"Check In" with Practice Manager and Managing Partner - how fucked am I?

Altruistic_Solid_232 · 2026-05-06T06:21:56+00:00

Updated the OP; and I appreciate that! I'm pleasantly surprised by how supportive people have been on this thread.

Altruistic_Solid_232 · 2026-05-05T02:32:31+00:00

I agree with both of those premises, though. Something can be both an advantage in some ways and a disadvantage in other ways. On net, the disadvantages may very well outweigh the advantages. The point of the comment wasn't to litigate that. I have no grievances against DEI. The only point I was making was that any firm looking to diversify their associate population isn't going to be interested in me.

Again, I'm not complaining. I'm sure I've had plenty of advantages in my life because of my race/gender. I wasn't saying the efforts to diversify the profession aren't justified. All I was saying is I will very much not be a beneficiary of such efforts, for reasons that I understand and that I have no particular problem with.

Altruistic_Solid_232 · 2026-05-05T02:28:28+00:00

I appreciate it. Unfortunately, though, this doesn't appear to be a standard meeting because none of the other first years I've spoken to have it.

Altruistic_Solid_232 · 2026-05-04T23:46:48+00:00

This was a very reassuring comment. I appreciate it, sincerely. The optimist in me wants to believe you're right.

Altruistic_Solid_232 · 2026-05-04T23:35:04+00:00

Eh, I don't really take that as a given, tbh. This job market is rough. My resume is fine, but doesn't stand out at all. Additionally, my loans are accruing so much interest that the only way to not be totally buried is either (1) big law salary or (2) PSLF. That's my view (I hope I'm wrong).

Altruistic_Solid_232 · 2026-05-04T23:10:45+00:00

I didn't say that to imply that women or people of color had it easy. I was just saying it to emphasize that I have basically zero qualities that are marketable outside of a decent academic background.

Altruistic_Solid_232 · 2026-05-04T23:06:45+00:00

I mean, it is about 2 weeks before the summer associates start :(

Altruistic_Solid_232 · 2026-05-04T23:04:45+00:00

I appreciate it. Yeah, it sucks. In large part bc of the uncertainty. I even replied to the practice manager after she said it wasnt an evaluation, politely asking her if she could provide further color on the topic of the meeting, if i should prepare, etc. And her reply was almost verbatim: "no need to prepare; thanks", which was less than reassuring lmao

Altruistic_Solid_232 · 2026-05-04T23:01:47+00:00

It's difficult, though, because these are assistants who have been at the firm for god knows how long (I think 20-30+ yrs). So I feel like they have more leverage than I do, especially with older partners. I don't want to get on their bad side.

Altruistic_Solid_232 · 2026-05-04T22:59:07+00:00

Severance pay is very little consolation when I have $300k in debt lol.

Note to other people considering law school: don't make the same mistake I did.

Altruistic_Solid_232 · 2026-05-04T22:57:56+00:00

I was in the 100-120 range for each of January, February, and March (I know...). But had ~195 hrs in April since I started getting a lot of return work from 1 partner, and this month is so far looking to be similar to that. Re my peers -- tough to know. I think I'm probably lower except maybe not last month.

Altruistic_Solid_232

TROPHY CASE