I’m a Junior corporate associate…just started a few weeks ago. I know my biggest value is in being available. Am I actually expected to be checking emails and working at 9:30 pm, or if something is given to me, can I respond in the morning?
I want to set proper boundaries but I don’t want to be the only one not pulling my weight.
It always depend on the context. But generally, if it’s not urgent and you’re tired, you can just answer “will do” and do it in the morning.
I generally think it’s a good idea to be responsive, but that doesn’t mean you have to complete the task immediately. If someone emails you asking you to do something, it’s a good idea to respond with, “I’d be glad to handle this. I should have time to do so [tomorrow]. Will that timing work for you?” If they specially ask for it faster, obviously adjust.
To give you some perspective, I often send out emails asking associates to help with stuff after my daughter goes to bed…not because I want it handled that evening, but because I’ve been away from my desk doing family stuff during the earlier hours.
Coach
Lol this is why I am in litigation. Sure the actual work is harder than making signature pages but i at least get to respect myself.
Coach
A10 - no argument from me
Subject Expert
Lol. 9:30 is early. Try 1 am.
Ok. Don’t do 1 am. If I get something at like 10-1030 and it’s not urgent, I don’t respond.
During waking hours, you should generally be checking email at least hourly or have alerts set in your phone so you can hear when emails come in. This is for outside regular business hours and when you’re brand new. You can dial back the responsiveness when you get more senior and have established working relationships.
Also, while you’re new, it doesn’t hurt to respond with a quick, “Will do! Is tomorrow/tomorrow morning okay, or do you need this sooner?” It’s better to ask more questions than less. When in doubt, ask versus assuming.
Subject Expert
I think biglaw expectation is you’re generally monitoring email from 9-9 maybe? I’m transactional and I’d be fine with my juniors not responding to a 930 email that night (unless we’re like closing tomorrow and it’s clear we are out of time - in which I probably communicate that expressly if you’re too junior to understand on your own). Also agree that “will do tomorrow” or “will do, what’s the timing on this” are fine responses if you want to respond but not handle same night.
One thing to be mindful of is time zones. I’m west coast but have a lot of east coast clients and counter-parties/opposing counsel. So personally I prefer to work late and get stuff out in the evenings bc then it’s in their inbox first thing east coast and I don’t wake up to a million annoying follow ups in my inbox in the morning and have to start off my day feeling stressed and behind. If we send out the next day 10 am PT then client doesn’t get it till 1 pm and feels like it’s “late”. Some people like to start working super early instead but I am not at my most productive early. Whatever works for you.
Coach
It’s always good to say “will do!” asap and then do it later. At 9:30, they will probably say if it’s urgent or it will be obviously urgent (like you are headed toward signing or whatever), but you can ask. No one would be offended with you asking if tomorrow works or whatever. But responding asap with an acknowledgment goes a really long way imo
A1 & C1, my issue is I guess since I’m so new here, it’s harder to gauge what’s truly urgent and what isn’t.
I agree with the above and would add that if something is truly urgent, most people will tell you because chances are, they are worried about it getting done. If they haven’t given you a timeframe when they ask you to do something, it’s completely acceptable to ask when they need it. If you’re swamped and worried about saying yes, you can say, “I’ve got x, y, and z, I need to handle first, but can turn to this afterwards, likely [later this week]. Does that timing work for you?” That’s a way of saying “not yet” instead of “no,” which is key as a junior.
You should check your email regularly up until the time you go to bed. The first thing you do in the morning should be check your email. Everyone is right that so long as there isn’t anything active on a “will do” and inquiry about timing should be sufficient. I wish we were only on call 9-9, but the reality is that 12 hours is too long to make someone wait on a response in this gig. Also, the time zone warnings people are giving you are really valid. Be aware of where the people you’re working with are located.