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In my experience, that is definitely not the norm! The firms I have worked at would not tolerate that behavior. I would look elsewhere and find a place that respects you. Only reason for being truly upset with your associate is if they lie or don’t take the job seriously. But, the firm should work with you to grow and learn.
Absolutely not the norm, some of the partners I work for are intense, but I can’t imagine being full on yelled at and belittled. I would find a new place to work.
Our firm specifically has a “no assholes” policy. So it’s not the norm everywhere
All the assholes you didn't hire ended up at OPs firm
It’s not the norm, but it does happen here and there, especially in litigation firms.
If you can switch to another partner group, do it; otherwise, you should start considering finding another firm if you can’t - and really, you shouldn’t have to - deal with this partner’s behavior.
Even if you completely dropped the ball and did something catastrophic, just about anything can be fixed with a motion in court or an email to whoever it pertains to. Nobody should be screaming or belittling you.
First, it IS illegal. It creates a hostile work environment. Each time this happens, document it. Keep a journal with the date, time, and involved parties. Follow it up with a Friday afternoon email to the managing partner every week. Tell her/him you feel belittled, harassed, demeaned and that your work place feels hostile. It should stop fast. If it doesn’t, get yourself an employment atty.
I am an employment attorney and this is a common misconception, unfortunately. Associate 3 is correct that a “hostile work environment” only exists if it is tied to race, gender, sexual preference, etc. (the exact categories depend on your state). So if you can connect the dots there, that could work. But if they’re just jerks because they’re senior attorneys, it isn’t illegal — unless any of their actions cross over into crimes.
Yell back. If they want a little punk they hired the wrong litigator.
2 items:
First, yes you can find a job where your bosses don’t verbally abuse their associates for fun. (You may still get chewed out if you deserve it).
Second, spend this time to learn how to handle verbal abuse without breaking down. Because even if you get a better job, you will occasionally come across some bullies (partners, clients, judges, opposing counsel). The yelling is effective because the recipient often gets overwhelmed and 1) shuts down or 2) sees red and can’t think. If you can become immune it’s as close to a superpower as there is in this profession.
Absolutely not the norm. If I got yelled at or belittled I would immediately quit, I work too hard for someone to treat me like that. I have 3 partners and none of them have ever yelled at or belittled me. In fact it is the opposite, they encourage, mentor and hand out praise, often. If I have messed up in the past, I’m sure they might talk amongst themselves and maybe are slightly annoyed but I have never gotten the brunt of anything like that.
This is not normal or OK. It is unprofessional and unproductive. You do not have to put up with it.
As an associate, are you going to mess up? Yes. Are partners going to get annoyed with it? Yes. Are they going to let you hear about it (maybe even with a raised voice sometimes)? Of course. And they should, so that you don’t do it again and you learn from the experience. The hope is that someday you become as good as them, so you can kick ass for the firm and make them more money.
But what you are describing is not that kind of work environment. Belittling and demeaning associates is not a productive approach to training. It undermines confidence and stunts growth. Not a constructive approach.
I would do as others have suggested: move groups or switch firms. Heck, if there are some senior associates in your same situation, maybe a group of you should leave and start your own shop. Get revenge by surpassing these jerks or kicking their asses head-to-head.
10000% not the norm. This is how I feel. As an associate, you have to “eat it a little,” what that means to me is sometimes (on MINOR things) you might take the blame for something that wasn’t your fault, or take a position (that’s not frivolous) but that you might not agree with your boss on. That absolutely does not make verbal abuse permissible.
Definitely not the norm anywhere I’ve worked and I only know one lawyer who experienced this and took a pay cut to leave bc that is toxic! You shouldn’t have to deal with that at all
So I work in a relatively “nice” area of the country and I’ve experienced this at 3 out of the 5 firms I’ve worked at. One of those firms just had one off bad partners here and there, but the other 2 it was more pervasive.
Even if you can attach yourself to a good partner leaving is the best option because at some point down the road you’re going to need associate help, and those associates are going to jump ship bc of your asshole partners.
Is this Cadwalder? I heard there was a partner there that threw staplers at associates
As to the comment from Attorney, the biggest bullies are often the female attorneys. They just do it in a more passive-agressive, or I'm going to minipulate your words in real time and trap you in some shit, type of way.
The paralegals and other support staff share the same experiences as the associates.
Currently my norm.
I’m trying to get lawsuit against a firm for this and other things that happened but I already got
Turned down on my case. It’s crazy how this may seem to be normal because it’s not
Have you considered doing better work?
Going to through the same thing. Hang in there. I know the market is horrible but just hang on!
This is not normal but also not illegal. I’ve always worked with respectful bosses and you can find ones too. I will caveat this by saying I’ve never worked in big law and it might be harder to get away from that because when you’re paid that much the clients and partners both think they can treat you however they want.
Had a similar experience at a previous job. Would recommend taking it to HR, and would make a paper trail with HR, whoever your boss reports to, and any managing partner/shareholder in an email. Once there’s an email back regarding it, print copies and save.
I’m at a BL firm with a sweatshop reputation and I have not been yelled at. It’s definitely NOT normal.