My mentors (partner & senior) have scheduled a feedback meeting with me on Wednesday. It’s not just me, they’re scheduling meetings with everyone so I’m probably keeping my job. Thing is, I’ve been incredibly frustrated with the firm - I’m buried in work and billing like crazy, but there’s zero transparency on financials and zero communication on bonuses (...)

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Or the general state of the firm. Juniors are all lost and I’ve been replacing 2 other midlevels who left, and I’m sure other people on my group feel the same. Is this a good opportunity to try and tell them this in a polite manner? Or am I risking my job for very little benefit? FWIW I can’t afford to lose my job.

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Speak your mind. But be completely constructive and preface your comments with some fluff about loving the job and wanting to grow with the firm. Put another way, do not complain. Instead make suggestions for improvement. There’s a big difference between those things.

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I think you could mention feeling a bit overwhelmed. Probably wouldn’t mention the lack of transparency at the firm.

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Although would depend on your relationship with them.

Very sorry to hear that it’s been so rough for you.

Biglaw likes people who smile and do the work. Do not complain. Some firms are more dysfunctional than others, and they've not seen fit to fix it before you, so...read into that what you should.

I would gently probe around staffing and say you feel like you've been going flat-out for weeks, but you've been grateful for the opportunity to stretch and would like to book some time in Jan to recharge a bit. Then smile.

Also be sure to ask fir feedback and emphasize you prefer realtime feedback, but of course are grateful for formal feedback as well.

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