K&E partner's stupidly aggressive email on ATL

[Anonymous]

I have no problem with this. The firm has a ton of work coming in and needs warm bodies to staff it. They're not indentured servants -- any one of them can walk out the door tomorrow. The only problem I have is with the person who sent it outside of the firm.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I dont think its all that bad since there is actually work available. I think it would be way worse to chastise people when there was no work available.

It sounds like there are people who can work or work more and are not and it makes sense not to turn work down. I don't see the issue. They are there to make money.

[Anonymous]

Yeah, Andy is kind of a jackass from what I've heard. But I actually wonder if this was intentional. Think about it. He's laying the groundwork to say that people aren't working hard enough. He's saying - hey, our firm is doing fine - we are getting plenty of work. He's laying the groundwork to justify laying associates off.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I dont think its all that bad since there is actually work available. I think it would be way worse to chastise people when there was no work available.

It sounds like there are people who can work or work more and are not and it makes sense not to turn work down. I don't see the issue. They are there to make money.

You are assuming he is telling the truth. Maybe he knew this would get into ATL and he's trying to blame associates for being slackers before they do a slew of layoffs. Instead of acknowedlging they arent getting enough work, he is blaming associates for ducking work. Who knows if they actually are.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yeah, Andy is kind of a jackass from what I've heard. But I actually wonder if this was intentional. Think about it. He's laying the groundwork to say that people aren't working hard enough. He's saying - hey, our firm is doing fine - we are getting plenty of work. He's laying the groundwork to justify laying associates off.

Why shouldn't he lay them off?

He just gave the entire firm notice. This is the half year mark and all of you are slacking.

They have 6 months to get their butts in gear, while working from home might I add (which everyone has begging for), or no Christmas bonus and no job in 2021.

He did his job - brought in work for the firm. They need to do theirs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I dont think its all that bad since there is actually work available. I think it would be way worse to chastise people when there was no work available.

It sounds like there are people who can work or work more and are not and it makes sense not to turn work down. I don't see the issue. They are there to make money.

You are assuming he is telling the truth. Maybe he knew this would get into ATL and he's trying to blame associates for being slackers before they do a slew of layoffs. Instead of acknowedlging they arent getting enough work, he is blaming associates for ducking work. Who knows if they actually are.

He's a lawyer. He knows the fired associates can request a forensic accountant to see just how much work their actually was.

Aside from that K&E is the largest law firm in D.C. I would not be surprised at all if they have a heavy workload because the federal government is pushing more stimulus plans and acts than ever before.

Half their notable former alumni, including a current SCOTUS Justice and the current White House Counsel, works in the Trump administration. All of them would be making sure K&E's back is scratched.

[Anonymous]

Email was not that bad. Could have used some empathy to also add “unless you are directly impacted by COVID in some way we understand, but the rest of you, we expect you to step up per normal.” As for why send it out to everyone, it actually is a benefit to those currently busting their butts - telling them we see you, we thank you and we don’t expect you to carry the water for everyone else, while they get to relax and enjoy the benefits without pulling their weight.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here's the email if you don't feel like clicking the link - horrible.

"Folks,

Just hung up with some of the restructuring SPs. There are some huge cases coming in and they have no staffing. Thanks to everyone for stepping up so far on cases.

For those that aren’t fully occupied right now, and are not on a single restructuring matter because they have been hiding, let me spell out reality for you real quick. I am seeing a ton of money being left on the table on the matters coming in and I have seen all of your hours today (from most junior associate through SP). Am pretty shocked and the math is not going to work out well for you at the end of the year.

Bacon and Larson will continue to staff folks below SP over the coming days/weeks, I will be calling SPs personally. Given the market you should feel extremely lucky to be in an institution with too much work. That doesn’t mean you have an annuity here. If you get a call or don’t have enough to do, I suggest you grab a restructuring assignment ASAP and roll up your sleeves. If it was me in 2008 I would be pre-emptively calling Doug or Adam after you read through the end of this note. This isn’t a gravy train where you can just chill and be along for the ride.

Andy"

THAT is what OP refers to as “stupidly aggressive”? And some loser shared with ATL. Wow.

The stupid doesn’t refer to the level of aggression but rather that it was stupid to send an aggressive email like that when you know it may well end up on ATL.

[Anonymous]

The fact that there are so many justifying this garbage just goes to show how toxic big law remains.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The fact that there are so many justifying this garbage just goes to show how toxic big law remains.

I’m OP and I’ve been in biglaw for 7 years now and that would not be true if my experiences were consistent with that email/the posts rationalizing it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The fact that there are so many justifying this garbage just goes to show how toxic big law remains.

+1 Stockholm syndrome

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I dont think its all that bad since there is actually work available. I think it would be way worse to chastise people when there was no work available.

This is what happened after Sept 11 in 2001-2002. There was a recession, very little billable work available at our firm, and junior associates were fired for not billing enough....because there was no work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I dont think its all that bad since there is actually work available. I think it would be way worse to chastise people when there was no work available.

It sounds like there are people who can work or work more and are not and it makes sense not to turn work down. I don't see the issue. They are there to make money.

You are assuming he is telling the truth. Maybe he knew this would get into ATL and he's trying to blame associates for being slackers before they do a slew of layoffs. Instead of acknowedlging they arent getting enough work, he is blaming associates for ducking work. Who knows if they actually are.

He's a lawyer. He knows the fired associates can request a forensic accountant to see just how much work their actually was.

Aside from that K&E is the largest law firm in D.C. I would not be surprised at all if they have a heavy workload because the federal government is pushing more stimulus plans and acts than ever before.

Half their notable former alumni, including a current SCOTUS Justice and the current White House Counsel, works in the Trump administration. All of them would be making sure K&E's back is scratched.

This is....not a thing that happens when people get laid off at Biglaw.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have no problem with this. The firm has a ton of work coming in and needs warm bodies to staff it. They're not indentured servants -- any one of them can walk out the door tomorrow. The only problem I have is with the person who sent it outside of the firm.

I literally cry everyday because I’m treated so poorly in biglaw and I’ve applied to every job under the sun these past few months (I was a lobbyist before this and why I left god knows, and I’m applying to anything, including administrative assistant jobs and the like just to get out) and nobody is calling because the economy has gone to hell. I’m now figuring out how much I need to have saved to just quit with nothing lined up so that I can reclaim my life and mental health. So, yes, I feel exactly like an indentured servant who wakes up everyday just to be verbally abused by some sociopath partner who is miserable in quarantine like this guy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have no problem with this. The firm has a ton of work coming in and needs warm bodies to staff it. They're not indentured servants -- any one of them can walk out the door tomorrow. The only problem I have is with the person who sent it outside of the firm.

I literally cry everyday because I’m treated so poorly in biglaw and I’ve applied to every job under the sun these past few months (I was a lobbyist before this and why I left god knows, and I’m applying to anything, including administrative assistant jobs and the like just to get out) and nobody is calling because the economy has gone to hell. I’m now figuring out how much I need to have saved to just quit with nothing lined up so that I can reclaim my life and mental health. So, yes, I feel exactly like an indentured servant who wakes up everyday just to be verbally abused by some sociopath partner who is miserable in quarantine like this guy.

Oh man. Big hugs. I felt like you for a long time. I know it seems bleak but LOTS of hiring is happening despite pandemic. Get a therapist, talk to your friends/network, and keep applying.