I contemplated posting anonymously, but oh well. Long post ahead, but the summary is that I found a memo stating that I might get fired and I'm looking for some advice on what to do short and long term. For any attorneys who have PM'd me before--I welcome your PM's and/or posts in this thread. So, onward...
Please do not quote this original post because I likely intend to delete it. Thank you for your understanding.I graduated from law school in 2014 and have been at a well-respected firm since September of 2014. I was hired so a partner could transfer his ERISA practice to me. To make a long story short, he can't delegate work to save his life. And then, because a lot of other attorneys assumed he was giving me work, work dried up for me at the end of last year and I had pretty low billable hours in 2015. This resulted in a "talking to" by the firm's board of directors at the end of last year.
I've since had a much better 2016. I'm on pace to bill substantially more hours, I've been more enthusiastic at work, etc. I've also made it a point to be "me" more of the time--outgoing, sarcastic here and there, etc. I even painted and redecorated my office (with the board's permission), grew a beard, started wearing a bit more modern (but still very traditional) dress clothes. I think being "me" has resulted in a better attitude and thus a better work product.
But last Friday, I was searching our document system for my time sheet. I searched by my name and saw that my name was mentioned in a memo drafted by the firm's "Long Term Planning Committee." Being a curious dumbass, I opened this document. There was a section which read, in part:
The Committee feels that the issue of [ReadySetMillionaire] needs to be addressed. Since the Committee's second meeting, other issues concerning [ReadySetMillionaire's] tenure with the firm came before the Committee. These issues would be enough to create an uncertainty among the Committee members as to whether recommendations as to [ReadySetMillionaire] would be practical given the fact that there may be some resistance in retaining him.
The Committee recommends that, at the next shareholders' meeting, [ReadySetMillionaire's] status be resolved so that further changes can be considered in light of either his assignment to ERISA clients or his departure."
Accidentally finding this shattered me. I couldn't work for the rest of the day.
Somewhat luckily, one of the people on the committee is an 80 year old attorney who has taken me under his wing. I asked to get beers with him and, without me asking, he pretty much said yes, the vultures are swirling. I asked what I did and, of course, I was sarcastic to the wrong partner at the wrong time.
Short story on the incident: I was sent to a courthouse an hour away to file certain papers. Upon getting there, I didn't have the right papers. Note--the partner who assigned me this task gave me these papers to file--I don't think it's in dispute that it's her fault that she didn't give me what I needed. My only job was to drive it there and file it, I didn't have what I needed, and thus wasn't able to file it. Also note she and I get along decently well--she's mid 30s and we get lunch every so often (so she knows my personality).
So the next morning, she had the day off, but she sent me a profusely apologetic email. She apologized like 3-4 times. I replied something to the effect of, "[Partner]--no worries. I am going to [that same courthouse] next week and will take care of it then. In the meantime, I was able to use the mileage check to buy flowers for my fiance, so all is not lost. We'll talk on Monday to make sure we have everything this time around."
According to my 80 year old partner, she made a huge deal about this. This was one of the firm's biggest clients and she fucked it up by not giving me the right documents. So per the 80 year old partner, she "is getting ahead of this by laying the entire blame on you." Seriously.
In retrospect, the sarcastic comment was extremely dumb. I know. I thought she would know I was trying to make light of a bad situation, but man, this apparently pissed her off to no end, and she's tight with the important people, etc. But man, blaming the entire situation on me is just absurd.
Now, aside from that incident, another global note that I think is important: four partners are retiring in the next eight months. All four of these partners worked their entire careers at my firm and likely brought in $1M in annual revenues. Now they will be owed $100k/year severance for the rest of their lives. Note that I know this because of the same Committee member who told me something was up. Anyway, part of me is thinking that this entire thing over one comment is just a cover up to lay off an associate because the firm will be short on cash.
So to my question--what should I do to solidify my position at this firm? This may sound odd at this point, but I really like my firm. I like almost everyone I work with. Most everyone there is an unbelievable mentor and has forgotten more than I know. My benefits are pretty good, I like the location where I work, and I can see myself flourishing there for a long time.
So here's my plan: I am actually good friends with the partner with the ERISA practice who is retiring at the end of this year. We get beers regularly, he stops in my office and chats for almost an hour probably twice a week, he even sent me a two page email with hiking recommendations for my recent trip to the North Cascades. Since finding this memo, I've made it known to him that I am doing every damn thing I can to learn ERISA, and he seems to be open to finally delegating some work to me. Thus, I'm doing everything I can to latch onto his practice to give me at least some leverage (for those who don't know, ERISA is extremely technical but a very lucrative practice, so being able to do this would be a high leverage move).
I also intend to really emphasize my relationships with the 4-5 partners who give me 90% of my work. I have good relationships with all of these attorneys and, quite frankly, I see them going to bat for me. I'm very active in a lot of their biggest files and I can't imagine they'd want the burden of explaining everything to a new associate. I also can't see partners who don't give me work having more of a say over my future than the partners who do give me work. I'm probably wrong in that regard, but that's the inference I've been told.
On the flipside, I need to prepare for the worst. I might get fired sooner rather than later. This means the obvious things like preparing my resume and saving money, but I think I need to start preparing to be a solo practitioner. I've posted this before on here, but I didn't want to go solo until probably 3-4 years out. Now that may be expedited and I'm honestly not sure if I'm ready for it.
All this ranting aside, is my plan a good to prepare for the worst but try to stick it out a good one? Or am I doomed at this firm long term and should start planning my exit accordingly?