Question to big firm lawyers (CC, Joan, Malthus)

[Viking]

Learn how to say no and learn when you need to say no.

Maintaining your own mental health and sanity is part of your job. You have working hours insist that your boss and client respect that, do not allow the exceptions to get out of hand. Turn your work cell phone off when you are not required to be available.

Learn these phrases

"Email me with the details of the situation and I will deal with it first thing in the morning."

and

"I am not in a position to help you right now I can refer you to a colleague who can."


Remember that there is almost nothing urgent that you get called up about that will not require at some point waiting til the morning. Then again, this might just be the oilpatch respect for HSE and OSHA that doesn't exist in other industries. In my industry arguing that one cannot perform a task due to not having slept 8 hrs in the last 24 hrs is sufficient for anything short of escaping a sinking ship or burning platform.

[The Brain]

I dealt with big law firm stress by no longer working for a big law firm.

It's not 100%, but most days I'm out the door by 4:30.   

Ugh. Not a morning person myself.

[ulmont]

My experience is similar to Minsky's.

[dps]

I simply refuse to use cellphones and blackberries.

Even with a cell, there's always the option of saying, "Oops, I must have been in a place where I couldn't get signal".  Not saying that I've ever done that, I'm just saying that someone might do that.

Heck, occasionally, it might be true.

Back when I lived with my mom from 2002-2006 and didn't have a cell, I just let her answer the phone.  If she didn't think it was really important, she'd just tell them, "Eh, it's his day off, I'm not bothering him.  It can wait till he comes in tomorrow".  She used to do the same thing when my stepfather was alive and would get business calls at home.

[stjaba]

Although I've only been working for a few weeks, I've noticed a difference in workload between litigators and corporate attorneys. It seems that litigation is much more stable, unless there's some big event going on like a trial. So far, I haven't really needed to put in crazy hours, and I only go in on the weekend to get face time with my boss.

[ulmont]

Although I've only been working for a few weeks, I've noticed a difference in workload between litigators and corporate attorneys. It seems that litigation is much more stable, unless there's some big event going on like a trial. So far, I haven't really needed to put in crazy hours, and I only go in on the weekend to get face time with my boss.

Pretty much.  I do both, whee, and the litigation is a bit more manageable.  On the corporate side, well, I have a 3:30 conference call tomorrow.

[The Minsky Moment]

Hmm looks like tomorrow will be a short day at the office at least.