Tax associates, how many hours do you bill for a typical M&A deal in total? And how has that varied as you have gotten more senior?

Any Atomic Habit readers here? I’m brainstorming identity-based habits for two things I want to change:

-I want to bill more hours, so my goal is to become the type of person who bills at least 8 a day
-I want to drink less alcohol, so my goal is to become the type of person who drinks occasionally

Neither of these feel that helpful. Any one have suggestions for other identity-based goals that get at these changes I want to make?

Novartis is providing permanent WFH, is this true?

I am a technical writer with 2.8 years of experience currently earning 20LPA am I being underpaid?

Has EY gds ever revoked their offer letter??

3 Day PTO starts now...my buddy's bachelor party. Forget you, utilization.

Anyone take SHRM? How many hours did you study?

My mental health has suffered tremendously over the past month. I have a therapist that I probably should see more of but I’m jobless and need to save. I am an aspiring entrepreneur with an inspiring business idea (to me lol) but my anxiety and depression is hindering me severely… fuck my brain. Any other founders here? It’s f‘ing tough.

Those still planning on getting married in the middle of a pandemic: do you realize you may cause deaths bc of a party?

Took Diclegis today based on the group recommendations and just want to stop by really quick and give a big shout out to the angel who recommended it. I was literally living a death situation with the nausea today and that really picked me up and made me feel human again. Thanks

Did you do the NIPT? I just had my first prenatal appt and they scheduled me for the NIPT at 10 weeks. I’m a little nervous and anxious. Did anyone get it and got a false positive? Do you not recommend it? I wish I could ask family but we’re not telling anyone until the 12 weeks mark.

It’s been 5 weeks and I haven’t gone a day or night without crying and feeling haunted by them. I can’t eat, can’t sleep, can’t produce quality work, can’t find joy in anything I previously loved. This is the worst physical and psychological pain I’ve ever experienced.

Biggest stereotypes about working in diversity & inclusion....Go!

What monetary goal/target are you telling yourself to hit before quitting big law?

Hey guys,

I really need your help.

I recently got a good opportunity in one of the Mncs to work but i was worried as i had absconded from one of the companies just after 2 months of working there due to mental torture.

I have a shown the same as gap for personal reasons in my resume.

Will i have any problem after joining this new MNC during background verification as per the standards?..

Really need your help if anyone has faced this situation or know anything on the same.

Thank you

Going to Charlioftsville next weekend, any wineries, restaurants, breweries, hiking etc...to do there during COVID. Appreciate your insight!!!!

Tax Senior here. I’m well liked around the office, I put in the hours and work hard, I haven’t had any dumpster fire projects, but I am a mediocre performer compared to my peers (not as strong project management, communication, not as confident). I just got told they’re firing me. Should I expect severance? Have other people been fired for similar? What did you do with your career?

whose voting for Elizabeth Warren next election?

Was interviewing with a firm and soon after receiving an offer, learned of bad culture/toxic partners in the practice group from a couple of associates who recently lateraled from the firm. I turned the offer down. A partner that I clicked with while interviewing reached out asking me why I turned down the offer. Should I be honest and relay what I heard?

Any AUSA/DOJ trial attorneys here? What’s life like compared to big law?

Give me the strength to set a boundary today and do something fun instead of waiting by my computer for emails

Fish, I trust your advice. Anyone have leads or recruiter recs for SF biglaw litigation? Looking to lateral as a to-be second year, mostly antitrust/white collar.

How do I make my windowless office more lively. It’s driving me crazy

I lateraled into a niche practice group in Sept 2021. I also have a 1 year old and have been mostly remote since I started - but have been keeping busy tracking towards 2400-2500 hours. That said getting to know people only remote has been kind of awkward at times (email only can be tough to decipher) although as a working mom the pros vastly outweigh the cons. Yesterday my main partner asked me to come in Thursday bc he will be there and set a time to meet. Is this good/bad?? kind of nervous!

Is it common for a midlevel to gossip with a first year about another first year’s work? Is it common for midlevels to trash juniors amongst themselves? I think my office is hella toxic

Paralegals: what’s your least favorite thing about working with attorneys?

I'm up for election next year. Kind of feel like I'm in Squid Game right now.

I've signed on to this, I'm really close to the end, but at a certain point I feel like I just want to check out of the game (and go in-house or something).

Has anyone used or heard about Flagstar Bank for mortgage? Seem to have a great program for JDs, wondering if anyone has any bad experiences or good experiences with them

Are L&E firms raising salaries (Littler, Fisher, Ogletree, etc.)? What is starting compensation?

Any recommended books to read prior to beginning a summer associate position? Transactional/ Corporate & Finance

I’ve seen this rant a lot so I know we all have that one partner—but for the love of god can you just forward me the emails when you get it?? I see you got this urgent request over 10 days ago 🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄

Did your firm’s leadership send a message re the horrific shooting? Before I lateraled we always got emails from leadership, which IMO were very humanizing and appreciated. New firm leadership seems to just avoid — probably to not appear politically involved. Your thoughts on these types of current events and firm acknowledgment?

“Keep costs down”???? I am happy to keep costs down by not working on this ducking matter anymore. Maybe stop saying yes to matters that are too small to justify our rates and staffing an expensive senior person on them when you’re already dying trying to get anything staffed. You didn’t have to do shit on this matter, didn’t hear you complaining about my taking the lead and managing everything for you when that was happening. >.>

What responsibilities should a litigation associate have by their second year?

I can’t stand people that brag about how busy they are or how late they stayed up doing X. They may think they’re just complaining, but the sanctimonious tone is unbearable. I promise you, no one is impressed. You are the problem with this industry.

Why do many associates at top tier firms stay to make Partner when they can go in-house in tech and make around the same, even long term? For example, you can make near 400-550k in-house at Google, Netflix, FB with 8-10 years of exp. More senior than that in-house, it can easily break $1M.

Do you think Milbank hate DPW?

Completely and totally miserable at my firm and just need a space to vent because my friends are tired of hearing about it. I wish the worst part about it was the amount of work, rather than the completely toxic culture, lack of appreciation, arbitrary and back/breaking deadlines, lack of mentorship/feedback/training, and the fact that the associates act like they don’t even know each other. I cry every day and constantly am made to feel stupid for not understanding the highly technical (cont.)