Big Law - HR meeting out of the blue

[Anonymous]

Any updates OP?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Any updates OP?

Not OP, but what's to update? The situation sucks, and OP needs to move on to the next phase of his/her career.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I thought firms usually told associates they weren't partner material and nudged them out. Not fake PIPs.

That was true in the past, this seems to be a trend more recently. It's not really a PIP.

OP needs to find another job, ASAP. Nothing else matters.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:This is op. This SUCKS. Im feeling defeated and depressed and imposter syndrome is eating me alive. The pip made no reference to a severance package and nothing was discussed about it. I think the posters who said it’s a 60 day runway and then they will talk to you about severance are wrong, I think this 60 day window is the severance period basically.

I'm sorry OP. I agree with you, the paycheck from this 60 day period is likely the "severance." It's not a real PIP, if it does not include metrics to improve your performance and keep your job. If the metrics are you need to work more hours, then they need to be giving you the work. Maybe continue to play dumb and ask more questions about how to "pass" the PIP. If you're comfortable, you can see an attorney, not to sue them, but to help negotiate a better deal.

You you want to go the play dumb and act like it's a real PIP, schedule weekly meeting with the partner to discuss progress and what you are doing to meet it. Part of an actual PIP is management working with the employee to hit the goals- in this case giving them the work. My guess is the PIP guise would drop very fast

Isn’t this just playing games? It’s clear what their intentions are.

DP - isn't the law firm just playing games? And playing them to CYA against an employment action against them?

They are not playing games. They are running a business.

It would be much smarter to use the partner to introduce you to connections or serve as a reference rather than play dumb and embarrass oneself.

I'm not OP, but let me get this right: the firm gets carte blanche to lie about the quality of OP's work and frame her dismissal as performance-based instead of the truth, which is that their business model is unable to sustain her as an employee. OP should do whatever is in her best interest, but if that includes calling the firm's bluff, then she should call it.

This is the worst possible advice if OP wants to practice law in DC. OP needs to emotionally detach from what has happened and find another job, STAT.

Law gives people a slower send off than many corporations.

A lot of things that impact your career are not things you can control. If work seems to be less, an earlier option might have been to shift to working for another practice group, may or may not have been an option. Having mentors to guide you can give a timely heads up. Things being slow is NEVER a good sign at a firm.

Business push out older more expensive people all the time.

[Anonymous]

I don’t see big deal here. If you are good plenty of time to find job.

If not ride the PIP, keep looking, try to get some severance sign up unemployment and enjoy some time off till something new pops up.

You are lucky you were not “perp walked” that’s the worst when HR pulls you from desk midday and security walks you out for all to see.

Congrats 🎊🎈🍾🎉 is how you should think about this a mini vacation