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how do you resign from biglaw?
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Date: July 30th, 2014 3:20 PM Author: fluffy goal in life organic girlfriend who do you tell first? how do u ask for references? do i need a formal letter? (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2632072&forum_id=2#26029619) |
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Date: July 30th, 2014 3:21 PM Author: Soggy carnelian telephone trailer park Firm-wide email. (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2632072&forum_id=2#26029622) |
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Date: July 30th, 2014 4:39 PM Author: chest-beating point I've done it twice, and it went just fine both times. If you do most of your work for a certain partner, tell him/her first in person. They will most likely want to talk for a bit (what is your thought process?, why are you leaving?, is there something that we could do to convince you to reconsider?). After you're done talking with them, give them a chance to give the managing partner a heads up, after which you should send the resignation letter to the managing partner. HR will contact you shortly thereafter to begin the departure process.
If you don't work primarily for a single partner, I would suggest going around to each of the partners who you do most of your work for (assuming that this is 5 or less) and letting them know. Just keep it brief and professional and let them know that you have not yet had the chance to talk to x, y, and z and/or notify firm management, so you would aprpeciate it if they avoided making any announcement on your behalf.
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Date: July 30th, 2014 4:45 PM Author: Godawful Brindle Sneaky Criminal Do people actually write resignation letters? SRSLY? I'm not the fucking secretary of state (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2632072&forum_id=2#26030036) |
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Date: July 30th, 2014 4:51 PM Author: charismatic hot set lol no, ive never heard of this resignation letter bs.
i just told my mentor and partners i do most of the work for. then HR took over. |
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Date: July 30th, 2014 4:51 PM Author: Godawful Brindle Sneaky Criminal I have to imagine HR at a big firm has this down to a science. (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2632072&forum_id=2#26030072) |
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Date: July 30th, 2014 4:54 PM Author: charismatic hot set yeah word travels fast. you basically only have to tell one partner, any partner, and they'll tell everybody. (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2632072&forum_id=2#26030085) |
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Date: July 30th, 2014 5:02 PM Author: chest-beating point I agree with all of this. A formal resignation letter is by no means required or necessary. It is just a nice and professional thing to do. How you handle your resignation/departure will leave a lasting impact. (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2632072&forum_id=2#26030126) |
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Date: July 30th, 2014 5:06 PM Author: Ruddy beady-eyed location depressive Lasting = until COB (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2632072&forum_id=2#26030157) |
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Date: July 30th, 2014 5:09 PM Author: Godawful Brindle Sneaky Criminal ROFL so true... Partners at my shop can't remember the names of a couple associates who left 4 months ago, even though they were here 5+ years. LOL @ them remembering your resignation letter other than "remember that weird guy who sent us a resignation letter? What was his name?" (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2632072&forum_id=2#26030173) |
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Date: July 15th, 2020 7:02 PM Author: Harsh emerald internal respiration coldplay fan (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2632072&forum_id=2#40614206) |
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Date: July 30th, 2014 5:07 PM Author: charismatic hot set i think a resignation letter leaves a lasting impact of you looking like a giant douche. sorry dude. (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2632072&forum_id=2#26030163) |
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Date: July 30th, 2014 5:15 PM Author: out-of-control abode lol (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2632072&forum_id=2#26030201) |
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Date: July 30th, 2014 5:18 PM Author: chest-beating point Yeah, I hear you. I realize that formal letters are not how folks in our age group generally handle things. That being said, I was in biglaw for quite a few years and I have seen many, many people resign in many, many ways. The personal conversation with main partner(s)/nice resignation letter to firm management/nice converation with senior associates and key staff approach never left a bad impression, as near as I could tell. I used that approach twice. 5 years after leaving my first firm, the managing partner there called me up and essentially placed me in a great in house gig. (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2632072&forum_id=2#26030208) |
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Date: July 30th, 2014 5:21 PM Author: Godawful Brindle Sneaky Criminal I guess if you have some sort of "special relationship" with your partners, maybe this would work.
