Serious question on what vacation means in the BigLaw world

Partners - Do you ever take vacations?

I have been at my current firm for about 1.5 years, and in that entire time the partner in my group hasn't been out of the office a single time. Is that normal? I can't tell if it's standard for big law partners to not take time off, if the dynamics for my group may be different (only 1 partner in the entire group), or it the partner I work with is just a masochist.

Where is everyone trying to go on holiday this year? 🏝🏔🚞✈️

There will be an annual holiday called OCCUPY WIREHOUSE where every May 18 financial advisors and their clients congregate arm in arm in front of each firm’s home office as a sign of solidarity.

Is 150k base salary enough to live comfortably in Manhattan. Assume no extravagant spending but decent apartment, eat out 2-3 times per week, vacation a couple times per year etc and regular savings rate? Hard to get a biweekly number based on all the types of taxes etc

does booking sick date or vacation impact utilization?

Any of your agencies closed this week? We're "open" and were encouraged to use PTO if we we planned on being out. Now all the PMs are working because there's work to do and several of our clients are open, but there are no resources to do the work.

Renegotiating my contract and curious about maternity leave policies at other practices/hospitals. Do you get paid leave? If so how much time off & are you getting full pay? We are a group of about 75 employees, 6 docs with 5 PA’s and only unpaid 12 weeks off.

If I'm forced to use my vacation, floater, etc. towards my study leave for CFE but I have vacation booked for right after CFE, will PwC still let me take that vacation as a "leave of absence"?

My local Safeway is already stocking Valentine's Day chocolates. What would they do without holiday candy to sell? Is this their main purpose? I wonder what they do in off season (if that exists)

I want to take this moment to wish everyone a happy new year. Still on holiday vacation.

There are so many holiday parties to attend. Any advice on how to make it to many and still be a functional human by the end of the week?

How is Mahindra Holiday and Resorts as an employer?

I love when coworkers say “Enjoy your PTO, it’s so well deserved.” Like what? It’s in my offer letter and part of my compensation, I’m entitled to it. We all are.

🌟What's happening Wednesday🌟
What's going on in Charlotte? Let's use this thread to share events, concerts, holiday festivities, and other fun things happening in the city this weekend!

Is your firm treating 12/26 and 12/27 as firm holiday since the 24th and the 25th are during the weekend this year? Of course client demands would dictate whether people will be working, but curious what the official policy is. For what it’s worth, my firm treated the day after thanksgiving as holiday and I didn’t have to work for the whole day.

Has anyone attended the Holiday Hi-Light Festival? Is it worth doing?

Best place for holiday office parties?

Ex CFS or OTS?

Parthenon hiring anyone full time this cycle or only interns?

Random q: any good easily accessible/free documentaries on wine or the history of wine? Also open to other great historical documentaries!

Whoo boy, I bet you’re all wondering what local ads are playing on the Canadian feed.

Any choice Marriott properties in NYC? Hard to distinguish what's a good pick. Trying to stay below 300 USD a night.

Please stop assuming your employees are available 24/7 to jump on impromptu video calls. Mental health is important, too.

Interviewing with PVH for a project coordinator role. I think I may be overqualified (3 year consultant but wants to exit to Fashion). Would love to know what the interview process entails, some salary insights, and overall satisfaction. Thanks!

What gyms or fitness classes do you guys go to? I’m looking for something in CC. I think convenience to actually get there is more important than what the actual class is 😂

Anyone in SF/ San Jose? f25

Could someone tell me a bit about Yuzu Yellow or Mosaic? Thanks!

Thoughts on jumping from consulting to a pre-sales job at a tech company? In desperate need of better wlb but I want to make sure I still have career progression and a decent bump in salary.

Anyone is a tech role in healthcare ? If so what is your title so you enjoy it?

After making it through all rounds of interviews at Apple, I was informed the comms planning role I am after was cut due to hiring freezes. That said, I am being offered a contractor role with potential for full time conversion if the role opens up. Any advice?

Laila Blueprint Cabernet 😍 I swear this is the best wine I've had in years.

Super important topic - What RU wearing to your Christmas party. I’ve been seeing pics of guys in suits and women in gowns this year.

My breakfast consisted of one giant spoonful of Nutella.

