I understand it might seem a bit trivial, but I'm soon meeting with a former colleague for the first time in person. We worked in separate locations previously, and they've since become a managing partner at a firm I'm considering. The dilemma I'm facing is about the appropriate way to greet them. I'm trying to strike the right balance between not being overly formal with a handshake and avoiding awkwardness by opting for a hug, especially since they don't know I'm interested in their firm.

How do you professionally address a noticeable lack of diversity on your team? More than 85% of my team is white or white passing, and of the remaining individuals none are Black, Indigenous, or AAPI.

Gotta love when a client doesn’t catch their own mistakes until the final round and then asks why you fucked it up....

I recently started a new job. My boss communicates in strange ways and it clearly affects the assistant on our team. I’m not technically her boss, but is it my place to be like, hey, let’s talk (cont)

PARTNERS: two questions —1. If you see an associate has really low hours for the month, do you imagine them chillen on a beach somewhere or do you consider they probably spent most of their days sitting in front of the computer being “available”? 2. If you send an associate a random e-mail on a weekend like “Can you pull X and send to Y”, would you get annoyed if they responded saying they weren’t by a comp or would you consider it reasonable that they wouldn’t be by a comp on a weekend?

Is Proper Cloth worth it for work shirts? Any other made to measure shirt tailors you’d recommend?

How often do you respond to emails from law students who want to learn about your firm/practice area? I get like a dozen requests right around OCI every year. Frankly I’m tired of speaking to them and answering the same boring questions, especially if I know they have a low GPA and no chance of summering at my firm, but I do feel bad saying no/ignoring them

Who hates being micromanaged by your boss? I had to deal with a boss who had to be involved with every little thing and it drove me nuts, and made me feel like she didn’t trust me.

If you don’t have a CD above you and you are doing the work, do you just send it off or do you ask other creatives for their take? Seems weird to just do work and present it without a gut check from somewhere.

What is the advice on what feedback to leave for a peer who really sucks at everything y'all have worked together on? It's about the time where everyone on my team requests feedback from each other and I'm nervous for it coming up. My manager knows that everything I've worked w her on I end up doing 90% of the work when it's meant to be split so it is a known issue. We're both at level 3 so are genuinely peers. She seems like a nice person but i have 0 positive work feedback tbh

Hooked up with a manager form different line of service and now I came to know he is joining my team.

There’s a manager on here who is cat fishing. Tells women he’s a woman and asks for phone number. Doesn’t share name and uses a Google voice number. Happened with another friend of mine on this bowl and with me. Please be careful.

What’s your favorite WFH footwear? Any recommended brands for a chilly home office?

How do you address someone who seems condescending? We’ve never met in person, and they’re slightly more senior, on a parallel team. (Not at TBWA)

A Partner asked me to “monitor” her Outlook and gave me access. Basically the ask is to delete or “read” unnecessary emails/forward work to managers/forward invites to her admin. Is this normal? Never had to monitor someone else’s Outlook at my previous firm and this feels like an admin work. I am a new experienced hire (S3) FYI.

What are your tips on convincing a fellow employee not to switch agencies? I really don't want to compete with them

Can I give notice by email? Or is it truly preferred to call the partners directly? What if they don’t pick up?

Starting a new job next week and when do I tell my coworkers that I have a newborn? Male asking.

My coworker always takes a super long lunch. How does he have the time to get anything done?

Director of Marketing wants me to write some conversation snippets for a chatbot, but I think those things drive potential clients away. Trying to figure out if I should tell him or not

My partner refuses to flatulate during waking hours around me. I feel this lack of intimacy is cause for alarm. I calmly mentioned my concerns and she doesn't feel comfortable speaking about the subject. Any suggestions?

Has anyone else noticed that a hugely disproportionate number of latinx big law attorneys seem to be white / white-passing?

Hi Everyone,
Need some valid pros and cons for Value Momentum in regards to (WLB, Work options, HR Policies, Onsite opportunity etc)

Hi Folks,

After the HR discussion, how many days it will take to receive the offer letter please. As of now status is showing undee consideration in the portal.

I accept follow requests left & right without following back and without shame. What does this say about me besides that I and, let’s say Beyoncé, are generally very similar?

Hi, anyone ever try using a ovulation test as a positive result for pregnancy test? I had an LH surge couple of weeks back and for the past few days my breasts are tender and I am having some taste aversions like yesterday yoghurt tasted like mud. Since my cycle is irregular I took another ovulation test today morning and it came back positive. This is my first time going through this and I am confused as to what is going on. Can I take a pregnancy test middle of the day?

Has anyone’s medical provider prescribed femera? I have well documented PCOS and my GYN said I don’t need to wait 12 months for intervention because I have 16 years of documented menstrual irregularities. I just got off my birth control in December. We want TTC starting in my next cycle. Just wanted to hear peoples experience with femera. My whole life I’ve been told it will be a struggle

Celiac anyone? Celiac is just the extreme form of glute allergy there is with stomach cramps, disorientation, brain fog, diarrhea etc. Worried to go back on the road and eat outside with many sad and painful experiences. Are there any road warriors who have survived it well? Appreciate any tips!

