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Looking for some advice on the following - I want to make a pivot back to client services, specifically advisory/consulting/transaction services. I have 4 years public accounting experience, and 3.5 years manager experience within the corporate controllership function, both technical and SEC reporting related (more technical than SEC). What roles would I be a fit for? Public experience includes tax and audit. EY PwC KPMG Deloitte
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Mentor
It stems from deep seated insecurity that most lawyers have, including those in the upper echelons of firm leadership. They don’t want their precious firm to be perceived as struggling so they do stealth layoffs and give website time to keep up appearances.
This has the benefit of helping the individual affected too, but it’s not done out of a motivation to help that individual.
From the individual perspective, I believe you’re right. Lawyers that make it into biglaw often think they’re better and smarter and harder working than those that didn’t. Thus they often have an inflated view of themselves that may not match reality. Perhaps they did better in school than they did working a real job and they act that way out of insecurity.
However, some of the best lawyers and people I’ve worked with have been stealthed so I know for a fact that sometimes it’s just ruthless cuts and not “performance-based” despite what firm leadership may say. In that case, their response may be warranted.
It’s a combination of firms not wanting to admit that they are struggling, lawyers not wanting to admit that maybe their performance wasn’t so great, and employers in general being bad at performance management, so attorneys (especially associates) not even realizing they aren’t doing a good job.
Even when the motivating factor is economics, who gets picked is still usually based on performance to some extent, even if it’s just relative to the rest of the group.
In this economic environment. The firm is struggling (or just behind desired annual profitability metrics due to change in demand) and they have to cull the heard. The system was never meant to keep everyone around. Plain and simple. If you were doing a bad job you would know about it long before your review in realtime lol The tell tale sign is uneven hours and seniors/partners hoarding work across the practice/group. Paying high salaries in that environment kills the bottom line and people with low hours tend to go first even through no fault of their own (because they don’t bring in the work). That is standard big law practice. You essentially need a partner/sponsor to protect you during those times. If you don’t 👋
I am all here for P1's "My firm has never fired anyone who didn't 100% deserve it" take. That's the type of vitriol that makes this website fun.
Going through my second stealth termination right now. Rip
I’m now jaded about law firms. All the same BS.
Enthusiast
I think firm leadership is insecure in general. However, I can see why there would be some annoyance if the firm gave three months severance and website time. If they don’t provide three months severance and website time, and it must be those two together, I don’t think firms have any right to even be annoyed. The lawyer who was fired/laid off/stealth has every right to name and shame the firm to give him or herself the best shot to find another job.