Anyone from JP Morgan willing to help on a referral? Working at Dell Strategy here, was from pwc consulting before. Saw an interesting strategy role at JPM and would love to try it out. Thanks in advance!

The hostility on my team is rough. We have a yeller. I walked by her room the other day. She was screaming across the room at a student, "you have to be kind to get kindness." Seriously, those were her words in a loud, berating, angry tone. Our admin has asked that we not report these. We are to talk to the teacher. She has yelled at me and other adults. Admin has to know she treats the kids this way too. One teacher has to work with her door closed to not hear the yelling all day.

Trying to win an office Halloween decorating contest and I set up this graveyard, but it just occurred to me to make it a lawyer joke like “here lies the bodies of our opposing counsels” or something along those lines, so gimme your best Halloween lawyer jokes! Here’s to hoping you will come up with something better 😂

Do you regret going to law school?
If you didn’t have any student loans from it, would that change your answer?
What would tell someone entertaining the idea of law school, knowing what you know now?

Does anyone here suffer from bipolar disorder? How do you manage it and working in law? I see a therapist, and a psychiatrist, and am on medication, but I still have days where I wake up and I’m so depressed I can’t move. I’m working on remedying this with my doctors, but how does one approach mental health issues with their employer? I never felt the need to until I realized how much being bipolar can affect my ability to work.

I’m trying to make the jump from legal services to corporate IP. I’ve only been in practice for 2 years and I have 0 experience in corporate. Do I have a chance?

What types of lit mid law or boutiques are better WLB than big law? Is this even a thing or just a myth?

How difficult is it to move to Big Law if you’ve only worked at small firms as a junior associate? It seems like a bubble you can’t infiltrate if you didn’t make your start in big law during OCIs

Opinions on career clerkships? Especially with a two year old and wanting another child eventually.

Trying to explain billable hrs to hubs. I billed 160 this month, which he said “is only 40 hr weeks” (true) - but how many hrs do you figure you “work” or are in the office to bill 150?

I have an interview for an in house position (only attorney) at a small non-profit focused on conservation easements. I am a transactional associate at a mid sized law firm. The prospect of freedom from the billable hour and contributing to meaningful work are the draws. The cons are that while the salary at the non-profit would only be slightly less than what I am making now, pay increases and opportunities for advancement will be much less than where I am now. Thoughts on making the shift?

Has anyone gone through the interview process for the the ADA Program in the LA DA’s office? Would love to know more about what it was like and what questions to expect. Thanks in advance!

What’s your love language?

Hi fishes. I am a third year and I was extended an offer to lateral to an Amlaw 100 firm, but as a second year. Is this common? I am coming from a specialty firm with four offices nationwide with a good reputation in our field. The lateral position is in the same field. Thank you!

Coming up on one full year at an ID firm. Feeling overwhelmed with my experience so far. I’ve received minimal training/feedback unless it was on something I messed up. It feels like the expectations don’t align with my level of experience. I have a case load of 45-55 with very little oversight or involvement from partners. Turnover is extremely high, as I’m the second longest tenured associate in the office. Looking for some guidance on whether this is the norm or not. Compensation is low 80’s.

I joined fishbowl a month ago and while I’ve seen a couple contentious debates but I must say I’m pleasantly surprised at how respectfully ppl comment on this app even when disagreeing. Usually anonymity on the internet brings out the absolute worst in ppl; they type things anonymously that they would NEVER say in person smh. But I really haven’t seen horrible comments here. I wonder what makes this app diff frm others?

Giving a CLE on practical tips for young lawyers, which focuses on practical tips such as looking for leadership opportunities and client development. We want to give a hand out of resources we’d recommend, like books, podcast, etc. Any recommendations for resources we should include?

Why do firms have offices in Palo Alto AND Menlo Park AND SF??

Why do partners tell associates to be cost-conscious when billing for certain clients when they can just cut your hours on the back end?

A friend literally asked me if I could help her with her divorce. I was like, I'm a tax lawyer who bills 2700 hours, so, no, not even emotionally

Does anybody work in a rule for a litigation finance or legal funding company who doesn't hail from a big law firm in background? Basically I have a lot of interest in the area have read a book about it in my free time and was wondering what sort of entry level opportunities I should be seeking.