6th year - over 2000 hours, great review last year, this year they said will not promote me. They will do a mid year review early next year and if still no good, will discuss “transition” plan. HR said I have until next spring. Sounds like I can stay on payroll for another 7-8 months? Is it real? I have a lot of financial obligations so want to know the worst scenario

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Sorry to hear that. They are firing you in slow motion with an out in case the firm's circumstances improve. Don't mistake this for anything else.

Was HR's comment about being good until next spring delivered separately from the review? Regardless, the worst case scenario is that you have another "review" in February and they give you a month to get out before they stop paying you and kick you off the website. You may get more time, but don't bank on it; firms are less generous with this stuff than they used to be.

If I were you I would open up a nice bottle of alcohol and take the weekend to think about things. Then start the job search process on Monday with an eye towards applying soon. Before you know it we will be in the holiday season and hiring will slow significantly, even worse than it already is with Covid. Good luck.

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Even then it’s not necessarily your performance, if your group already has too many service partners they aren’t going to promote another one regardless of how good you are. Don’t get down on yourself.

likefunny

Definitely slow down your billing, if they don’t care about you while you grind, the hell with them.

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Sorry to hear OP. Are you in big law (edit—just realized this is the big law thread, so duh 🤦🏼‍♀️)? That’s what they do to mid-senior associates.

It happened to my SO. No bad reviews, great hours, and he saved the partner’s ass more than once. Then, all of a sudden, got called in that there has been some complaints about his work and he’s got 4 months to “transition” out. When pressed for an explanation of what these complaints were, they couldn’t come up with anything. The group had a high turnover anyway and tbh a toxic working environment. He’s in a much better group right now and much, much happier. He found a new job in ~2 months.

So things work out, and there’s a good chance this isn’t even your fault. Just start looking early

likeuplifting

Yea I’m in biglaw. It’s totally fine. I had no intention to make equity partner ever. I know I would leave one day but didn’t realize it would be so sudden and so soon.. and of course the financial loss is eating me..

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Start prepping for your exit, because that’s the worst case scenario. This sounds like an unofficial PIP, which has been discussed around here before as something you don’t recover from. Or maybe they just don’t have room for someone as senior as you and are gently letting you know that you’re not making partner and you need to leave. You’re lucky, you have a 7-8 month warning to get your ducks in a row.

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Maybe sound bad - no I’m in that firm for the money. I’m super dedicated (respond to emails quickly etc) but truth being told, money is 80% reason I’m there. I just have a lot of financial obligations so I took the job. I read the review. I don’t think some of the statements were fair. And I don’t want to argue. I’m the type when senior push their mistakes on to me, and I still make him look good in front of partners because I’m a people pleaser. But im done with this. I’m done wiping people’s ass and get bad reviews myself

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Sorry to hear that OP. Do you feel that your performance has declined since your review last year?

I don’t think so... I thought I was progressing fine. Anyway it’s not important what I think

Would it be better to ask for clarification from HR or partners or former colleagues?

Good luck! Hope you land something better!

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