Do other associates just straight up not have a written employment contract? I mentioned I don’t have one to a friend from law school and they looked at me like I had 3 heads.

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Most states are at will. I think it’s pretty uncommon to have a contract. Maybe they thought you meant an offer letter?

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I just had a letter of offer of employment with details re salary start date and maybe vacation days nothing else. Was enrilled in the benefits plan but nothing spelling out in my offer letter.

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On my second firm, never had an actual contract and none of my other lawyer friends do either. My understanding is that employment contracts for attorneys in the US are uncommon.

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I’ve never had a contract, nor have I ever had an offer in writing.

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I’m here too. 6th year, at my third firm. One gave me a written offer or an employment contract. After a merger/addition of a partner, one gave us a useless employee handbook.

I’m most concerned that your contracts class didn’t cover at-will employment in the US

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I didn’t have one at law firms. When I went into finance my contract is 30 pages long with. Extensive clauses, notice periods etc.

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I’ve never seen a written employment agreement with an associate in NY.

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Never had an employment agreement as an associate at various firms in various states or as in house counsel. Do not think this is typical for lawyers. There’s an offer letter with basic terms like salary and there’s an employee handbook which says rules of the firm/company. But it’s all at will employment on both employer/employee sides.

Is your friend a contractor? I could see contracts for someone who is specifically hired for a limited term project or something.

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Here in GA, I’ve never seen a written contract for employment of any attorney at a law firm (other than a partnership agreement for a partner).

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Yeah at will seems pretty standard… my immigrant parents are outraged about it though 😅

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They are from Eastern Europe; apparently it’s typical for professionals to have an employment contract, plus statute makes it very burdensome to fire employees even due to performance issues (the issues have to be really tangible / demonstrable), although in reality people still get pushed out of jobs same as in the US

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As others have stated it would seem odd to have an employment agreement as an associate attorney. Many states function under the at will employment model. Additionally, confidentiality and non disclosure issues are usually covered by the rules of professional conduct and many states exempt attorneys/other professionals from non competes and contracts in restraint of trade as well as other employment law considerations such as overtime, wage/hour protections, etc. At the end of the day, there are few remaining benefits to an employment contract that would arguably not make up for the disadvantages. Of course ancillary agreements for profit sharing, percentages of collections, etc. may be valuable, but a formal employment contract particularly for a term of years would seem to be anathema to many associates desires to freely move from one opportunity to the next (not to mention a firms desire to let go associates that do not mesh well).

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Tends to be simply an employee at will situation without a contract

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I’ve been at this for 36 years and have only had the occasional 1-year contract when I’ve switched forms.

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Only offer letter in the 3 states I’ve been

Never had a written contract (in FL so we are at will) but I’ve insisted on a written offer letter each time before I put in notice

I don't know that I have ever had an employment contract. Either prior to my legal career or as a lawyer.

I’ve had two official offer letters extended but other than that no contracts or offer letters from other places I’ve worked.

I’ve never heard of any associates at law firms having employment contracts. Partners too for that matter. I know in some rare occasions, lateral partners might have something like an employment contract—such as guaranteed equity distributions for a period of time if they bring over a big book of business, but even these are often contingent on now much business they actually bring in.

Yeah I don’t/didn’t have one with my employer. I just lateraled from there and took all my clients 🤣

Offer letter

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