Also, my shitty assistant/quasi-paralegal just uploaded a bunch of super late correspondence. We get an alert when something is saved to the system, read the letters and they're dated from October. Pretty sure she tried to save it without explaining her fuck up. Two LOAs, one pretty big counter offer. Asked her why it's just now getting saved: "It was buried on my desk, I just missed it." Cool cool cool
Small price to pay, but still sucks. Got a nice dog bite case referred from there. My buddy got a seven-figure case from it.
Started standing up out of his seat and said he “kn[ ew ] what [ I ] was doing.” I deadpanned “don’t forget your microphone” and his lawyer sat him down and asked for a break. It was hilarious, because I have a very deliberate deposition style. He just lied about something really early, and I pointed it out to him.
I've been in Rotary for years. I've never run demographic research on my client base but I'm 99% sure they aren't a bunch of WASPs hobnobbing around civic groups. If there's anyone in Rotary just for Rotary it's me because I sure as shit don't get a damn thing business wise out of it.
Just got a new call. Shockingly a guy represented by “the law boss” isn’t happy with how that’s playing out
I just received this email from our answering service with the following synopsis from the caller: "I passed by a liquor store and when paying for my purchase, the cashier started shouting at me for wearing a Donald Trump hat. She never gave my change and told me to leave the store."
Im generally pretty good at putting myself in the bubble where my clients version of events is the truth but man filing a lawsuit where my client got hit at maybe 2mph in a drive thru is really forcing me to do some mental gymnastics
Yes, I would be happy to take your case. Due to the complicated nature, I am going to have to charge hourly. My retainer is 5k which is non-refundable.
our firm heading into December had 9 attorneys, 3 associates and 6 partners. One partner just went to go in-house. Good friend of mine and associate just told me he put in two-weeks for a firm up in Breckenridge, which is undeniably pretty sweet. Some pretty drastic changes. I like where I work, but now I will be one of two associates at a firm that I specifically joined several years ago due to low hours requirement, work/life balance, etc. I know they have an ad out for an associate, but wonder if they will try to bring in another attorney. Hopefully can leverage this for a substantial pay bump during our June reviews.
I could definitely get paid a lot more, but I really enjoy not (1) hating my job and (2) taking work home with me. I certainly have a lot of bargaining power at the moment.
Your work life balance is about to get absolutely fucked. The premium WFH leverage was about a year or 2 ago, but you still have some leverage. IMO let it play out a bit and see what happens while putting out feelers to a head hunter or two. Maybe they hire some people and its not so bad or maybe the whole thing goes to shit and you need an exit plan.
I peruse job boards for my wife who has a really nice job but is often unhappy. Came across an in-house assistant general counsel job for a certain sector of the City of Denver gov't that really caught my eye. I really have no interest in firm jumping, but certain in-house jobs interest me, especially stuff with government or outdoor companies. But my gut says to stay away from that stuff until they talk to me about workload, changes, pay, etc. and yeah, my work life balance is definitely about to take a shot. we had a fourth associate around this time last year, but she was a bad hire. so we've operated with three for an entire year, despite normally having four. now we are going to bring in some new hires who will probably need quite a bit of time to get their feet wet. I've been here since September 2019, which makes me the most senior associate, even before my friend gave his 2 weeks. also, the only other remaining associate is a real malcontent and I would not be surprised if he splits. again, the firm is really great. but I think associates end up leaving for higher pay. not sure why my friend is leaving outside of the fact that working and living up in Breckenridge sounds sick as hell. Can't wait to stay at his place all the time.
1) why have they not bumped you to partner yet? 2) there's a reason a bunch of associates keep leaving. Might be worth having a convo with your friend. Maybe there's something you aren't seeing.
1) probably because I am 32 and have only been practicing out here (excluding a clerkship) for 4ish years. 2) He asked me to lunch before telling me, but I had brought in something to eat. I am sure I will get the full story from him soon. I actually spent NYE with him and he didn't say, so I think it unfolded pretty quickly. He always mentioned wanting to move into the mountains tho, so it literally might just be that.
probably a really dumb thing to admit but I have never considered what it would be like for me to make partner. I have no real idea about the financial implications of becoming a partner. I haven't had a discussion about it, never been a ladder climber, nor someone who only wants to work in private practice. I am obviously at the front door of a bunch of shit I didn't really think much about that is absolutely going to be presented to me in the coming months
half this thread is in their early to mid 30s and either has their own firm or is a partner at one. It's never to early to start thinking about the future.
if this is related to me saying I've never thought about the financial implications of being partner, I guess what's wrong with me is that I have never been that motivated by money (despite not growing up with much of it) and my life has fortunately worked out that if I work hard and get good results, things will come my way. Don't see much of a point in thinking about what I am owed in the future outside of a general expectation of making more money over the years. this is why I didn't run to biglaw. I started doing immigration law because that is what really interested me but by boss was more into becoming an internet celebrity type person who got retweeted by Chris Hayes than someone who ran a functioning business. that's what brought me out to Colorado and eventually to civil defense work.