For most of us cogs in the wheel, it wouldn't. I've been in biglaw nearly 7 years at this point and I can't think of anyone where this wouldn't be weird. |
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Date: July 30th, 2014 5:24 PM Author: charismatic hot set "Dear Managing Partner,
I'm taking my document review talents to South Beach..." |
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Date: July 30th, 2014 5:42 PM Author: Vibrant wine stock car garrison (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2632072&forum_id=2#26030337) |
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Date: July 30th, 2014 5:42 PM Author: Bipolar Cyan Toaster Something written to your office's managing partner stating that you are resigning, the effective date of your resignation, and if leaving on good terms is important, one sentence saying you have enjoyed your time at the firm (not because they care if you enjoyed yourself but because it signals you likely won't be trying to pull any shit), is usually appreciated in larger offices. If you worked almost exclusive for one partner, I would send it to him and cc the managing partner. (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2632072&forum_id=2#26030332) |
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Date: July 30th, 2014 7:45 PM Author: fuchsia swashbuckling business firm some firms ask for a one-line resignation letter for their files, just basically "Dear Firm Management, I hereby resign as buttboy associate. Sincerely, swordmo" (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2632072&forum_id=2#26030985) |
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Date: July 30th, 2014 6:13 PM Author: black locale queen of the night I don't know what kind of firm you worked at, but at my firm, nobody had any idea what other people were doing outside their small groups. People would literally be gone for months before the majority of the firm noticed. (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2632072&forum_id=2#26030534) |
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Date: July 30th, 2014 6:16 PM Author: fluffy goal in life organic girlfriend this is a fairly accurate statement (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2632072&forum_id=2#26030555) |
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Date: August 5th, 2014 2:18 PM Author: Ivory home pisswyrm I can't imagine not putting it in writing. I've used one for every resignation including Dominoes Pizza. It sets the terms of your resignation and is proof that you provided two-weeks notice. Avoids ambiguity in the process.
Also, BigLaw is going to require a departure memo summarizing the status and information related to every open matter and closed matters over that past seven years. |
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Date: July 30th, 2014 4:54 PM Author: fluffy goal in life organic girlfriend Cool. Makes sense. My lateral firm wants to contact references after I give my notice... that seem weird or about right? (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2632072&forum_id=2#26030086) |
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Date: July 30th, 2014 5:06 PM Author: chest-beating point That sounds unusual. I certainly wouldn't give notice at firm A if firm B is still conditioning my offer on talking to references. I would ask them to contact the references (except for references at your current firm or clients of your current firm) before you give notice. (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2632072&forum_id=2#26030152) |
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Date: July 30th, 2014 5:08 PM Author: fluffy goal in life organic girlfriend right...i meant my references at my current firm... recruiter says its just a formality...kinda a hassle...gotta be like im leaving Jim, thanks for everything, and oh by the way can u be a reference for me in like 24 minutes when the new firm calls ya kthx (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2632072&forum_id=2#26030167) |
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Date: July 30th, 2014 5:10 PM Author: chest-beating point That is highly unusal. Again - either your offer is final or it isn't. I had a similar type of misunderstanding happen when I first moved in house from my last firm. I tried to protect myself by getting the HR executive handling my hiring to confirm, via email, that my offer was final and no longer contingent and that all pre-employment screening, etc. was complete and that I would be starting on xx/xx date. (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2632072&forum_id=2#26030183) |
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Date: July 30th, 2014 5:19 PM Author: fluffy goal in life organic girlfriend makes sense.. is there any downside to doing this...dont wanna seem fussy or like im hiding anything...but yea who knows what a reference could say, even one you think is positive (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2632072&forum_id=2#26030218) |
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Date: July 30th, 2014 5:28 PM Author: Olive corner When I lateraled my new firm insisted upon speaking to a partner from my old firm. It was a formality, but it was definitely a condition of the offer. So I told the partner I worked for that I was going to accept the offer but needed a recommendation, he was (reasonably) cool about it, and then I officially resigned. (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2632072&forum_id=2#26030269) |
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Date: July 30th, 2014 5:30 PM Author: fluffy goal in life organic girlfriend right makes sense- just seems like a lot finesse... (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2632072&forum_id=2#26030277) |
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Date: July 30th, 2014 5:44 PM Author: Olive corner part of the problem may have been that i was leaving my first firm out of ls, so there was no way i could really provide references from somewhere else.
