Do you think it’s actually possible to build real friendships at work in law, or is everything inevitably transactional? I’ve had colleagues I genuinely liked, but the competition and pressure always seem to creep in. It feels like people are friendly until a plum assignment, partner approval, or promotion is on the line—then suddenly it’s every person for themselves. I’d love to believe you can find true camaraderie in this profession, but sometimes it feels like wishful thinking.

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I think you can, but it has to be intentional the whole time. Make an effort to get to know people outside of work while you're working with them. If your whole relationship is centered around work, that's all it will ever be.

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I don't think it's even possible to have that in the legal community at large so I don't think it would be possible working with lawyers in the same company and department unless you had entirely different jobs or just didn't give a F about the external nonsense that means nothing. I guarantee none of those partners would care if some employee died and would replace them before their body was even cold. I do my job for the clients, not to impress other lawyers and certainly not to get approval from ego queen owners.

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