Recent threads over here appear to suggest that the churning at law firms has already begun. Fee earners that need to move on are planning their next moves, high profile ones find their way on LI threads too - Apurva Jayant of JSA being the most recent example. This brings us to my query, being an outsider to the law firm world -
How does the management give its signal (to quit)? Like, what are the myriad ways that you are aware of? Are you called into a room and requested to plan a graceful exit (a/w some time)? Do you find a pink slip on the desk - as shown in American movies/ shows of yesteryears? Do they write you an email? Is there a different method to this madness when dealing with partners and associates?
Partner will start burdening you with irrelevant work. The conversations around bandwidth and "Hey, how are you doing" will stop. Admin will stop replying to emails, be it IT related or finance related. Bonuses will be cut to half without any reason. Reasonable requests will be denied.
There is no direct conversation around this. No firm has got the guts to this either- it's too much effort. There will be shouting, screaming, randomly being taken out of matters. Clients being told that the resource has been staffed on some other matter (which is wholly incorrect). Juniors being told to look into your work and promotions being randomly withheld.
Additionally, one other thing to understand about law firms is this. You need to make sure that your eyes and ears are firmly on the ground, and you are close to the power centres. There are partner favourites, and there are bully SAs and PAs. The moment you don't form part of any of these categories and find yourself in a corner or isolated. It's death knell for you. A law firm is essentially an extended form of college politics which requires sophisticated clothing. If you master this then even equity partnership is possible.
This may be arguably the frankest assessment that anyone can get.
How does the management give its signal (to quit)? Like, what are the myriad ways that you are aware of? Are you called into a room and requested to plan a graceful exit (a/w some time)? Do you find a pink slip on the desk - as shown in American movies/ shows of yesteryears? Do they write you an email? Is there a different method to this madness when dealing with partners and associates?
Soon, you will say, buh-bye!
Additionally, one other thing to understand about law firms is this. You need to make sure that your eyes and ears are firmly on the ground, and you are close to the power centres. There are partner favourites, and there are bully SAs and PAs. The moment you don't form part of any of these categories and find yourself in a corner or isolated. It's death knell for you. A law firm is essentially an extended form of college politics which requires sophisticated clothing. If you master this then even equity partnership is possible.
This may be arguably the frankest assessment that anyone can get.