Difficult and personal question.

Worked in big law since this summer. Feedback is that my legal writing is first class, but that I’m severely sub standard when it comes to aptitude for work as a lawyer with paying clients.

I feel terrible, no self confidence and want to get out. Any alternative career suggestions?

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Bro. It’s been like 4 months. Everyone sucks at their job after four months. If the feedback is the same in a year, come back and ask this question.

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Agree. It hasn’t even been a half a year yet. Chill out.

Don’t take this the wrong way but maybe you should look into becoming a tax lawyer lol

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Can you give a little more color as to what they meant by that criticism? That is some harsh feedback and it’d help us advise you if you could give some clarity on what was meant. As someone who lateraled after my first year because of a toxic firm, I’d be considering that option even more if a partner told me “I’m severely sub standard” at the most fundamental part of the job.

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That's fairly sharp feedback. What is it based on? From your phrasing do i correctly guess you are a lateral not a junior?

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remember the fault is with the speaker not the audience. Be humble. Maybe say less

I don’t understand. It’s not like legal writing is a small part of this job. What are you considering legal writing, like memos, briefs, etc? That is the main work for paying clients, is it not? What parts of “work as a lawyer with paying clients” do you not have aptitude for?

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Maybe he’s socially inept and it’s offputting to clients?

If you like what you’re doing, work with a therapist that can help you be more mindful of your language and disposition in stressful situations (talking to clients) and help you develop more productive behavior patterns.

If you want to get out of big law anyway, maybe working for the government in a legal (non-litigation) role would be a better fit?

Sorry about that, that really sucks. If your writing is first class and you enjoy it, I’d spend some time exploring that, if you’re sure you want to bounce from the law altogether. If you want to hang here, still some options depending on what the feedback meant by substandard aptitude for work w paying clients. There are plenty of brilliant lawyers (and clearly jobs for them) who are some of the most persuasive, elegant writers around who are happy to sit in an office and just crank. If in big law and you want to try hanging, you could start to make it clear that you want to be handling writing heavy things, and eventually that gets you in a position primarily drafting briefs or discovery or whatever. If you want out of big law bc this place is a pressure cooker cesspool, maybe look into other writing heavy work, like impact lit, direct appeals work, or if you’re in a spot to do this, trying to nab a clerkship at any level to boost your credentials as someone who reviews writing and actually writes like a bamf. Especially for the latter, your big law firm might have some folks able to pull strings to help make that happen.

Just remember that not everyone is good at everything. There are so many lawyers that suck at writing, but crush other things like depos or bringing in business. Just gotta find a spot where you can focus on the stuff you enjoy most that doesnt make you feel horrible. Good luck!

Who gave you such harsh feedback about client handling skills? If your employer is putting a two month in the job lawyer in front of clients then they are the ones making a mistake. Client handling skills take a while to develop. I wouldn’t expect any junior to be decent at this until at least 12 months in.

Maybe you should seek out a professional coach to help you with your confidence / interpersonal skills. Some firms offer that to associates as part of their attorney development programs.

I don’t want this comment to be misinterpreted as it is coming from a place of empathy. The facts presented here make me wonder if OP is somewhere on the spectrum. If that’s the case (or could be the case), know there are a lot of social skills/coaching resources out there.

It’s worth getting tested. My brother got diagnosed as an adult and it made it so much easier for him to navigate things

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