7th year M&A associate and for all intents and purposes purposes a good associate (all my reviews have me at “exceeds expectations” in some areas). This year I’m annualizing 2800+ and that is 400+ than my highest year. I’m exhausted and feel like I’m regressing in some ways. I’m so focused on not making any mistakes given my high work load, that in some aspects I’m “overthinking” things and getting hung up on issues that two years ago would be so clear to me. Anyone experience anything similar?

I just got my client divorced from a truly horrible person who abused her and her children and she got everything she wanted and the kids are doing great and only one hasn't been successfully discharged from therapy and I'm just so proud of her and feel so lucky that I got to do a little to help her along the way

Anyone else noticing how much more difficult it is to find parking now that the ~200k college students are back?

I'm fairly new to the industry and I'm having a hard time getting comfortable during showings. I get nervous and stumble over my words. Advice for how to get more comfortable and confident?

Anyone start later in life? About to turn 32 and my retirement savings are sad.

Any smart, funny and caring Desi F Interested in connecting? Trying really hard to avoid the matrimonial route.

Offtopic:

Took a Tommy Hilfiger watch few years ago and wanted to get it repaired. How do I get it done?

Don't remember the outlet I took it from

Can someone explain relocation support clause in Walmart, what and whom are covered under this?

Hey fishes, Has any one bought extra holidays using Flex EY? Is there any benefit (cost wise) in buying extra days through Flex EY vs. taking unpaid Leaves?

Cheers!

How many PTO/Vacation days do you usually take off a year if your employer offers unlimited PTO/Vacation days?

I just started a new job and this is the first time I’ve ran into this. It sounds nice but at the same time I hate the lack of direction. Help!

List of new sources that we should avoid posting. I’ll start:
-NYPost
-DailyMail
-Project Veritas 🙄

Deeply afraid of being married to someone like the girl in sex/life on Netflix

What is a good salary range for a Principal UX Designer with 15+ years of experience working in either Finance, Tech or Media industry in NYC?

Recommendation for a tax person to help with complicated taxes - husband and I lived in NJ for part of 2021, he worked remotely for an nyc and then Long Island co., I worked in NJ and for a MA firm. We also both took parental leave and taxes weren’t taken out of some of that pay. Also, need child credit for said child who the IRS doesn’t know about yet.
Help!

One of my friend was asked to resign because she got pregnant . They specifically told her that they have strict policies and need complete commitment and you are not fit for the current role owing to your health. They have a king rule from management side and treat their employees as daily wage labor . Very bad HR and management

anybody else noticed an uptick in firms looking for discovery lawyers lately??

Why is Latham’s website so ugly?

I’d rather quit than revise this agreement.

From a vault ranking perspective, is it safe to assume V100 is all sweatshop big law? Reason I ask is because I want to lateral but not to a gunning big law firm — want to stay in big law but not at the ones at the top of the food chain like I am now. Want some sort of work life balance and wondering if the “lower ranked” big law firms offer this? Could just be my fantasy though…

In what sort of situations would one be conflicted out of lateraling to a firm after reviving an offer? I.e., how do conflict checks work?

Interested in investing in a rental property in the next couple of years but don't know where to start. Any tips or recommendations for resources would be greatly appreciated. TIA!

Question for funds folks, since no one is around to answer any questions and I can't seem to find this answer anywhere. Why can't a placement agent combine or integrate the offering of interests in the sponsor's fund with the contemporaneous offering of interests in another fund? Is it based on reputational risk or from a sales perspective in case someone rejects both funds, any other issues? Thanks!

Beginning to consider going in house (4th, corp) - I really haven’t thought about what I want, partly because I’m not sure what’s out there/attainable. Is it a bad idea to start by applying to a couple positions that interest me and seeing where that gets me? I’ll of course prep for the interviews but am afraid to burn potential bridges if I ultimately decline because I’m still figuring things out.

Do big law firms typically need references when you lateral from another big law firm? I don’t think I suck at my job but haven’t made close partner connections at my current firm so not sure who I would ask.

How many interviews is too many? I’ve done 5 one on ones with different people in the practice group. They want me to talk to a few more, but I’m frustrated. It’s so hard to find time to schedule these things and the associates don’t seem to understand I can’t just take them in the middle of the work day at work. Recruiter thinks it’s a good sign. FWIW they haven’t communicated to me position level they’d expect.

How do I tell a firm I screened with that another firm I screened with is moving forward with full rounds? I would prefer the former firm, even though the latter firm is ranked higher. Thanks for any advice

Big law literally saved my life. I was working for the government and being sued by creditors and in a deep, dark place. I wasn't even able to afford my Ube transfer application on my own. I've been at my firm for 3 years now and my life has completely changed. I was so close to declaring bankruptcy it's not even funny. I understand why people rag on it but some of us would be in a really bad place if we weren't here

Was interviewing with a firm and soon after receiving an offer, learned of bad culture/toxic partners in the practice group from a couple of associates who recently lateraled from the firm. I turned the offer down. A partner that I clicked with while interviewing reached out asking me why I turned down the offer. Should I be honest and relay what I heard?

Anyone have any favorite office decor or personal items? Trying to think of things to make my office less boring now that I'm going back in.

Feel free to share anything interesting that you've seen as well.

Currently thinking plants and potentially wall art.

Interviewing to crossover from plaintiff to defense work, wondering what a competitive salary offer would be from a firm in the V20-30 range, 5th year, antitrust practice. NY/DC scale. Thanks in advance

Looking for some encouragement. Has anyone here received an overall negative performance review or has been put on a development/performance plan and was able to turn things around for the better?

There is a partner that, without fail, calls on Fridays after 6pm anytime I am staffed with him. It’s extremely frustrating since his calls are usually non-urgent and I make it a point to check in early in the day to address anything. Any advice?

Best fall vacation destinations on a biglaw budget?

To all those in management, how do firms that haven’t instituted pay cuts/furloughs manage to do that? Is it because their clients are still paying the bills, because they are borrowing money, because partners just won’t see profit this coming year? Some combo?

Stealth layoffs at CWT confirmed.