to give you an idea of how pro forma the whole thing was, i was there for the call. it last under a minute---the partner said he'd recommend me, and that after the new firm worked me to death they'd be happy to take me back. And that was the extent of the call.
but i agree the whole set up is weird. i had anxiety about how to handle this issue too. |
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Date: July 30th, 2014 5:47 PM Author: fluffy goal in life organic girlfriend Thats helpful tho. I've heard of references being grilled-- but thats more for govt jobs. If its just a pro forma thing it gives me less pause. (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2632072&forum_id=2#26030360) |
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Date: July 30th, 2014 6:00 PM Author: Olive corner It might be a function of my having done all this pre-ITE, but I definitely got the feeling from talking to other lats that these things were very much a formality.
I think the only way you'd get fucked is if you literally couldn't produce one person to recommend you. In my case, they only wanted a partner, no senior associates. I don't know how standard that was, however.
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Date: July 30th, 2014 5:31 PM Author: chest-beating point I don't think there's much of a downside to pushing them a bit on this issue. Just explain to them that you find the request a little out of the ordinary, and say that you hope that they understand that you cannot be in the postition of having resigned from your current firm while the offer from your next firm remains contingent. Can you offer up any additional non-current firm references, or are they adamant that they talk to your former partners? (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2632072&forum_id=2#26030281) |
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Date: July 30th, 2014 5:42 PM Author: fluffy goal in life organic girlfriend frankly i went straight through from undergrad and this is my first firm so i really dont even have references elsewhere (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2632072&forum_id=2#26030338) |
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Date: July 30th, 2014 5:56 PM Author: chest-beating point I see. In my experience, it's still a highly unusual request. I would still approach along the lines of "I appreciate your desire to check all of my references prior to finalizing my offer. Unfortunately, I cannot agree to resign from my current position while my offer from you remains contingent. Additionally, as I am sure that you can appreciate, I am not comfortable with you contacting my current firm for a reference while I am still employed there. If you are simply seeking to verify my employment with my current firm, perhaps you can discreetly contact my firm's HR department for employment verification."
No doubt it's a tricky situation. Sorry for the added stress. |
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Date: July 30th, 2014 6:11 PM Author: fluffy goal in life organic girlfriend haha yea i mean that email would reflect my feelings perfectly...just talked to my recruiter and he says just quit itll be fine ha...if worse comes to worse ill go back to school and get a phd (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2632072&forum_id=2#26030518) |
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Date: July 30th, 2014 5:08 PM Author: Olive corner That's how it went for me, but that was pre-ITE and I was in a foreign office, so YMMV. (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2632072&forum_id=2#26030171) |
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Date: July 31st, 2014 12:00 AM Author: soul-stirring area circlehead They asked me to do this when I lateraled too. It was weird. I had already accepted a written offer signed by the managing partner and given notice. Then HR lady asked to call a partner I'd worked with as a reference, totally out of the blue. I can't imagine my job was actually contingent on this call, but I arranged it anyway. I didn't even ask the partner in person, I just sent him an email "I hope you don't mind but I gave HR your name.". She called him and they talked for about 90 seconds. Not a big deal. Just do it. (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2632072&forum_id=2#26032830) |
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Date: August 5th, 2014 2:19 PM Author: Ivory home pisswyrm That's super unusual if you have an offer. What could they possibly want to know that would help you? (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2632072&forum_id=2#26067039) |
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Date: July 31st, 2014 12:03 AM Author: hateful school pistol Credited / this mirrors my xp (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2632072&forum_id=2#26032844) |
Date: July 30th, 2014 3:21 PM Author: unholy heady brunch trust fund Departure memo OFS. (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2632072&forum_id=2#26029623) |
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Date: July 30th, 2014 5:11 PM Author: Olive corner But said memo must be written in one of only two fonts: Gill Sans or Comic Sans. (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2632072&forum_id=2#26030184) |
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Date: July 31st, 2014 12:05 AM Author: hateful school pistol My departure memo = a handoff of shit assignments to fat azns, hated other parties, and the good stuff to my boys (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2632072&forum_id=2#26032858) |
