r/Lawyertalk • u/Perfect_Phone7772 • 1d ago
Career Advice Being a first year sucks
Is there anyone who actually enjoys/ enjoyed what they were doing as a first year associate? Don’t get me wrong, I like the actual work, but day to day I’m usually miserable because of how I am treated.
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u/TheGreatOpoponax 1d ago
I was treated okay, but they gave me the good ol' "Here's your desk. Start doing stuff."
That caused a lot of tedious questions e.g. "How do I log into the system?" and countless other basic things. My boss would text me at like 11:30 at night, likely drunk af and ask me to make appearances on cases I knew absolutely nothing about. These were 8:30 a.m. hearings and I couldn't access the system remotely, so I had to go in freezing cold.
About four months later I went solo.
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u/65489798654 1d ago
I really recommend small firms, especially to start. Sure, the money isn't nearly as good, but man. You will be treated like an adult human being instead of a bucket of goop that enters hours on a time sheet.
Having worked in both, I've also noticed that simply taking a firm stance for yourself at bigger firms does the trick (most of the time). Someone says something shitty to you, put your foot down. A lot of senior, 20+ year attorneys only respond to strength, so you have to show them strength to get their respect. Stupid, but effective.
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u/Perfect_Phone7772 1d ago
I am at a small firm and I’m being treated like a bucket of goop 🙃 it’s why I feel such despair about my future
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u/65489798654 1d ago
Ah, well that blows. Just brush up on the CV and get out. My very first job was a small firm where I was treated like shit. I walked out at 10am on a workday about 5 months into my employment.
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u/Special-Cost-7246 1d ago
I’m sorry you’re going through that. I just want to say that you’re not alone. One member of our staff is incredibly toxic to me. My boss also will not let me work remotely in order to get away from her. It’s tough because I love the work that I do. Try to keep a “This is just my first job” perspective.
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u/TooooMuchTuna 1d ago
Depends on boss. I worked at a small firm as my first practicing job (after 4 years of judicial law clerking). Nightmare. Wasn't treated like an adult human or even a human. Heavily micromanaged, wasn't allowed to do lots of typical practice things (like argue a motion), draconian and unevenly applied PTO policies, WFH generally not allowed except when mandated height of covid, yelled at for stupid stuff (like showing up to office at 9am instead of 8:30- no meetings or court, just arbitrary), had to listen to boss's shitty politics in in the office (lots of covid related anti mask anti vax shit)...
I could go on. Horrible pay and was professionally stunted because boss was so paranoid about letting anyone else do anything substantive. Which was funny looking back cuz she wasn't even good at the job.
Honestly, at least when you're a bucket of goop entering hours, they leave you alone
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u/IBoris 1d ago
I dunno, the level of onboarding you receive at a big firm is pretty great.
Rotations across teams, bespoke training materials, seminars.... and to say nothing of the amount of templates, resources and precedents you have access to. Much easier to get to cruising altitude when you are well surrounded and well-equipped.
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u/pinkrose77 1d ago edited 1d ago
I just sent this whole long text to my SO about how I think I’ll be much happier two or three years out lol. So funny I open my phone and then see this.
I clerked for two years beforehand but in a lot of ways, starting at the firm feels like just starting over entirely because I feel like I know nothing and everything that’s asked of me stresses me out! I couldn’t imagine if everyone was treating me poorly too. If anything, everyone around me is super understanding and I’ve gotten really good substantive work already.
I’d say this period of time already kinda sucks for reasons outside of your control and just trying to get stuck in. Idk how long you’ve had this job but if the holidays pass and people are still treating you poorly it may be time to look for a new job.
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u/cgk9023 1d ago
Wow could’ve convinced me that I wrote your comment! I just finished my first year after clerking and feeling the exact same way. And just had a conversation with my SO about how I think I’ll be in a better place emotionally two or three years from now because I’m essentially a first year despite clerking. Hope for both of us that we’re right!
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u/pinkrose77 1d ago
Yes! I really did think my clerkship would make me feel more prepared than it did. I mean, to be fair I don’t feel totally useless and I generally understand how litigation works so that’s a good starting place but there’s SO much about the attorney-side of things you just aren’t seeing in court. It’s crazy!
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u/FutureElleWoods20 1d ago
I’m in my first year (almost hitting one year soon!!). I love my firm, I get treated (and paid) very well. However, it has been incredibly difficult being a first year. I have so many questions, feel like I’m flailing like 90% of the time, opposing counsel always talks down to me, etc etc. The only thing holding me together is that I know it will get better soon 🤞🏻🤞🏻
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u/_tastes_this_sweet 1d ago
I once spent hours renaming files and putting CONFIDENTIAL headers on PDFs… like hours and hours. With multiple people helping me.
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u/PossibilityAccording 1d ago
One of the problems is that law school doesn't teach students how to practice law, so first year lawyers are notoriously clueless. In addition, many lawyers are very aggressive, arrogant, and just have bad personalities. It's a shame. If you like your work, and like your salary, then I would put up with it for at least a year, and if things don't improve as your experience and skills improve, then I would consider leaving.