Feeling a lot of pressure to buy an apt as my partner and I are in mid 30s and see ourselves living here (Brooklyn) long term. Can’t get over the high prices, high fees and idea of sinking all of my money from the market into one asset. Every apt for sale we are seeing is less nice and highly monthly cost than our rental unit which we love and running the numbers never looks good. Convince me why I’m wrong

Anyone have an OB/GYN rec in the Cambridge/Somerville area?

Are there any affordable studios in Seaport (~$3000)? I don’t need amenities or anything. I just want to be within a mile of my office (near Shake Shack).

Anyone had success advertising via on stream sponsorship/product placements with Twitch content creators in recreational legal states? I’ve sorted out compliance for audio ads, but would like to have this next in our top of funnel mix.

Just made a career pivot and accepted a job with Progressive in sales. I’ve heard more good things than bad about the company. I turned down Liberty and Allstate so I’m hoping I made the right choice. Curious if anyone works there can offer their opinion about what it’s like working for Progressive.

Just joined fishbowl. Getting familiar with the content and see it’s mostly US-based professionals.
Would be great to develop this EU group!
I’m based out of Luxembourg, what about everyone else?

Are there any agencies that are willing to pay for relocation? Looking to make a move out to WC. I know this is more likely for VP+ so I’m curious which agencies have the flattest PnL

Took my first ever sick day today on account of my very poor and worsening mental health. Just could not bring myself to put in another 14 hour day with back to back meetings and constant activity. Felt very guilty but I honestly wish I could be more honest and actually share with my manager about why I took a day off.

For those also going through this, any tips on how you manage yourself day to day? What self talk tends to help?

Ketanji did not come to play! Came out of the gate ready to fight and turn these racist arguments on their heads. The way she was dropping 14th Amendment bombs on that man made me so happy. And this is only her first day. I just hope they protect her well.

Hey all, I’m starting a new job soon (in 2 weeks to be exact), but I haven’t been contacted by the firm. Should I be concerned?

How do I professionally decline a second interview? I know for sure I don’t want to work at the firm.

I really feel like I should be excused from this "diversity and inclusiveness" training stuff lmao. It's about implicit bias and I'm sorry it's just not believable coming from an old white man's mouth when there are maybe 4 non-white associates. We're having these meetings 3 times this week. 🤦🏽‍♀️

What is the starting Salary for entry level insurance defense attorney in NYC area?

Did anyone from your past tell you you wouldnt make it as a lawyer? Did you ever rub it in their face later that you in fact did?? 😂

LA fish: Any ideas for Pro Bono assistance for nonprofit community/cultural orgs? A family member recently joined the board of a nonprofit community/cultural org and is looking for counsel. There are no active legal issues, but they’re just trying to get affairs in order and have systems in place in case any do arise. I’m unable to represent them myself due to my work and lack of experience, and I’m unfamiliar with potential resources. Thank you!

Thoughts on whether DC or NYC is a better place to be as an attorney of color?

Anyone feel like your job sees you as "one of the good ones?" It hasn't explicitly been said, but I'm one of the only Black attorneys at the firm and I think my white colleagues and partners see me as an example of how Black folks "should be" cause I mind my business. Basically I feel like a token, and I don't know how to shift that idea while staying professional.

Thinking of pivoting from insurance defense to something more meaningful and (dare I say it) with more work life balance. Currently in my 7th year of practice and am just tired of ID. Anyone make the transition? Any advice?

What are the chances of getting a lower offer because you're POC applying at a fairly large law firm? Not big law or anything but still. Friend and I both got offers, came out of the same school and have very similar internship experience. He's white and I'm not, his offer is significantly higher. How low is low enough to walk away?

Does anyone in this group have ADHD? Are you finding that working in a law firm setting and billing hours is just not something they can do or is it possible with the proper medication and therapy?

I don’t cut my hours, I consistently reach 7 hours a day, but it’s not enough to meet my firm’s minimum requirement. I’m usually working 9 hours/day.

My work quality is slipping due to brain fog and mental health issues and I don’t know how to address it with my firm or who to go to. I was considered one of the best associates in our practice group, but now it can take me 3-4x the time to write an average brief. I can’t seem to think and organize my thoughts any more. This is incredibly scary bc obvi, that’s what this job is all about. I’m in IP litigation at a V50 firm and a mom. Do I raise it with partners and how?

Does anyone have any side hustles apart from their day-to-day? If so, what are some suggestions that work well while practicing law?

Anyone in this bowl based in Central Florida that would like to connect?

I feel like I'm going through really bad imposter syndrome, How do you manage it ?

I’m not sure what I’m looking for in this post, but I feel I just need to get stuff off my chest. I’m a new attorney, my first job is as an ADA in a large county in a rural comm. It’s only my 1st month in the position and I’m having trouble feeling as though people are complacent and often times careless with peoples lives. I’m the only Latin/POC ADA and 80% of our defendants are Latino when they make only 25% of the county pop. We have LOTS of discretion to offer pleas, but honestly I’m not

Single black female. Late 30s, no kids. Is it better to practice in a smaller market that’s close to major cities, lots of professional opportunities, but no real single professional scene? OR be in a bigger pond/major city with more professional and networking opportunities, oversaturated with lawyers of color, more competition for professional opportunities, but bigger dating pool?

Anyone else sickened by Amy’s use of her black kids as props? You didn’t have to tell us that those two black kids were adopted, but way to make them feel different.