How many would agree that an associate’s protest to accepting a work assignment by a partner is insubordination?

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Agree with everyone else. Sometimes a partner needs something done and you just cannot do it within that time line (or it will be shit work) without neglecting assignments already on your plate. But when it comes to dealing with partners who are particularly sensitive to this (there is one in my firm), you have to be smart. "No problem. When do you need that by? Oh... Well I already promised Partner B that I'd turn around a contract by X, and I can't do both in that time frame. But if you want to talk to Partner B about that deadline, I'll prioritize however you two decide."

The one partner likes to walk into associates' offices and say" I need thirty minutes of your time [spoiler alert: it's always more than thirty minutes] and if you can't do it right now then don't bother."" Um, let me mute this call for a sec...? "

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There’s a an associate at my firm who never says no. He takes on all the work but he sucks as planning ahead for long term tasks. I was just asked to help with something he was working on and was shocked to find out all his “emergencies” that he’s now asking for help with last minute were not really emergencies and were things that he could have done for the past two months. Sure he had other things and was legitimately swamped but then ask other for help before it becomes an emergency and the deadline is in three days. I wish he’d say no sooner or asked for help appropriately. I’d rather someone tell me they can’t do it then take it on and then do a bad job or not finish in time.

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This is clickbait

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Sounds like you are taking it personally instead of just asking them why they refused.

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Without context, I completely disagree.

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That’s understandable

No, I wouldn’t agree. Asking “how many would agree...” is telling us that you already have your answer and don’t actually give a shit about real honest feedback. I would refuse work from you too.

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There is a partner I won’t work for because she’s awful. Every time she comes to me with work I apologize and explain I’m too busy. Even if it’s not technically true that day, my hours give me plausible deniability. I don’t intend to work for her again until someone who’s name is on the door tells me to my face that I have to.

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That’s reasonable OP, and in general I agree with you. But I have worked with this person and this is a “when people show you who they are, believe them the first time” situation.

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Insubordination? Well, my firm isn’t the armed forces, so no, insubordination is not an issue. However, I think the answer to this question is somewhat nuanced. Why is the associate protesting? Because of workload? That’s valid. Because of knowledge base? Maybe valid; the partner should be aware of concerns, but the associate should also be open to learning. Is this a client emergency? Then sometimes we all have to go outside our comfort zones to meet client needs. This is one where the associate needs to be open to talking to the partner, but the partner also needs to hear the associate.

likeuplifting

What’s the reason for not accepting work?

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Depends the reason. There have been times I just couldn't get it done or got it done but have been shit work.

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An internally famous response at my firm was “I could write that brief, but it would be shitty.” The person who said that was a hero among associates and partners alike.

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Probably depends on the firm and partner. Are orders or suggestions given, and in general can associates negotiate with partners for work flow? I would think if you have a good reason to decline work every so often that would be ok.

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Disagree, it depends what else is on their plate...I had to learn to say no to projects as an associate...you can only get so many time sensitive projects done at one time...

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Why would there be a reason?

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Are you saying there wasn’t a reason or there is no acceptable reason? There are a bunch of reasons why I wouldn’t think this was insubordination but hard to know without context. If the associate was already on a deadline and couldn’t reasonably do both assignments, if the partner didn’t give enough guidance on the project, if the associate didn’t have the required experience, if the associate had medical or family reasons for needing to turn it down, ect.

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A3, if you can hold a job, I’d be surprised.

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What kind of law do you practice? Where you never turn down work?

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This is a hypothetical.

Well then, unless their reason was specifically because they just didn’t work for the partner, then I don’t think insubordination.

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However, I would not recommend someone refuse work without a good, justifiable reason.

What is the “work” assignment exactly? An MSJ? “Prepare an employee handbook”? “Complete 200+ discovery responses in 2 days on a case you know zero about?” Basically, are you assigning a project that you know the associate can easily complete within your time frame?

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And that reason must be discussed with the supervisor.

Were they told by someone higher up not to do it?

Associate can get sanctioned still

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