow these rules will get you outed, warned, or banned.
-
Anonymous User
- Posts: 432635
- Joined: Tue Aug 11, 2009 9:32 am
-
Anonymous User
- Posts: 432635
- Joined: Tue Aug 11, 2009 9:32 am
Re: Laid Off, How to Handle References
Forgive me, but why did your firm know you were interviewing with main justice?
Anyway, I don't see why you getting fired would change the partner's opinion of you if he was willing to be a reference in the first place. If you did good work for him, he'll still say that.
I also can't imagine that a partner in an particular office wouldn't get informed at some point that an associate in that office was laid off, but I have to defer on that one to people who have insider experience.
Anyway, I don't see why you getting fired would change the partner's opinion of you if he was willing to be a reference in the first place. If you did good work for him, he'll still say that.
I also can't imagine that a partner in an particular office wouldn't get informed at some point that an associate in that office was laid off, but I have to defer on that one to people who have insider experience.
