How Do Associates "KEEP THEIR JOBS" In Times Like These?

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This is a response to Anonymous @ 10:13 AM from Wild Wild Law (Click HERE, this is a HIGHLY recommended Blawg Site by Legally UnBound, Click HERE for the WWL Homepage), wherein they asked me:

"LU: I work at a large firm in town. I take everything given to me and stay as late as it takes to get things done. Still, there's just not enough work to go around right now. Luckily I've survived thus far. What's your guidance?"

Here is my Answer…and “NO”, I didn’t respond on WWL’s site, because I already get the beat down for being too verbose over there, so I didn’t want to take up 10 more pages on a thread. I’m not trying to get more traffic over at my site. I don't care.

@ 10:13 AM:

You probably shouldn't ask me such a question, 'cause I'll go on for days. However, if you are looking to stay employed, there are a few things that are essential to retaining your job as an associate. The following are the things that us partners are REALLY looking at, when we have to start weighing cuts, not what the pamphlets say we are looking at.

Perception is part of our reality. Your work product, your billable (collectible) hours and the way you treat the staff are all OUR tangible reality. In the end, all we have to go on is our perception of who you are and what your contribution is to the firm. You can’t escape either.

• As for your question about workload, be in front of the partners all the time. IT IS YOUR JOB TO FIND WORK. If you are telling me that work is thin, I bet you $100 that in 50 minutes I can drum up 2 weeks of work from your partners. Your problem is that they don’t trust you, yet. You need to be in their face, ALL THE TIME, providing quality, quick results. When I give out an assignment, then I get it back in 48 hours and it is good, believe me, you are getting my next 5 assignments. So, late hours and some of the suggestions below should help you there. [When I say late hours, I mean, you need to be “eating” some of your own time for the sake of the firm. I don’t want my client pissed off at me because you don’t know what you are doing.]

• Get to work before the partners and stay at work after the partners. You MUST work long hours for the first 3-4 years of your career. That is where you gain the reputation of being a hard worker that will follow you for the next 10 years, minimum. If you are always at work when the partners are there, the perception is that you are working your ass off. Who cares about reality, in this regard.

• Bill at least 8.5 hours a day (minimum), it should be more in the range of 9-10. Your presence at the firm coupled with big billables, that can be collected, is the magic combination that very few firms will let go. Don’t EVER bill the minimums. I don’t care what they say.

• Even when there is an “open-door” policy, don’t be an idiot and ask so many questions to the partner that it would be easier for them to do your work for you. NEVER ENTER A PARTNER’S OFFICE WITHOUT A NOTEPAD.

• ALWAYS, try as hard as you can, through every resource possible, to figure out the legal solutions on your own. If you are in my office 3 times on an assignment, that is too much. Ideally, I want to give you the assignment, get it back in 1-2 days and then be able to read it with minimal corrections. If I get a ton of Q’s, if I have to edit it heavy OR if the arguments are CRAP, you are on my garbage list.

• Brighten the mood of the staff by joking with them, treating them with respect and making them laugh. I’m not saying be gross or use distasteful humor. Usually you can find clever ways to brighten their day. Remember to buy them presents on special days, compliment them, take the fall for their mistakes, communicate well with them and be responsible. They likely know more than you about the law and they will be the first to bury you and the first to sing your praise (you’re competing associates will usually not hurt you or help you, in that regard), so look to the staff for your cheering section.

• Make sure that you produce “quality work”. If you get an assignment done fast, who cares if I have to spend an hour editing it. Sometimes, your work product creates more work for me. If I ever think, I should have just done this myself, you are at the top of the firing list.

• You are an attorney, act like one. Hold your head high. Have and give an opinion on legal and factual matters. Don’t be scared of what you don’t know and stop acting like you are new. When you act like you are new, I am constantly reminded of it. If you act like a 5 year attorney, I will forget you’ve only been out for 1 year. Confidence, confidence, confidence…

• Keep a good network with other associates at other firms. Sometimes, your best allies are each other (young associates) at other firms. You can give each other advice, point each other in the right direction, and exchange forms. That way you don’t look stupid at your own firm for being the person that asks too many questions. Don’t be afraid to call the court clerks, too. They are just like you and are usually very helpful.

• You should always be looking for your next best offer. Take every chance to talk to other firms, interview, if necessary, and ask about the conditions at other firms. There is a “fine line here”. Don’t be too complacent, but don’t be too jumpy. It is a myth that NV firms don’t like jumpers. Not true. We just want our place to be where you finally land. That is usually about year 4-5 years.

• It is a myth that large firms are the best places to work. They will pay more, of course. However, depending on the firm, you likely won’t REALLY learn how to be a real live attorney unless you take less money and work in the courtroom. You MUST think in terms of a 40 year career, not just how to pay today’s mortgage. You don’t want to be trying cases for the first time in year 3-4. Smart big firms break up into small independent groups and use their resources for training and then get the young ones out in the community. Then they use the partners for the client visibility cases. Most don’t follow this model. They are too confused about organization.

• Stop thinking about reputation. Just work hard, get your head beat in by other attorneys and don’t take crap from anyone. Not in an asshole kind of way, but in a stern way. You can be forceful, but very professional. Don’t let your arguments always digress to “sanctions”. Believe it or not, you are likely just as smart and informed about 75% of the legal issues as about 80% of the lawyers older than you.

• Most of ALL, use common sense in formulating your arguments. Try to think about what you would have thought before you were an attorney and many times that is the best argument. An attorney that can create a good argument in any situation is always worth keeping around.

If you keep these things in mind, you will be last on the firing list and first on the workload list. Remember, the partners are protecting their client relationships, their position in the firm and their billable requirements, too. So, you have to give them a reason to NEED you, a reason to TRUST you and a reason to KEEP you.

I can plug in almost anyone into a hole to make widgets, I don’t care if it is gaming, contracts, corporations, litigation, discovery, construction defect, car accidents or whatever. When I find someone with all of the above, I will fight heaven and earth to keep them on MY team.

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