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Date: July 30th, 2014 3:22 PM Author: indigo disrespectful tattoo You have to draw a long, long comic and post it on your blog. (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2632072&forum_id=2#26029629) |
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Date: July 30th, 2014 3:23 PM Author: unholy heady brunch trust fund titcr (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2632072&forum_id=2#26029632) |
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Date: July 30th, 2014 3:23 PM Author: Soggy carnelian telephone trailer park Is tweeting a shortened URL to the HR people still the standard initial dissemination technique? (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2632072&forum_id=2#26029636) |
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Date: July 30th, 2014 3:26 PM Author: indigo disrespectful tattoo ofs (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2632072&forum_id=2#26029648) |
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Date: July 30th, 2014 4:49 PM Author: black locale queen of the night Stop showing up. Collect paychecks as long as you can (including after you started your new job). (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2632072&forum_id=2#26030055) |
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Date: July 30th, 2014 5:09 PM Author: histrionic mother Lulz. just be posted on two firm bios. (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2632072&forum_id=2#26030176) |
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Date: July 30th, 2014 5:31 PM Author: black locale queen of the night Not flame -- a guy did this when he came over to my firm from his old firm. He stayed 9 months, and then pulled the same shit on us. Never got called out on it -- firms don't want to take the pr hit to admit what happened, especially when the dude collected months worth of pay after disappearing. (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2632072&forum_id=2#26030282) |
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Date: July 30th, 2014 5:34 PM Author: Vibrant wine stock car garrison flame (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2632072&forum_id=2#26030293) |
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Date: July 30th, 2014 5:36 PM Author: Godawful Brindle Sneaky Criminal I call flame. how did he bill time? (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2632072&forum_id=2#26030303) |
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Date: July 30th, 2014 6:02 PM Author: black locale queen of the night He didn't bill anything. He just never gave notice, got a new job, left without telling anybody. We only have to enter time once a month and it took a while for people to notice he was gone. (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2632072&forum_id=2#26030453) |
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Date: July 30th, 2014 5:09 PM Author: Plum Nursing Home Antidepressant Drug WITH APLOMB (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2632072&forum_id=2#26030174) |
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Date: July 30th, 2014 5:20 PM Author: Vibrant wine stock car garrison (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2632072&forum_id=2#26030224) |
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Date: July 30th, 2014 5:27 PM Author: Bat-shit-crazy Henna Stage Wagecucks Take a shit on your seat and walk out. (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2632072&forum_id=2#26030267) |
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Date: July 30th, 2014 5:34 PM Author: Vibrant wine stock car garrison Set yourself on fire in front of the managing partner's office. (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2632072&forum_id=2#26030291) |
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Date: July 30th, 2014 6:13 PM Author: know-it-all market kitty Just stop showing up. Eventually the firm will take the hint and fire you, but you'll cop at least 2-3 months of salary for doing nothing. (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2632072&forum_id=2#26030530) |
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Date: July 30th, 2014 6:21 PM Author: mind-boggling bat shit crazy national this is the obvious answer
you never know when you'll need a reference though
need to balance that against the $15k you'll collect in salary |
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Date: July 15th, 2020 7:26 PM Author: aquamarine orchestra pit get a friend to give you a reference, it doesnt really need to be a supervisor (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2632072&forum_id=2#40614308) |
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Date: July 15th, 2020 7:31 PM Author: judgmental corn cake locus I can't even remember if I wrote this, because this is basically what I did at the end of 2014. Knew I had an inhouse jerb in the works. So when I was called in to be dressed down (after about 3 months of fucking off) about not responding to emails, showing up at the office once a week hungover, taking a two-week beach holiday with some tinder sloot without telling anyone, etc, I just handed in my two weeks notice. Was polite and said I had a better job. took the wind right out of their sails
I did call the hiring partner the night before to tell him I was doing this. He had always been good to me even when I was a summer and liked to drink with me in the office when we were both stuck late. |
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Date: July 30th, 2014 6:18 PM Author: Saffron Thirsty Whorehouse Turdskin first generation college grads nutella and prestigewhore discuss never having heard of a resignation letter. just wtf
millennials who have any etiquette at all are going to be gobbled up by these clowns.
