I've been in practice for about a year at a high stakes plaintiffs litigation firm. I make $85/year, I'm in the office at 8 and leave around 5:30. I work occasionally on Saturdays. When we have something big coming up, I stay extra to get it done in time. I've never missed a deadline.

I had a meeting this week where the partners told me they questioned my commitment because they were working more hours than me.

Am I the problem here and should work more, or is it time to find a new job?

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Posting as :
works at
You are currently posting as works at

1000000000% time to find a new job

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Get out they are looking for a slave to dump work on.. 85k to work weekends and do additional work just because of optics? Hard pass, you arent being paid enough to kill yourself or care.

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I have a similar salary and probably work longer hours in average than 8-5:30. I’m actually on my way out anyway for a new job partly because of salary but I will say at least at my job no one questions me about how much I work and if they did I would probably lose my mind for $85 per year. Give me a break.

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That's what I'm thinking.

BTW, I think we made the same error: I'm making $85k/year

Use this as an opportunity for a raise. Or ask what their expectations are? All deadlines are met, what is the issue? What were they hoping to achieve by telling you that?

likehelpful

So really there is not always work to be done on the case. Discovery…

I’m in agreement with pretty much everyone else that has commented. What you got was a verbal whipping over nothing. Unless they think you should be resolving more cases (generating more fees) they should be thrilled you’re working 9.5hour days including weekends for the salary they give you.

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They don’t pay you enough. Get a raise or leave

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Do you have a billable hour requirement?

I do not. We're all contingency.

It’s hard to say with salary without knowing your market. $85k for a first year is a lot less in NYC than it is in like Omaha or Tallahassee. Those hours for that salary in a small market is not bad at all, especially for civil litigation. I’m in personal injury and work far more than that. But if you’re working contingency and for less than market value, I’d look into wether or not they’d be willing to share in the spoils for cases you do the heavy lifting on. Maybe the incentive would work for both you and the partners.

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