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Everything you’re saying and feeling is completely normal and expected. If it wasn’t like this, then you should really be worried because it means the partners have no faith in you and don’t even want to bother with you. The next five years are going to be painful and you’ll feel like you are committing malpractice left and right. I’m sure you’ll even have partners who decide they don’t want to work with you. Don’t take it personally. They are busy and stretched and stressed like you wouldn’t believe.
Work hard. Dress the part. Get in early. Stay late when needed. Bill your time as you go. Proof your work. Be eager. Be interested. Ask for work. Ask questions. Remember the criticisms and incorporate the advice for next time. Every assignment, just get 1% better. Rome wasn’t built in a day. Just keep going and don’t think too much.
Welcome criticisms. You’re a new associate and still learning. Partners will always have feedbacks/revisions. Don’t expect to write like the partner you’re working for. Every one has different writing styles and will want the draft changed to their preference. Don’t panic, but push forward. You got this! #esq.
I ran into this a few times years back and I understand the “demoralized” feeling. LA1 is right. Very normal. I have a recommendation that helped me. Read—then reread—Meditations by Marcus Aurelius. The way you absorb those criticisms says a lot about your train of thought. Try to stay objective and not take it personal. Litigation is tough work. Not for the fragile. A1’s advice is sound as well. Put in the hours and burn the midnight oil, but think about your perspective when you get that “demoralized” feeling, as well. Sustine et abstine. Hang in there!
Aurelius is ancient self-help.
Read Garner and similar writers. Things will eventually click.
Is called the practice of law because everyone and I cannot repeat this enough - everyone needs practice to be able to deliver the results that a particular partner wants
Keep your chin up. Your confidence is everything so don’t let anyone take it from you. You deserve to be where you are. You can’t control how long it takes you to pick up on what they’re trying to show you, but you’ll get it. In the meantime you can control how long you keep at it. Get there early, leave late, you’ll earn their respect and you’ll get over the hump that much sooner.
Point Made by Ross Guberman is also great!
Thank you all for the feedback, as well as the book recommendations. I needed to hear every word of all that advice.
Also keep in mind that partners like to delude themselves into believing the written product will have an impact on the case. It will not. Legal writing is not all that important. What matters is that it’s billable. As long as you’re profitable, you’ll be fine. 
A6 😂😂😂 while I agree billables are king - winning cases on summary judgment keeps the clients happy and the work flowing so written product is very important at least in commercial litigation
Don’t take it personally. Be stoic. It’s a practice. No one gets it on the first try. Or even second. Or third. Or tenth. It takes time. Even when you understand the criticism, it’s takes time for it to seep into your brain, and for you to develop. The partners know this. Just keep trying, but don’t get in the way of your own growth by taking it personally (bc then it shatters your confidence, and brings emotions into it). If you keep at it, you’ll look back in a year or two, and be shocked at how far you’ve come.
I work with a non equity partner who does all the writing for the equity partner and it’s literally like 10 drafts back and forth so don’t stress. He’s been at the firm for like 10 years and his briefs have even won scotus cases so no good lawyer just writes once and it’s done. It’s a process and sometimes subjective at that meaning everyone has a different style which isn’t necessarily better or worse.
Thank them and say how much you appreciate the time and effort they are putting in to make you better. It takes time and I'm Sure it can gets annoying for them to edit our work. Otherwise, keep it up! Do your best and keep learning :)
Cultivate your mind and your heart, read for you what you like, if religious-be!- pray. Go and be in nature. I mean, you must improve you for yourself! Maturity will come when you grow and all the practice pointers and criticisms are just a part of your life, not the all consuming and defining everyday you are immersed now. Balance and poise, grace and peace for clarity of mind when the battle is on!
Coach
Find a litigation treatise in the area of law for the specific type of document you’re drafting. You don’t know what you don’t know. So if this is a complaint, there may be claims or defense you’re overlooking, if discovery, you may be missing requests for routine documents in this trope if case, if this is a diapositive motion, well, DM me if you want my secret for that. There are resources if you have the drive to go get them. After spending an hour filling your head with background information, check in with the boss to make sure you understand and are going on the right direction. Check in often. It is in their interest to help you give them the product they want. Period. Don’t let them scare you into thinking you should know how to do this. It’s called a practice for a reason.
When I review drafting tasks of law clerks or new hires, I tend to scrap 90% of what’s turned in. But that doesn’t mean I’m disappointed, it just means I have high standards. I use these moments to teach substantive law and to give tips on structure and style. The only time I get pissed is when I make specific edits that someone doesn’t include on the next draft. I can’t speak for your partners, but odds are they’re just providing feedback for you to improve and didn’t expect you to nail it. You’re probably meeting expectations, even if you’re not exceeding them.
I think you’re 100% right, and that’s precisely what the feedback was-detailed, explanatory, constructive, and definitely not dissapointed/pissed about the effort. I have high expectations for myself, so even though I take constructive criticism well, I get angry with myself when I don’t nail something I thought I should have.
Since I made the post, I was assigned another summary judgment motion, and the same partner used 90% of what I wrote, but with explanations for why I got it right on top of what I needed to improve. On top of that, he let me put my name to an appellate brief I helped research and draft, which is fairly rare for someone at my firm who’s only been here a few months, so I think I’m definitely making forward progress.
Ask to see some of the partners' favored writings. Or look on the database for some of his/her work. Everyone (clients too) have preferences and pet peaves. Some like it short and sweet, direct. Others like academia-style prose and extensive analysis. Knowing your audience is the first step, and then study some of what they do like. And just keep at it -- you'll get better.