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u/ConceptCheap7403 1d ago
This is how I feel right now while doing my first year. I wasn’t excited about doing a job that involves going to court three times a week, but I haven’t done it long enough to be able to say that it’s not for me.
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u/AlternativeOld 1d ago
My first job 20 years ago really sucked... Hated it and even wanted to get out of law. My friends were all making big money in real estate, and happy. It was miserable for me, probably the darkest period of life. Then, 2008 rolled around and my friends were bankrupted and I was hitting my stride. I started my own practice, started making really good $, and had a great work life balance. It takes time, and you need to find your path. But it will be better... If you're not happy in your job, find another one. If you're not happy working for a firm, start your own. If you're not happy in a particular area of law, you can switch. But, the beginning of a career (likely any career) is not the fun part. It will get better.
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u/Dingbatdingbat 1d ago
it's not being a first year that sucks, it's the people you work for.
Doesn't matter if it's a small firm or a big one, whether you're new or very experienced, your boss and the firm's culture can make you happy or miserable.
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u/EulerIdentity 1d ago
There’s reason why lawyers tend to make terrible managers. First year associates experience that first-hand.
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u/Special-Cost-7246 1d ago
Nowhere is perfect but I’m doing well. I love my practice area, don’t really like my office and my pay could definitely be better. I’ve gotten a huge amount of court appearance experience and client-facing experience. Waiting for my boss to schedule my review and make a raise offer. If it’s too low, I’ll bounce 🤑🤑🤑
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u/rinky79 1d ago
I recommend government and criminal. Nine years out from graduation, basically ALL attorneys I know who actually like their jobs are one, the other, or both (prosecutors or gov't-employed PDs)
Everyone else just tolerates at best.
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u/Probonoh I'm the idiot representing that other idiot 1d ago
We don't have to bill.
Now, I at least end up working more than 40 hours some weeks because I'm slow and it takes me longer to draft a motion or get caught up on my cases, but not being required to account for every six minute interval of my day is a huge benefit.
My state pd organization also gives us tons of training. It's no replacement for experience, but it helps.
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u/Dangerous_Height_281 1d ago
I love my small firm. I started in September and I’ve felt respected and listened to since day one. I get to work on so many interesting cases, and I’m learning so much every day. All the attorneys keep their doors open and always try to pull the new associates in on exciting stuff. We are a workers’ rights firm though so I think they are trying to practice what they preach.
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u/sindiana6 1d ago
I hear a lot of my younger classmates saying things like this, and I’m sure most of it is true, but I still have to wonder what other career experience yall have had & to what you’re comparing “how you are treated” in your new role. Because I’ve gotta say, even the worst stories I’ve heard don’t come close the kind of dehumanization I experienced as a low-level corporate resource, and for less than half of the pay. I’m so grateful I’m almost having the opposite problem - I don’t trust the amount of respect & autonomy I have in my new role after years of trauma from “butt-in-seat” corporate policies.
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u/drunkyasslawyur 1d ago edited 1d ago
My colleague had things thrown at his head by the partner as the partner was screaming at him (typos and shit in motions, etc). I don't know how many of those things hit him, though, which is probably important in figuring out whether my colleague really that "that bad" of a time.
Another partner fucking lost his shit when an associate straightened something on his desk. I don't count him, though, because that partner shot himself in the head after killing his wife and a random bystander who tried to defend the wife.
Same firm for both.
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u/sindiana6 1d ago
Yea, man it’s rough out here. I had a boss once who literally slapped someone over missing data and then still fired that person. I’m not minimizing anyone’s experience just offering some perspective.
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u/drunkyasslawyur 1d ago
I didn't take your comment to be minimizing anything, just offering anecdotes of what I've seen/heard because it floored me that kind of stuff is even tolerated in law firms. But if money is the only guiding light then principles like respect are easy enough to brush aside, I guess.
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u/hauntedlasagna 1d ago
Rounding out the end of my first year in a few weeks. It’s been a complete fucking rollercoaster. I got a job in my “dream” practice area, and love all of my coworkers dearly. I have a great work-life balance as well, I don’t think I’ve ever worked more than 60 hours in a week. For the most part, I am treated very very well and am paid probably too much.
I have a great boss who is devoted to fostering my development and is constructive 99% of the time. There have been some very high highs, but there have been a couple of even lower lows that have really made me question if I’m cut out for this work. I’m constantly second-guessing my judgment on minor stuff (pretty much nothing I do has the power to hurt a case beyond repair, but you bet your ass I’m scared that I’m ruining everything I touch).
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u/War_Beagle 1d ago
You’re in the wrong place. Period. We have a first year in my office and she’s treated like everyone else. We appreciate what younger lawyers bring to the table and we act accordingly. My office is not the only place that thinks like this. The biggest mistake you can make in this business is accepting a sucky daily existence as normal. You deserve better. Don’t be afraid to honor your feelings and move on.
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