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If you’re at a firm where they’re telling you that as a first year, three things:
1. That firm doesn’t know how to use its juniors properly.
2. You should be considering whether you’re developing the right connections with midlevels and senior associates. This is where a good bulk of your work can come from.
3. If you’re below average because you don’t like the people at your firm/in your group and this trend continues into your second year, look at lateraling out. Don’t fall through the cracks at the expense of your development.
I say all this because this exact thing happened to me and, after shifting firms (twice), I realized it really wasn’t me, it was them. Not every firm/group is a good fit and trying to fit a square peg in a round hole doesn’t always work out. On top of that, a lot of groups are terribly managed because (surprise) busy lawyers with no management skills are running them. I chose to move rather than force it. Now I get a ton of work and run my own deals and work on a team I love.
Enthusiast
Couldn’t agree more with everything A1 said. You have to be selfish with your career. If it’s not a good fit, don’t force it. There are really good big law firms and practice groups out there. You just have to find the right one.
Coach
If that was the only negative, no. Hours fluctuate throughout the year. “Below average” isn’t language you should be worried about six months in unless coupled with something more.
They are just telling you to work more.