So, an email is received this morning, 'lamenting' the sorry attendance at CAM, from the managing partner.

The tone of the email is so cold and callous, it does not even surprise anymore. Seriously though, what is wrong with him? Calling the email a thinly veiled threat is an understatement - "it takes two to tango" and the "ball is now in the [associates] court".

Such a pity that one has to put up with slavers to feed ourselves and pay the bills.

Q)What's wrong with CAM MP?
A) Lots.But frankly it's your fault to have any expectations from the guy. Here's why you should have no expectations from this guy.

Shardul’s lawyer P Chidambaram reads out Shroff matriarch’s Will detailing ill-treatment by younger son Cyril’s family.

Read more at:
https://mumbaimirror.indiatimes.com/mumbai/cover-story/Shroff-vs-Shroff-court-drama-gets-personal-bitter/articleshow/45197080.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst

When I read this Munbai Mirror article,a lot of things begin to make sense to me.When the MP used the firm's partners to pass resolution ignoring his mother's will where she disinherited him for neglecting her,its saddening but makes you realise that the firm is the MPs tool.He will make only those people as partner who will support his kind of behaviour at a time when he needs it,like the resolution distributing his mother's equity to him despite her will expressly disinheriting him.This then does not seem like a firm thats going to value talent and merit and law. Dirty tactics of opportunists will win and culture will be toxic stink.So attrition will always be high at such a place.Then a bunch of braggart PRs are required to attract talent and frankly everyone comes to know the truth of these PRs so talent doesn't join or stay.So the firm is stuck with a management that juniors don't want to stay with.Then come emails about attendance because people don't want to come to office

But isn’t that what Capital Markets Lawyers got paid for the entire pandemic?

Even senior lawyers like “[...]” and “[...]” are very happy to let new associates carry the majority of the diligence load and even happier to throw them under the bus at the first chance.

One fresher eagerly recited the following lines as the only contribution from a senior lawyer during the entire pandemic:

“You better be done with the diligence, the client wants to file on Monday”

The same fresher also pointed out that he/she was staffed on 3 other transactions and the timeline is unrealistic. To which the (in)capable senior replied, “just send me a mail that the diligence is 95% done and I will handle the rest”.

Apart from having a peak into senior CYA the junior lawyer has not gained any professional experience with the CAM cap marks team.

Guess toxicity has led to incapability becoming a norm.

Should the MP of such a firm ever care about the quality of work being churned out, he should start with pulling up the salaried partners, PA and SA before running after a lowly associate who is only replicating what seniors in the firm do

Is it necessary to say that employees are sitting in "chaddi" watching Netfkix?Is it necessary to bring filthy toxicity into every statement?Are seniors at CAM devoid of even one single cell of decency?Geez then seniors wonder why employees are not willing to come to physical office.

The tone may be a bit harsh but do tell how there is anything wrong in that email. 1 day a month! Blimey. Don’t know what the expectation these days is. It’s become so common for associates to step out during the day for personal work, in cases for shopping and lunches with friends. They don’t even bother informing their colleagues that they have stepped out. Just go to office, and stop making lame excuses. I think salary cuts are the logical next steps or make it compulsory to attend all days a week. Why should the sincere folks be punished? Enough of this WFH BS.

When firms don't account for the personal lives of its junior and mid level talent pool, why shouldn't associates step out for lunch with friends during the day if they have time. I mean, how many dinners, birthdays and anniversaries have been missed by these people over time?

The mental health of the talent pool being in good shape is only beneficial for an organization unless it wishes to extract each and every ounce of billing from them, dispose once they're burnt out and replace with new lot. I would say, if a firm does adopt that approach of extract and dispose, all the more reason for associates to go on luncheons when free. Since the firm won't look out for them, they must. Otherwise, like many a lawyer we know, they'd be on their laptop even on the day of their marriage and trying to hastily turn around comments.

