Law

Has any former remote practitioner successfully waived into New York through a waiver of strict compliance? If so, what hardships did you cite in your submission? Any help is greatly appreciated, than… more

Anyone exited law via purchase of a small business (or know of someone who has)? Would love to chat if so.

Our firm holiday party is tonight and I already feel the social calculus. How festive is too festive? Do you nurse one drink all night or risk being that person? It’s supposed to be fun, but it feels … more

Looking for some insight here- going into my 5th year of practice at an ID firm in NYC. I think I’m grossly underpaid but really have nothing to compare it to.

For context -I am coming up on 3 years at this firm,… more

Every December I tell myself I’ll actually use my PTO and every December it turns into “I’ll be offline, but reachable.” Client timelines magically accelerate, partners schedule quick year-end check-i… more

I get more done at home... fewer interruptions, better focus, actual control over my day and yet leadership keeps insisting the office is where innovation happens. Most days we’re all on Zoom anyway, … more

Did anyone get screwed out of a promotion this year?

It’s impossible not to compare hours when everyone whispers their billable numbers like they’re confessing sins. It turns billables into a silent competition where no one ever feels like they’re doing… more

If you’re a partner at a law firm, do you know what salary the other partners are earning? What about bonuses? How much financial transparency does your firm have regarding the budget/operating expens… more

Younger me would’ve called this crazy, but as I’ve gotten more senior and older I’ve learned that the best thing for dealing with the stress of this career is religion/God. So much easier to deal with… more

A friend in considering an online law degree. She has 20 years of experience working in legal departments drafting contract provisions and supervising customer/vendor contracts. She wants the degree t… more

Fed honors attorney here in need of help. I was hired into a specific practice group several years ago, with focus on that practice group's work, and the implicit assumption (and explicit talk) I … more

Does anyone use redaction software that they trust and like or do you just count on your own eyeballs and a Sharpie? Uncomfortable assigning it to anyone else, and I wouldn’t trust software to not mak… more

Everybody’s saying to give notice in person, but I barely talk to the equity partners in my office, including my practice group leader. Would it be weird to knock on their doors (if they’re even in) o… more

Partner is retiring and leaving me their book. Do I give them a gift? Take them to lunch? What's appropriate?

So there has been the same position that keeps getting reposted and no one hired for the better part of a year. I've applied each time it was posted, and never got a rejection email. There are a l… more

I’m looking to make some scratch on the side and was thinking about posting an add offering legal services on Craigslist. It costs 5 bucks per post which isn’t a huge number but I also don’t want to just pay it a… more

Contras :En un proceso de fusión, la salida se manejó de forma abrupta y poco humana. La terminación fue sorpresiva, sin preaviso ni tiempo razonable para análisis o asesoría. El mismo día se restring… more

Completely new to the origination concept. If you were the only attorney working on a matter that you received from your firm, and the client then referred a friend to you, would you be the originatin… more

I am a 6th year associate that is 2 years in at my current firm. When I was offered the job I turned down an offer from a similarly situated firm in town. I’ve gone through some personal things this y… more

Is it weird for an associate to give the partner they work closely with a gift? With the holidays coming up I always wonder who I should buy for at the office

I was terminated from a very small firm where I was the only associate and handled all substantive litigation work (motions, discovery, court appearances). The managing partner did little substantive work and pri… more

Half the urgent tasks that land in my inbox aren’t actually urgent. They’re just someone else’s anxiety handed off to me. Everything is framed as a fire drill, even when nothing bad will happen if it … more

Any agencies or websites you recommend for getting nanny (for newborn) and housekeeping help?

Because we lawyers can be stodgy and self-important, I want to share that Affidavits of Truthiness (an inside joke with former mentors of mine from 15+ years ago) is about to be canonized in a timely and on… more

Every lawyer I truly admire has some off-resume skill that doesn’t show up on a transcript or firm bio. One is an incredible storyteller, another has uncanny emotional intelligence, another can stay l… more

Christmas Gifts? Is it really a bad idea to “gift up”? I work in a small practice group of a larger firm. I am the only associate and the partners are very supportive. Can I get them gifts? I was thin… more

Are there any good exit options for ECVC? I see a lot of in house roles focused on M&A, but none focused on financings.

Has anyone worked in the projects and infrastructure group at Mayer Brown or Gibson Dunn? Feedback from either team?

Anyone get called into jury duty and have any advice on how to get out of it once there (assume it can’t be avoided beforehand)? All of this is with a great respect for jury duty and all that but I am… more

How difficult is to become an SEC attorney? Looking at the current attorneys’ profiles, it appears that the majority come from big law. I specialize in securities and investment litigation but work fo… more

If my calendar has even one open 30-minute slot, it gets filled immediately. It doesn’t matter if I blocked time to think, write, or just breathe, someone always assumes availability equals permission… more

I’m at an AmLaw 200 firm that does not give any type of holiday bonus. Is that common? I previously worked at smaller firms and associates were always given $1000-3000 extra in December before the hol… more

Does Goulston and Storrs pay market scale? I heard no bonuses though. I also heard 1850 "target" but do associates end up billing way more than that without bonuses?

Heard there have been some recent layoffs at Benesch, including firing recent hires… Anyone have insight?

I’m a mid level associate that just received a cancer diagnosis. I’m still waiting on test results to have a clearer picture, but what I know so far is a bit daunting. At what point would you tell par… more

I am a 4th year commercial lit associate, leaving private practice for a multitude of reasons. I have a large client that I have been servicing. I handle litigation and another NEP (who doesn’t have a… more

I’m 6 years out and on my third law firm. Each move was strategic to handle more complex work and make more money. Currently at a AmLaw 200 firm. I started 2 years ago (at 4 YOE) with base of $215k. I… more