Related Posts
Rising Star
Starting pay for RBT’s in South Florida and NY?
Additional Posts in Attorneys of Color
Rising Star
New to Fishbowl?
Download the Fishbowl app to
unlock all discussions on Fishbowl.
unlock all discussions on Fishbowl.
That was just a preview…
Sign Up to see all discussions
Sign Up to see all discussions
- Discover what it’s like to work at companies from real professionals
- Get candid advice from people in your field in a safe space
- Chat and network with other professionals in your field
Sign up in seconds to unlock all discussions on Fishbowl.
"" is an unusual email domain. If correct, please proceed to the next step
Messaging rates may apply
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
New to Fishbowl?
Download the Fishbowl app to unlock all discussions on Fishbowl.
Share
Embed this post
Copy and paste embed code on your site
Preview
Download the
Fishbowl app
Scan your QR code to download
Fishbowl app on your mobile
Sign up for free to view this conversation on Fishbowl
Sign up for free to continue using Fishbowl
Messaging rates may apply
The best advice my brother gave me is that your boss is always going to tell you you suck because it’s not in their best interest to make you think you’re the best or even okay at what you do. You just gotta say ‘got it!’ and let it slide off of you like butter! This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t listen to their VALID critique, it means you shouldn’t take it too personal. Once you fix the issues they point out now, they’ll find new one anyways.
Keep your head up!
Your feelings are completely valid. I’m almost 3 years in and can say it get easier to deal with. But it doesn’t excuse poor leadership. I get critiques all the time from certain partners but not others. The ones I don’t get constant critique from are clear and organized and I thrive with them. In time you’ll know if you should move on to a different practice area or different workplace. But you won’t know unless you stick it through a bit.
I’m a 6th year, and I still have to remember it’s not personal (except when it is). Try to think of it as brand continuity and preference of the people feeding you work. Sometimes it’s petty nonsense and other times it’s actually valuable feedback. Take the latter and stick it in your pocket and as you become more senior, you can help junior attorneys be better without repeating the nonsense that some of the old hats perpetuate.
Rising Star
Attorneys of color receive excessive non-actionable negative criticism. Be very discerning about what feedback you credit. It could be bullying and racism and sexism, and usually some combination of all three depending on who you are.
It’s very damaging to your sense of self and your development as an attorney to be constantly told you’re incompetent, worthless, less intelligent, lack leadership skills—all “feedback” I’ve heard attorneys of color receiving. There is nothing actionable in these types of comments and white male attorneys do not receive them as consistently (if at all).
Be aware that negative unwarranted criticisms may be making their way into your written reviews and also into perceptions about you spread through gossip by the partners.
If you get the sense this is happening, or see these comments in your reviews, I would leave this job. It’s hard to beat discriminatory perceptions and it’s not your job to “prove” you belong in all-white male spaces.
Agreed! In my case the white female partners turned out to be the worst because they claimed to have my back but they were constantly ridiculing me with the other white male partners.
There is a big difference between effective, tailored feedback and criticism. Which one are you receiving? If the “feedback” is purely critical without anything actionable, that is just bullying. Unless someone’s writing really needs improvement in terms of grammar/spelling/mechanics, or is getting the law completely wrong (citing bad case law, misreading statues, etc.), then nobody’s opinion on your work is the objective truth. Just try and remember that. Sometimes, it is true what they say that the head attorney knows the client best and may come back with feedback meant to tailor the work to satisfy the clients’ wants and needs. I try to keep that in mind. It is also true that it does get better over time, and soon both the redlining will be less and you’ll also learn to navigate the comments and feedback depending on who it’s coming from. But, there is never a place for another attorney to purely rip apart someone’s hard work “just because.” You’ll also learn to recognize when this is happening. In my first law job, an attorney a few years senior to me who had just made partner would criticize anything and everything that come from me, however inconsequential. For example, I once sent an email and he called me just to yell at me to not “send him emails without having them proofed first” because there were “numerous typos.” I reread my email multiple times and none of what he said was true. I was so new that I was too chicken to say anything. I realize in hindsight bullying was like a hobby for him. What a loser.
Anyway, I’m sure you’re doing great. Don’t beat yourself up! You’ve got this.
Thank you for this response! Appreciate the encouragement!
If the critique is not something you knew or were taught, then take it as a lesson learned. It’s not a reflection of you, it’s a reflection of their leadership. You can’t read minds or know how the firm does things unless you are told.
But if it is getting to you, consider making a move to a different firm.
It’s ok I felt like that when I started practicing 18 months ago. It gets way better. What type of law do you practice?
I don’t hate it but no, I wouldn’t say I like it.
I think everyone here is giving great advice. Best bowl on FB! lol
Wonderful advice! Thank you to everyone.
It happens unfortunately. One thing I would recommend is asking whomever is giving you work their preference, style, and also pulling something they have previously filed, drafted, etc. to understand their style. You can keep notes for different people and you will eventually catch on. Don't worry. Some of these people are poor leaders who have never had the ability to lead anything so they don't know how to handle it. Just ask as many questions beforehand so you don't waste your time.
They pay you so much to deal with the critique. The way they look at it if you want to leave they will get someone else
Appreciate both responses A2 and A1. I have been really trying to not let this job become who I am but I feel like with the nature of billing we’re always “on” and always receiving feedback so there’s never really downtime to make these changes and if the changes are made, a new batch is always incoming. Totally trying to not take things personally because the advice is important and helpful to know (to some extent) but it does feel exhausting to put it mildly.
F