1 day a month is clearly the exception or manufactured (and surely an equity partner if true) and being used to slowly make this “hybrid” entirely WFO. Which is fine. But then have the balls to call it that. People have been stepping out for work and lunches BEFORE the pandemic and this WFH/WFO/hybrid debate, especially partners, so what’s the significance now. Pretty sure if associates are being forced to be exposed in the office to potential infections then why not outside at restaurants and banks?? Salary cut was the “logical” FIRST step in April 2020 when no other firm found it “logical”. Not sure why you spent the 5 mins typing your comment. Just go stand outside MP cabin and mark WFO attendance! If he is in office that is. Enough of your PR garbage.
CAM HR head, please resign for how badly you have handled this and how less of a “HR” head you are. Meanwhile in mumbai, there are rising infections and office is being “disinfected” so people can mark attendance 3/4/5 days a week.

The only job the HR and MP seem to doing right now is drafting emails and policies on WHO. As a matter of fact, sone teams and partners are okay with associates WFH all 5 days a week. However, in CAM, partners have no say. In fact salaried partners are the worst hit - they get abused by the associates for forcing them to come to office even though they have been sincere and then the MP sends them threatening emails.

RCS don’t u think by allowing lawyers to WFO, you will be helping save the environment? What’s the point in planting trees on World Environment Day or contributing to WWF, if you can’t think out of the box and contribute practically - WHO means lesser fuel consumption, lesser pollution, in office - lesser print outs, lesser energy consumption (AC) and so on and so forth?

In the long run, cities can expand and there can be open space in each area as people can chose to stay away from the main business hubs.

Math question.

Cam AC works all day regardless of number of people. If 100 people WFH, 100 additional ACs run that day. Offset it with lesser cars/cabs. At what number does this become carbon negative?

Any college kid want to do the math? Send answers to CAM HR for a shot at an internship.

What desperation..of pretending to save environment from AC effects...ha ha ha..using climate change to justify the MPs email asking employees to come to office.Why can't firm just come clean and say it...we are hypocrites who announce grand WFH models but that's only namesake so we can generate publicity for ourselves. That employees better not take any WFH model seriously and should turn up at office.

https://www.legallyindia.com/convos/topic/227544-Elon-Musk-says-employees-must-spend-at-least-40-hours-a-week-in-office-Will-this-set-a-trend-and-end-WFH-

Here your MP and there Elon Musk is attempting to end WFH.Of course they will do that.Why should employee have flexibility or WLB or any sort of happiness.All that matters is productivity of employees (That's what they say to make it about the employees actually all that matters to them is profits).
When pandemic was on and WFH was mandatort I saw no protests from CAM MP or Elon Musk to their governments on why WFH made mandatory.so why now such a big issue about WFH affecting productivity
Rich people seriously don't let the world be at peace.Do they have to use their powers destroy others mojo?is it because money can make you powerful but not happy,so is it that they can't bear to see others be happy?

This is what happens when you are fed with half information. You do not know even have an iota of knowledge about the kind of work Tesla or mr. Musk does or intends to do in the future. There is something called as employment agreement you sign before you join. If you do not want to be a part of the organisation, do not simply end up whining about their policies. He felt it wiser and prudent to call employees to office for a minimum prescribed period and it is his decision to do so. Perhaps, he felt the kind of work that his Company does necessitates the presence of employees. Mr. musk is known for experimenting and if he does find a better model, he would no doubt implement it.

As for CAM, if you speak of I'll treatment, I can back you up, but if some calls you to the office and you have a problem; my boy, stop being an ignoramus.

Comments section of LI with 'Anonymous On' reminds me of that quote- " give a person a mask and they will show you their true face".

While I am from CAM and not a millenial- wonder why this incessant cribbing and threats and wailing and crying- quit macha! Why be miserable if you are. No one's got you by your balls. Show your indominable free spirit! Go save yourself and the world and the turtles.

Go start a cafe in mussoorie. Or are you too used to Avocado on toast, and your Pumpkin Spiced latte?

Seriously, what's the MP got to "lament" about?He already knew the "flexi" policy work model would be taken up by many employees.Now hes "lamenting",why - employees are going by firm policy and PR only.Hes announced in press too that he expects 80% employees to take up flexi work model.
https://www.legallyindia.com/lawfirms/cam-to-launch-flexi-work-policies-post-march-2021-office-re-openings-chennai-hyd-to-move-to-biz-centres-20201024-11716

Common people,MP needs the office attendance.What uf super urgent work turns up.What if some event, like a sangeet event in marriage,comes up then employees are needed for performing the sangeet.Such urgent work can come up anytime.Or someone to take down the criticism, of the food in the events,by the owner family of firm.

