From one associate to another: A presentation created by a Paul Hastings associate for a presentation to other associates gives a sense of how at least that lawyer views the firm's culture and associates' roles. https://lnkd.in/gemPvhSB Patrick Smith
Many of the associate’s points were accurate, but something really missing was the concept of being part of a team. Yes, people will rely on your work. But you are not in this alone.
The odd thing is that although the slide talks about client service, it doesn’t feel like the client is at the centre of this advice. There is no sense of passion for solving the client’s problem or focus on developing the right team to help the client succeed. Instead, it’s just “Rolls Royce service” as standard. I am not sure that is what the best client service is really about.
That slide is gold dust to some one like me. A psychologist working with stressed out lawyers. This slide neatly explains a lot of what my clients tell me in their own words from their own experiences. Law firm or not, stressed or burnt out people can't think clearly nor make sound decisions. The very things the clients rely on. There will always be law firms whose culture reflects the slide and there will always be lawyers willing to put up with the treatment. The human cost, however is high and the effects will eventually show up in life. Other industries and professions are waking up to the reality that a happy crew is a productive crew. And more and more lawyers, so they tell me, are joining kinder and more compassionate organisations or setting up on their own. I see the attitude in this slide as a massive business risk.
Maybe it's just me, but this is not "refreshing," "honest" or "sound" advice as some of the commenters here have expressed. I found this whole story sad and reflective of a culture (not just law firms but our entire society) that tells us to accept, embrace even, things because they are "reality" no matter how unjust or wrong or inhumane it is. Imagine if Martin Luther King accepted that advice. How about Susan B. Anthony? Or Galileo accepted "reality," where would we be. Let's not buy in to the "reality" our capitalist overlords have created for us. There are more of us than them. Let's elevate this discussion to improve our human condition and not accept it. We owe it to our children. We owe it to ourselves. Also, just a note from someone who has worked in-house at a LOT of law firms, this slide deck was not created by a "rogue" associate. Every piece of document that is circulated and presented to an internal audience is vetted as much as any document sent to a client. This slide deck was presented because everyone at Paul Hastings has embraced that reality. Everyone was complicit, including the ones telling us this is "reality" at Big Law, find another job.
Eric Hobbs
1y
Unpopular opinion maybe, but I generally think this is sound advice. The tone could be softer but overall the messaging is accurate. And exactly why many decide it’s just not for them, which is fine too.
I find this refreshingly honest in its delivery - and true for many of us in client service!
Nothing’s changed since I left - this whole slide is about justifying a $850/ hour rate - I would expect a luxury wrapper for that money but the human cost isn’t ok for the professionals involved
This is why firms need to have professional training departments. So lucky to work at a firm with a world-class training team!
Senior Vice President, Content at ALM Global
1yThis is what we heard from in-house lawyers in response to the memo: https://www.law.com/americanlawyer/2023/04/07/im-aghast-viral-paul-hastings-presentation-garners-strong-in-house-reaction/ The basic gist is 1) that's why they went in-house and 2) it's not them asking for/expecting this type of behavior from their outside providers.