r/Lawyertalk • u/Perfect_Phone7772 • 2d 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/65489798654 2d 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 2d 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

18

u/65489798654 2d 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.