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Second of all, a lot of you like to imagine that we'll "retire". I hate to break it to you but we won't go anywhere anytime soon. Say for instance, AJ & GR both have young kids studying in elite bombay schools. Both kids are less than 8 years of age. We intend on providing our kids with best of this elite education now and in the future (sweating funds for college). We'll stick around in law firms for as long as our health allows us. We need the money much more. Both wives of these men have taken on more relaxed roles professionally since bringing in their child.
Talking about behaviour and toxicity, you have to understand. We are people. Hamari zyada fatti hai. Client ke saamne hamara naam hai. Any mistake, and we are more so legally responsible than juniors in the team. Obviously the stress is too much. The saying of lawyers in T1 drink, smoke and party hard so much is to keep up with the stress is true.
Yes, we've also gone through similar conditioning. At our time, the favouritism was insane. The Shroffs would literally destroy your career if they didn't like you. NLU preference was a real thing. Back then track to partnership was in 8 years.
But tbh, hamari zyada gaand fatti hai. If we don't discipline you in the way we know how or learned, God knows what will happen to the work product. But none of that matters tumhare bonus ka share toh kaatenge hi ;) I know AJ & GR cut A0s bonuses. Yes, they're a little too much. A lot actually. But hey, that's the game. They struggled through their days and made it. Fair to say the competition and politics was lesser as now there are just too many young lawyers from too many colleges aspiring to make it here. Hate the game, not the players. Let me also say this, partner vohi banega Jo hume pasand hai. Your "work product" will not take you as far as you think ;)
Blaming only the junior (first level) associates without fixing responsibility with the PA/ junior partner reflects shabbily on the practice head/ senior partner
In the same breath, toxic behaviour is not okay. But the words / terms like toxicity and mental health get thrown around soooooo loosely now, that when people who actually face genuine issues look like they're crying wolf.
Cry babies need to get their shit together.
I dont know the lady who sent the email and its not me either. The fact that youd resort to that sort of juvenile nonsense tells me youre not worth engaging with.
Others in the firm, in an email in which no foul language was used. And yes it was unpleasant- but it was a LONG way off from being abusive.
Otherwise you're just being a "snowflake" cry-baby throwing a hissy-fit because you/ your aakaa "got called out" on bad behaviour.
Millenials invented ALL of the stuff youre claiming. Post pandemic Genz hasnt invented anything except pronouns and labels and hundreds of new ways to claim oppression.
The argument alternatively could be made that your generation was just plain and simple incompetent that you couldn't get a few measly marks.
See how that sounds? There's no statistical reasoning or empirical study backing up such claims, only frustration at a culture clash. Your generation had to grow up in an environment that was toxic and full of 'yes sirs', so you passed on what you knew, plus a lot of laziness - not with respect to your own work, but to the responsibility you owe to those below you in the hierarchy. Most of us see partners and PAs point blank rude to us before we even get to utter one word - I've legitimately had this happen in two T1 internships. And this general rudeness and toxicity is what is driving away a lot of the Gen Z from this profession.
The point is, I'm not blaming your competence of the work you've done to rise to your level - there would be no clients and connections after a while if you can't get the job done. Just try and put yourself in our shoes once in a while, that's all most of us can ask. If we mess up, which we will at some point, we want clear instructions and some actual feedback. Most of us know what we signed up for, but we still do grumble in the comfort of our own privacy, because it is our right to grumble. We may grumble but we make damn sure that the work is done properly because there are barely any second chances in this oversaturated market.
Since none of my own comments are backed up empirically, these are my own two cents. I hope none of this is taken in the wrong spirit because lord knows I'm not without my many flaws.
You say the younger lot but you also rely on the invention of younger lot i.e. technology, AI, legal research platforms, whatsapp (cases can not be file using the forum, validity of this app is I'm depth spoken about in courts), manupatra, ssc, etc.
Imagine another scenario- senior professionals getting fired. YOU have to catch up with the times and culture. You CANNOT pass snide comments and oppress us into submitting to an abusive boss. If something is not ok in this day and age, stop being lazy, understand the reasoning and change and improve.
I would love to see your kids/ younger loved ones go through the same culture, Sir. 🥰
And really - just fire them if the behaviour doesn’t stop. Teachers can’t fire them and they’re expecting the same thing from you. Don’t give in. Hold the line.
I saw that email but that lady at that firm. It was clearly written in frustration , but hardly so objectionable or so horrible as to require social media trial. These kids are just cry bullies.
Your team is a jail. We all are praying for your downfall, you miserable crow. Ofcourse, #notallpartners. But yeah, definitely you.
It was marked contested later. But he is not the first person to be saying such things.
But let's come to what's not factual- Partners these days do not have the time or patience to tech juniors. The reasoning for this may be bad targets from the ultimate boss or just incompetence to manage or lead, but the truth is quite clear- a whole generation cannot be incompetent. Almost every junior facing issues in the team with their boss or senior highlights bad, incomplete or incorrect instructions.
Partners- learn to communicate better. None of you have had management training, we understand, but that's no reason to shit on juniors when they turn in the work according to the instructions they received and interpreted.
Understand the wavelength of the junior and give them instructions accordingly, and also align your expectations.
If you expect them to think 10 steps ahead, atleast show them the first 3. Atleast teach them how to think better and optimise their commercial understanding.
You Partners who do not communicate are the problem. Pick up a management book and become better.
Start with accepting you need to improve/evolve, instead of blaming it on Gen X, Y, Z whatever.
You don't want others to be rude and sarcastic but want a free pass to be rude, disrespectful, sarcastic, bitchy, gossipy and whiney.
You want to WFH all the time when in reality you are just lollygagging around in your jammies watching reels on social media and thinking of new ideas for your social media posts and attempts at getting two minutes of fame.
You want all of the glory but none of the hardwork.
You want all the money but none of the responsibility.
You want it all.
You want. You want. You want. You want.
Baaki saara credit apne G mai bharlo. 🙏🏻