I wonder how likely a carrier is to go to trial just because they refuse to pay the number you are asking for as a matter of principle even if it is close to their number. Typically it's the plaintiff that caves because they need the money more. I have a situation where I've just sat on my number ($30k) and now the trial is really close and they are scrambling trying to get it settled but still at $23k. Would love for my client to just stand firm and continue to tell them $30k or trial.
Go for it man. This career typically sucks. If there's a unique niche that actually interests you and you can financially support yourself - do it. Or at least try it, if you're still young and have the freedom to do so.
thing about these in-house jobs that come up is how hard it is to find out if it is a good place to work or not. Much easier to learn about a firm than an in-house job that doesn't have much turnover. But yeah, I certainly have a lot to weigh. I will be keeping my eyes peeled.
All I can add is that being a partner at a civil defense firm would suck. A lot more responsibility and work with not a huge increase in pay.
not sure if this is true, but always kind of how I thought about it. which is why the plan in the back of my mind was more focused on gaining 5-7 years of experience and using that to get the job that would make me the most happy while paying me my worth, instead of focusing on becoming partner.
It's only alot more responsibility if you're trying to do a good job and not just use your one valuable skill (being friends with a regional claim manager who sends you all the work for an area) to systematically underpay an endless stream of associates who have no choice but to work for starvation wages because the ABA obliterated the job market by minting 10x more lawyers than were ever needed. I could see how it might suck if you were ethical.
And that is why I would not want to be an insurance defense associate. You’re always dependent on someone else to give you work and there are a ton of people who are down to do that job
Regardless of whether you want to stick around at the firm for the rest of your career or make partner, leverage the situation to your advantage but don’t be a dick in doing so. Be open and honest with your primary boss and propose something mutually beneficial for both parties, at least temporarily until you move on to greener pastures. For example, if you’re currently happy with the status quo, ask them for a raise, but also tell them you’ll return the favor by giving them 6-8 weeks’ notice if you decide to go somewhere else.
Definitely have no intention of doing them dirty. I like the firm and people. My friend leaving is just about an awesome new opportunity. Nothing against our current firm. But I also gotta look out for me and I certainly have options. Should probably start thinking about what I want in the next five years
Holy shit. Super contentious motion practice been going on for months and months in this case. They filed a motion for protective order as to my discovery regarding the parent company . I filed a motion to amend and bring the parent company in. Judge seemed pissed at the world and especially me for even wasting his time in the motion hearings on this. I gave it 99% chance he granted their MPO and denied my Motion to Amend. We sent him proposed orders a while back and OC kept bugging him to rule on it. The orders came through today and he grants my motion to amend and denies their motion for protective order and signed my orders in their entirety. HAHAHAHAHAHA
yall have to file motions to amend in state court? i've seen like 25th amended petitions in texas state court
In Florida you need leave to amend if defense has replied. You get one freebie if they haven’t. It’s very rare they deny a motion for leave to amend though. highest I’ve ever seen was a 7th amended complaint
You don't need leave if they haven't filed a responsive pleading. After a responsive pleading you need leave to amend. The issue here was not only did I need leave to amend but I was adding another entity beyond the statute of limitations. I got the parent company in and it relates back to the dating of the original filing so the SOL isn't tolled for them. There is also tricky case law regarding amending versus substituting fictions parties. If you do it wrong it will not relate back and you will be fucked
All of this is governed by rules of civil procedure 9 and 15. Most states will have federal rules pretty similar. I'd be surprised if TX doesn't have something similar. You can only substitute them for a fictitious party after the SOL if you exercised a reasonably-diligent inquiry into the identities of the fictitious part[ies] prior to the SOL running. “ It is a principle of general application, though, that ignorance of the opposing party for fictitious party practice extends beyond mere lack of knowledge of the opposing party's name. Even if the plaintiff knows the true name of the person, he is still ignorant of his name if he lacks knowledge of the facts giving him a cause of action against the ... person.”Hammons v. Navarre, 252 So. 3d 9, 14-15 (Miss. 2018). In this case we had no reason to think the parent company had anything to do with this case until we got into the case and the named defendant/shell company claimed it was judgment proof. If the court allows a Rule 9 substitution then the question is whether it will relate back for purposes of SOL. Which is a Rule 15 (c) issue. Under Rule 15 (c) it will relate back if i. the claim in the amended complaint must arise out of the same conduct, transaction, or occurrence as that set forth in the original complaint; ii. the newly named defendant must have received notice of the action within the period provided by [Rule] 4(h) [of the Mississippi Rules of Civil Procedure] such that the party will not be prejudiced; and iii. the newly named defendant must have or should have known that an action would be brought against him but for a mistake existing as to the parties' identities.”
Anybody use any kind of software/program to monitor employee's social media use while at work? I have never wanted to block sites, but I've got one employee who appears to be on Facebook nonstop. Doing some evaluations, and I was wanting to try and figure out exactly how much time she's spending on there every day.
Not anymore. Been very patient (15+ year employee), but I'm starting to get annoyed. I have another one that stays on the phone all day but gets everything done correctly, so not a big deal.
Then address the actual issue head on instead of beating around the bush with other symptoms. I’ve never ever ever heard of software monitoring/social media blocking that does anything other than lower morale and make a toxic work place.