Junior associate told in review that I’m not understanding the stuff I’m working on. Billed less than 1400 (approx), including pro bono. Is it time to start looking? I have no peers in my class year (I’m the only person they hired for my class standing). Summered here both summers and really like the firm, the work I do get, and the people. I really don’t want to leave but I’m worried I’ll end up in a scenario where I’m under developed relative to my class year. I’m a KJD. Midlaw in the south.

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I think most juniors aren’t expected to fully understand everything they work on from a substantive standpoint. Did they mean that you don’t understand or can’t complete simple tasks like running a checklist, pulling signature packets together, and drafting simple ancillary documents? Assuming you’re transactional, that’s all that I’d expect from a junior aside from being super responsive.

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Nice…
You’re one of the good guys👍

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Eh I had a terrible first year and got a less than stellar review and really turned it around my second year. Now 7th year and close to partnership. I wouldn’t throw in towel yet. Give it another year and try to really ask a lot of questions.

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Okay, thank you. I think this is the way to go as a newly minted 2nd year… I don’t want to bounce around that much and would like to preserve the “freebie” first bounce…

1400 hours is nothing, especially if that’s WITH pro bono. Understanding what you’re working on is mainly a reflection of the instruction and amount of practice you’re getting, so if that’s the issue they flagged in your review, you’re very right to be worried. Even if the people are nice and the work is interesting, I would be looking to leave because it doesn’t sound like they are giving you the training and practice that you need more than anything as a junior. The learning curve is too high at your level to not be getting maximum experience.

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Also OP, with only 1400 hours, its not a good sign that the firm/group is busy. If the work doesn’t pick up, they WILL blame you and make it a performance issue so they can fire you without making it a lack of work issue.

I think you should try and grind it out and dig deep. But id dip my toe into the lateral market if i were you. I had a colleague in a similar situation as you and the firm eventually cut them loose, despite them beating out the PIP. If the firm needs to cut heads, those who had PIPs WILL be the first out the door (even if you beat it out)

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You need to get very specific information about what you are expected to know/understand and why they believe you don't know/understand it. It's possible their feedback is completely bs, but it's also possible they have good points. Be honest with yourself about whether you have room to grow in those areas.

If they won't give you specifics, they give you specifics but it feels like they have expectations of you that aren't consistent with other people you know at your class year (at other similarly-situated firms, if there are none at yours), or they give reasonable specifics but then at each review it feels like they're just shifting goalposts all the time, that's your cue

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Update for anyone who cares: I got a new position!

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I’d agree with a lot of pointed questions to better understand. If that doesn’t work out, probably time to move.

Will be tough to navigate in a competitive market

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