Law Firm Associates Who Were "Let Go" : Did You See It Coming?

[Anonymous]

If you are asking yourself this question, then you are probably at risk of being let go. I was also asking myself that question as a sixth year associate many years back, and that is when I decided to take the bull by the horns and leave.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sounds like you are being iced out but it also sounds like you aren't working hard enough to make yourself valuable. You need to make yourself irreplaceable, your hours need to be stellar, you need to have a clear connection with several partners who will go to bat for you. If you haven't figured this out and haven't done it by the 6th year, it isn't good. But it sounds like you don't want it anyway. Be honest. If you aren't trying for partnership track then why are you there? To be the world's oldest associate? You need to bill enough and have enough receivables to make yourself profitable. They aren't just going to hand you a promotion and you can't just stay forever in limbo as an associate.

At this level perhaps you can go in house for a client. Talk to a partner you trust to see if there are any openings at clients or other connections. You could also consider moving to the government

At my BIGLAW, in lieu of lay offs often partners stop giving work to associates they want to leave. Totally passive aggressive but the theory is the associate will get the hint and get a new job. This could be happening to you. It is easier to get a new job when you already have one. Good luck.

I don't understand this comment. "Average" hours are insufficient to make someone valuable? They have to be "stellar?" How do average hours translate into getting "iced out?" Someone has to be in the middle . . . is the entire middle of the pack getting fired?

Yes. That's the business model. Milk as many hours as you can get from associates and then fire them after 5-8 years. Rinse, lather, repeat with each new class of associates.

[Anonymous]

Agree that hours are never enough.

If work done by a sixth year can be managed by an up and coming fifth year, fourth year, or third year, then it makes sense for the partner to give the work (and experience) to the up and coming associate. Client pays a little less per hour, but the more junior associate also costs less.

I wouldn't count on government. Competition is stiff and hiring is very slow. It'll be slow at least until the budget gets fixed, and probably after that. It will turn around eventually because almost half of the federal workforce can retire in 10 years. For now, however, it's not much of an option.

You should, however, try to understand what isn't exciting you about your current job before you make a move. You need to identify how you'd rather spend your days, weeks, months, and years. Spend money now to find a good recruiter or career coach. It's worth it -- the time goes by pretty quick.

[Anonymous]

That is the model because associates need to be profitable to make partner, so bring in enough receivables (client must have paid) from their billing to be over and above the cost of their salary, benefits and overhead. Usually at least $100,000 more for a few years. So if you are just middle of the barrel, then I doubt you are achieving this. They jus don't hand out partnerships. It is still a business like anything else and this happens to be the model. So it is what you signed up for when you join a firm. Out of there class of 24 associates I started with in my DC office, only 1 made partner.

[Anonymous]

My firm has a, well, firm policy of "up or out." If they don't see you on the partner track, they will let you know and invite you to leave.

We do that to people who don't get along well with others, people whose hours are not above the requirement or whose work is shoddy.