What to do when you have no work? I’ve asked the three partners I work for for more assignments at least 2-3x each since last Wednesday/Thursday. No one has given me anything bc they’re “too busy” or don’t have anything right now. Planning on emailing managing partner this evening, but, feeling at a loss bc my bills have sucked end of last week and today....newish to the firm (2 mths) and don’t have any cases of my own yet. Feeling anxious bc I have nothing to do!

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Also keep in mind Dec. is generally slow for new matters, so it’s hard to get staffed. If nothing comes up by Wednesday keep an eye on your email but enjoy some down time. I assure you things will pick up in Jan.

And seriously. Enjoy it. A few weeks of little to no work will not destroy your career, and you’ll be pining for it when you’re inevitably buried!

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Enjoy this time. Seriously, you won’t get it back. It’s very common to be slow in December and when you first join.

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This. Totally normal to have a ramp up. They probably haven’t really figured out how they are going to use you just yet, snd are concerned with other things like making sure year end bills are getting paid. Also enjoy the fact that your hours probably don’t count yet since it’s close to the end of the year.

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How big is firm? Ask senior associates and rainmakers in other offices. Ask huge lit teams for doc review overflow.

Good on you for trying to stay busy. I dislike the not-busy-enough anxiety more than the too-busy kind.

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Send them an email acknowledging you know they’re on vacation, but that you were wondering in general if you should reach out to other practice areas if you have no work. They’ll remember the struggle. They may be working on vacation anyway or have some work for you that popped up that they don’t want to deal with precisely because they’re on vacation.

Either way, err on the side of more communication; it fosters relationships. 😊

Keep asking is a meh response, but just keep asking. Depending on how advanced you are, 2 months in is still very new. I don’t know what the culture is like at the firm, but I would ask any partners/senior associates you know for work. It will introduce you to those individuals and hopefully provide more sources of work so you don’t have shortages in the future. Having no work sucks, keep fighting through the anxiety.

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I’m in the same situation two months in, but as a new associate post bar. Though I worked at my firm for 1.5 years during law school. I’ve asked all attorneys in my practice group (across multiple offices) and the head of another practice group. All said December is just normally slower, particularly for a new associate and to enjoy the time because January is going to get crazy again. In the mean time, I’ve been writing blog posts and helping plan webinars for 2021 and familiarizing myself with all of the associate resources available while I have this down time. I understand the anxiety about not billing a lot right now though.

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Develop settlement charts and build up your law bank for motions and oral arguments

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Right now I’m enjoying Cyberpunk 2077 and Hades. Awesome games.

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Ask your managing partner if you can reach out to some more senior associates as well. They might need help too! Good luck and try not to stress too much. It’s Christmas week and generally one of the slowest weeks of the year.

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Another option if you can’t fill your time is to pick up a little pro bono work. You’ll gain experience, do good, and you won’t feel that anxiety from having nothing to do!

Ask other partners and associates who have been there longer. I am sure that the associates would love to get help. I did that and I started helping out two associates a lot. I also got really closer to them. I truly feel like it builds work relations as well. You’ll need the help one day as well.

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