Office attendance compulsory but not compulsory to wear masks. Turning into a covid hotspot with new cases everyday but physical meetings continue. CMT in hiding. Some random yoga sessions continue [...]. Meanwhile MP + family not in office for their attendance. Will HR deduct leave for them?

Anony on...hmmm...
Just like extra generalized law firm news.Bumper Hikes to retainers!!!!!!!(no announcements officially at the firm).Kisiko kuch chi do do,much big mat do......Kahan kuch pata challenge......honestly this is one brilliant strategy.CAM has A game when it comes to fooling its retainers

Lawyers at CAM - Don't fall for this shit.

It's like the "Go to Pakistan" argument. Doesn't get into the merits of the issue as much as pull you down for pointing it out, the manner in which you point it out, whether you have locus, etc etc.

No one in the CAM establishment wants to address the shit, they just wanna stop people from talking about shit

Also in my experience, law firm partners / management are quite scared about LI and comments. As much as I hate this place, i love that there is a soapbox and people can freely publicise shit that happens beyond their own whisper networks. Obviously, some people like V for Vendatta here can't stand the accountability it brings in.

This kinda shit repels talent. Talent drives our industry. So do the math.

Let's change things where required. Simple point- whatever anyone is complaining about law firms/ a particular law firm- is very much a known devil today.

Pick if it suits you. Pick and stay if you subscribe to it. Try changing if you can. If you still don't like it, please don't keep on crying. Change your circumstances. That means- put yourself in a place where you are satisfied and happy with your employer etc etc. Change if that's the only thing remaining. Don't keep yourself in a place and be miserable and say others make you miserable. You are equally complicit if you let yourself be in that situation.

And if there are other reasons that you need to continue at a place swallowing the bull shit which is thrown at you, acknowledge it for what it's giving you which make you stay (all of this let's not forget is a choice that you make- so own it).

"equally complicit" - a bit much don't you think? To pit a 24/25 year old against those who are earning several crores and have been in law firm management for decades?

Don't whitewash those who actively profit (and I mean big bucks!) from having and ignoring a understaffed and toxic work environment / culture. It's like these people react only to clients and money. They'll not bother pulling up a person who makes others miserable so long as that person makes good money.

This is why in my experience, crying on LegallyIndia is a low cost high impact method of changing things. A bad reputation here is bound to work more than some kid standing up and speaking up in the town hall.

I don't mean to get personal with you, but isn't it so obvious that only CAM and SAM associates who bitch about their firms so much? None of the other law firms are close to ideal. But no firm is as high handed as or invites as much contempt as the Amarchands.

To turn your argument around, those in CAM management MAKE A CHOICE to let things be so bad that their lawyers turn to LegallyIndia and crib publicly. If they didn't want that, they can simply change things for the better... But that'd probably mean letting go off some profits and investing in people and culture (by culture, I don't mean dandiya and Xmas parties).

Quote:

I don't mean to get personal with you, but isn't it so obvious that only CAM and SAM associates who bitch about their firms so much? None of the other law firms are close to ideal. But no firm is as high handed as or invites as much contempt as the Amarchands.

Amen. Amen. This be true.

Oh,so this is the essay version of the statement that you are replaceable and disposable and there are 1000s waiting to take your job.Zero Mark's on defense.100 Mark's for being up full mark of carrie of the worst toxic culture from office space right into LI.Basicaly people shouldn't speak at all ......because then the truth will come out.Then CAM pompous PRs will not make sense and everyone will see through the crap

Not defending the firm. Whatever problems are, are. If they get resolved- great. Does it seem likely in the near future- No.

Also, no one is saying go to Pakistan. Albeit, if you feel you are in Pakistan, you have a passport and a visa to Dubai. So fly.

Also, CAM SAM and whichever firm is not in line with the times- will pay for it as people.will not join/ leave. MP can't draft SPAs and closing checklists.and send teams invites.

When I say you are complicit in your own situation (if you fee you don't like the place), unlike the yesteryears- you have an equally prestigious, probably higher paying law firm which will hire you if you are half decent. Make yourself happy- relieve yourself from the misery. Fixing the firm is not your job. However, if you want to take up that mantle- it is then incumbent that you be in it, bear it, till it fixes. Choice is yours.

And if you are not half decent, suck it up and just be happy you have a job.