omg I've never seen someone put his silverware down like that after he was finished eating ... that's so weird |
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Date: July 30th, 2014 6:24 PM Author: jet balding athletic conference rehab Send a firm wide email with a link to this thread. (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2632072&forum_id=2#26030603) |
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Date: July 31st, 2014 12:07 AM Author: Irradiated primrose hunting ground hall https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qIqeXSYc8nE (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2632072&forum_id=2#26032864) |
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Date: August 5th, 2014 1:06 PM Author: fluffy goal in life organic girlfriend OK so updating this for posterity-
thursday I told my buddy at the firm that i was leaving. Very helpful to do that cause it sort of got it out in the open and shit, and pumped me up to tell bosses. I went and told the administrative partner of my comm lit department and the managing partner. they were both supportive. I had a printed resignation letter for them which made it official.
I asked administrative partner to be a reference and one other partner for whom i had recently done work. they both said no problem. admin partner said that per HR regs she was only allowed to give a personal reference then transfer reference seeker to HR to confirm dates of employment and title. I sent these peeps info to new firm and they got back to me today with official start date. |
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Date: August 5th, 2014 3:08 PM Author: chest-beating point Great. Glad to hear that went smoothly for you. Good luck at the new firm. (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2632072&forum_id=2#26067406) |
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Date: August 5th, 2014 1:26 PM Author: diverse zippy school cafeteria keurig machine through partner's window (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2632072&forum_id=2#26066802) |
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Date: August 5th, 2014 2:09 PM Author: Razzle-dazzle Famous Landscape Painting Keepsake Machete I have a pretty good story here. So, I was offered a job at another firm on a Wed. and I decided to tell my boss the following Monday.
On Friday a firm-wide email goes out to all attorneys about a change in policy re: how bonuses were going to be paid out to Associates as to hours vs. "merit." It was a total sham that took a % of money out of the hours pool and put it into "merit." And "merit" by design could only go to the top 50% of associates. Long story short, it was a cheap fucking move and everyone saw it for its transparency. So, within like 5 minutes of the email, I replied to all with a very short email.
I am paraphrasing a bit, but it essentially said, "This new policy assumes that a full half of Associates at this firm do work which by definition is meritless. I do not believe that is the case and I will not stay at a firm that believes this. Please consider this my 2 week notice. I wish you all the best."
Bam. I was an insta-hero and the MP called me within 10 minutes and asked me to come to his office. He tried to talk me out of it. I, of course, told him my mind was made up.
I left in 2 weeks and the firm changed the policy within 3 months. |
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Date: August 5th, 2014 2:12 PM Author: fluffy goal in life organic girlfriend 180 (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2632072&forum_id=2#26066997) |
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Date: August 5th, 2014 2:54 PM Author: Razzle-dazzle Famous Landscape Painting Keepsake Machete (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2632072&forum_id=2#26067339) |
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Date: August 5th, 2014 3:41 PM Author: galvanic volcanic crater 180. If you act like an alpha, you will be treated like one. (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2632072&forum_id=2#26067585) |
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Date: July 15th, 2020 7:16 PM Author: Ivory home pisswyrm LMAO, 180.
I was told to work on a doc review project after I had the offer in hand and I replied, "I quit." |
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Date: July 15th, 2020 7:25 PM Author: aquamarine orchestra pit not the same friend, not the same (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2632072&forum_id=2#40614304) |
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Date: July 15th, 2020 7:25 PM Author: aquamarine orchestra pit 180! (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2632072&forum_id=2#40614302) |
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Date: July 15th, 2020 7:24 PM Author: aquamarine orchestra pit You dont. You either find a new job or you start slacking off until they fire you and give you a payout. wtf I thought everyone knew this. (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2632072&forum_id=2#40614297) |