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Stealth layoffs at CWT confirmed.
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Who’s still on the old DPW scale? 🥲
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Theres typically A-team associates who are the best and bill the most / get the most work. They are often particular partners favorites and get first shots at matters. There are also B-team and C-team associates.
It really depends what your long term goals are. If you want to be partner then you should continue to keep up the good work. For me, B-team is where its at. Im chilling as a 6th year billing 2k hrs. I dont really work nights or evenings except during a close and am just waiting to go in house.
damn I gotta dial it back to the C team.
Think Id put myself in this category, and want to be a partner. I get a shit ton of work but given my goals I don’t think I can avoid getting a lot of work
I think a lot of us (as A3 says) want to be partner so we want to be in this group. If a partner I like to work with staffs a different senior associate (usually because I’m dying) I genuinely am like wtf. I think the way to do what you’re saying is just to turn down work.
I find that doing less than my best is not within my character, and likely true of many on the A team. But I have learned to set boundaries and say no to projects over the years. If you're good, have faith that nobody is cutting loose a great associate for saying I don't think I can take this additional thing on, or I need two more days to finalize this draft (but if you'd like me to turn it over to you from where I'm at right now please let me know).
Dealing with those more senior: Learn to say no without saying no and be strategic about who and when you deploy it; “softly” manage expectations and timelines. This is you taking ownership of your practice, and as long as you’re tactful, I think people generally respect it even if they’re disappointed you can’t take on their work this time. You can still be thought of as a go-to without saying yes to every single thing.
Dealing with those more junior: Invest the time to train, mentor, and delegate. Be a decent human that younger associates want to step up for. Start building your army.