Second year. How do I properly assert boundaries and get out from under a mid-level who drives me insane? This person is 10x more picky than the partners I work for and doesn’t seem to understand that I have my own caseload. Basically, having trouble justifying the “no” to new projects, even when my hours are fine and I have down time.

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The partners trust associates to care about details. You seem to believe that you’re above getting work from mid-levels because they’re a mid-level. Don’t.

Communicate your boundaries by saying “I’m doing X, Y and Z for associates A, B and C. The earliest I can get this to you is Date X. Is this OK?”

Some people will say you should just avoid working with them, but this is noticed very easily and does jot bode well for you

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If youre junior, learning different stylistic ways is part of the job. It’s annoying to do, but im sure there’s something to learn from working with that mid-year. If time conflict is an issue, i would communicate that clearly and note how long it will take for you to complete that mid-year’s assignment but i wouldnt question his or her validity. An associate just one year senior to you would already know a lot more

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You’re an adult. Tell the midlevel you’re too busy to do X but can get it in Y or as an alternative suggest making substantive edits only. If mid balks and cries boo hoo might affect your rep but the people who will care are those with the same working style, in which case that’s better for you since you won’t likely want to work with them either.

Doing this job is about getting good and you need to trained but it’s also about finding your homies. Remember, this is as much an art as a science. If you don’t like how the guy/gal paints work with other people.

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What are examples of things they’re picky about?

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Just say no to the projects with that mid-level if possible. If you cannot say no but you’re busy enough, I would go to a mentor and ask for advice. There is no need to force yourself to be burnt out because of a mid-level while you otherwise would be happy working in your group (assuming that is the case). Better to speak out than give in to a mid-level’s toxic power trip.

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