Junior associate at a tiny firm. 3 attorneys one office manager /paralegal and one other woman who works as support staff. Today I was in a strategy meeting with my senior associate prepping for a big hearing he and I are handling this Friday. We were in his office working and I got yelled at by my named partner for not being by my phone in my office in case a call came in. It was humiliating, I’m new to the profession, is this normal? Should I just get over it? I try to be a good team member.

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Not normal but not surprising. I have heard stories of this kind of behavior. Find your way out!

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Not normal but very common in small firms. Once I got yelled at by the firm owner for over two hours because I had a doctor’s appointment and I came to work at 10:30 instead of 9. I’m a salaried employee and I didn’t have to clock in on time. FYI small firms fire people whenever the owner feels like to. Keep an eye on Indeed or LinkedIn and be alerted if they post a new job which is likely to be your position. Leave when you can. I finally got my mental health back after I left my last small firm.

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Yikes! My big law experience (minus the benefits issues) sounds so similar to your small law experience.

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Not normal but there are no boundaries or regulations in small firms. I would seek a better opportunity!

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I would actively start applying

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Leave the small firm life!!!
Sincerely,
Someone who did and is much happier

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Where did you go?

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Yikes.

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Can you not forward your calls to your cell?

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Update, I was reminded today that my role was to focus on intakes and do the work that I have been assigned they are discouraging me from going into my SA’s office to discuss cases, and help with prep. I was told by my SA that he wanted to go over my work on a case, and we had a practice of going into each others offices to discuss work. I’m so confused and starting to hate this profession. Up to this point this firm has been great. I also offered in our last staff meeting to take a stab at a new type of pleading I had never done before to learn how to do it. I volunteered and showed initiative. I was told to never do that again. They would give me work. I’m so upset and it’s just ridiculous. Apparently my SA and I are working too much together and spending too much time in each others offices? It’s always about firm business. What’s the lesson here? How can I turn this into a positive?

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Learn as much as you can in you present position and adapt to the culture as much as possible. fine tune your resume and look for another position.

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You’re new, just stay in your lane and learn the firm’s business model before wanting to explore other areas.

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I have worked at several small firms; that's not OK. Current firm I'm at (which is very small, and though I am actually in late 30's, I'm "the kid" of the group), all of the senior partners have apologized to me for coming into my office when I am talking to someone else. There's also a difference between yelling--as in, they're just loud--and scolding. The latter is a childish trait that the Boomers think they're entitled to deploy because they never had to learn how to deal with their own feelings. Sounds like your boss. Prepare your resume and apply to mid-sized local firms (30-50+ or more attorneys). Reach out to opposing counsel on past cases you've handled and ask if they're hiring. Don't take crap like that. Stand up for yourself. You'll be glad you did. There's more litigation out than there are attorneys to handle it. It won't take long to move on.

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So it happens by lawyers among staff. So why wouldn't it happen between lawyers.

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