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I am too slow for biglaw lit

I'm a junior lit/white collar associate and get frequent uns...
insanely creepy bawdyhouse digit ratio
  08/08/13
shitlaw
Bronze soul-stirring ceo
  08/08/13
wrong. pondering over stuff and crafting excellent briefs/ar...
lake giraffe stage
  08/09/13
Same here bro. I just like to leisurely think about shit. I'...
Glittery harsh dilemma
  08/08/13
This is relevant to my anxieties
Odious Sandwich Friendly Grandma
  08/08/13
lol
Bronze soul-stirring ceo
  08/08/13
...
arousing point
  12/21/14
This is really how everyone is. Just gotta deal with it.
cobalt hell
  08/08/13
explain plz.
insanely creepy bawdyhouse digit ratio
  08/08/13
He means you're not good. You're not. Your stuff is good if ...
Bespoke aphrodisiac public bath
  08/09/13
Holy shit, devastating and not flame
diverse gold heaven
  08/09/13
titcr. cats need to settle for "good enough". on...
Fuchsia Vivacious Parlor Police Squad
  08/09/13
Not really. My problem has alwayts been the exact opposite. ...
sinister love of her life
  08/09/13
This is totally normal. Biglaw sucks and there is no way aro...
provocative weed whacker station
  08/08/13
Fair enough but some clearly handle it better than others an...
insanely creepy bawdyhouse digit ratio
  08/08/13
Sounds like you have ADHD to me!
Motley Immigrant Roommate
  08/08/13
adderrall really is cr here
cerebral cocky ticket booth
  12/21/14
glad I'm not alone in my suckage
Flickering State
  08/08/13
Ok so point taken my situation isn't all that unique. What t...
insanely creepy bawdyhouse digit ratio
  08/09/13
What kind of shitty are you talking about? Example: Getting ...
Scarlet cheese-eating market
  08/09/13
I almost always nail the legal standards. When I have to rus...
insanely creepy bawdyhouse digit ratio
  08/09/13
you either know the law so well beforehand that you know exa...
Razzle-dazzle drab pit deer antler
  08/09/13
I suppose I just hate criticism of my work and am a perfecti...
insanely creepy bawdyhouse digit ratio
  08/09/13
LOL at junior litigation work being stressful or having dema...
mind-boggling overrated institution macaca
  08/09/13
lol corp isn't law. it's being an i-bankers bitch. only liti...
wine black woman
  08/09/13
lol at corp being law.
Bespoke aphrodisiac public bath
  08/09/13
Not sure why anyone cares what you consider it to be? It's ...
mind-boggling overrated institution macaca
  08/09/13
just offer securities / solicit shareholder votes in a publi...
kink-friendly potus ape
  08/09/13
Guys at my high school did it all the time, it was NBD
Ebony faggot firefighter
  08/09/13
P R O TIP: Squat.
Scarlet cheese-eating market
  08/09/13
How slow are you? Like starting from scratch, how long would...
chrome flatulent toaster nursing home
  08/09/13
This would probably take me a few months.
Charismatic box office mood
  08/09/13
hahahahahahahahaha
rambunctious big forum
  08/09/13
I mean, it might only be 20 hours of actual work, but it wou...
Charismatic box office mood
  08/09/13
sure. 20 hours of actual work, 50+ hours of billable work, 3...
rambunctious big forum
  08/09/13
If by starting from scratch you mean absolutely no research ...
insanely creepy bawdyhouse digit ratio
  08/09/13
Being slow is a significant problem. My experience is that ...
sinister love of her life
  08/09/13
what if i am 'slow' because i 'don't do anything'
rambunctious big forum
  08/09/13
Elaborate on how it's a significant problem. I thought the w...
self-absorbed bateful theatre bbw
  08/09/13
When your litigation team is facing a deadline and you can't...
sinister love of her life
  08/09/13
Describe what a typical fast turnaround looks like? Are we t...
self-absorbed bateful theatre bbw
  08/09/13
I don't know that there is "typical" work. Litiga...
sinister love of her life
  08/09/13
Holy shit. What year (or range) are you? There's no way I co...
self-absorbed bateful theatre bbw
  08/09/13
21 pages in a night is fairly heroic, but bear in mind that ...
rambunctious big forum
  08/09/13
Other than the basic four-part test bullshit legal standard ...
sinister love of her life
  08/09/13
cot damn brother, that's well done
rambunctious big forum
  08/09/13
I guess. And today I'm doing jack shit. I'll probably bill...
sinister love of her life
  08/09/13
6th yr. But I was doing this shit as a 2nd yr.
sinister love of her life
  08/09/13
Was it stressful or just another day in the office?
self-absorbed bateful theatre bbw
  08/09/13
I have always been a cram studier, so I don't usually get to...
sinister love of her life
  08/09/13
LSAT? School range? Vault range? Has your speed improved ...
self-absorbed bateful theatre bbw
  08/09/13
168. Made top 20% LR at one of the better non t14 schools. ...
insanely creepy bawdyhouse digit ratio
  08/09/13
become a federal judge or academic
floppy address private investor
  08/09/13
megaposting will hone your mind like a blade
Comical deranged karate
  12/21/14
career clerk/slow-paced fed job some other practice group r...
Painfully Honest Pisswyrm Sanctuary
  12/21/14
if you like your job and the pay check that you are receivin...
Bright startling hospital
  12/21/14


Poast new message in this thread



Reply Favorite

Date: August 8th, 2013 3:37 PM
Author: insanely creepy bawdyhouse digit ratio

I'm a junior lit/white collar associate and get frequent unsolicited praise for my research and writing skills. Problem: I am slow as shit in understanding law, absorbing how different pieces interlock, applying facts, and crafting exactly what I want to say. When the stars align and I have had plenty of time, I am told my briefs and memos are way ahead of my peers.

I ABSOLUTELY FUCKING SUCK at being organized, managing my time, and juggling multiple matters and expectations, and feel like I constantly annoy partners, senior associates by saying I can't get things done more quickly or worse, turn in something shitty when I have no time. I need my sleep at night, and after 18 months of stress feel demoralized. Where the hell would I go after this?

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2331712&forum_id=2#23803223)



Reply Favorite

Date: August 8th, 2013 3:38 PM
Author: Bronze soul-stirring ceo

shitlaw

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2331712&forum_id=2#23803231)



Reply Favorite

Date: August 9th, 2013 9:24 PM
Author: lake giraffe stage

wrong. pondering over stuff and crafting excellent briefs/arguments is what is not needed in shitlaw.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2331712&forum_id=2#23811566)



Reply Favorite

Date: August 8th, 2013 3:38 PM
Author: Glittery harsh dilemma

Same here bro. I just like to leisurely think about shit. I'm not focused enough to plow through a huge workload.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2331712&forum_id=2#23803230)



Reply Favorite

Date: August 8th, 2013 3:39 PM
Author: Odious Sandwich Friendly Grandma

This is relevant to my anxieties

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2331712&forum_id=2#23803234)



Reply Favorite

Date: August 8th, 2013 3:39 PM
Author: Bronze soul-stirring ceo

lol

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2331712&forum_id=2#23803238)



Reply Favorite

Date: December 21st, 2014 1:46 PM
Author: arousing point



(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2331712&forum_id=2#26974479)



Reply Favorite

Date: August 8th, 2013 3:41 PM
Author: cobalt hell

This is really how everyone is. Just gotta deal with it.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2331712&forum_id=2#23803245)



Reply Favorite

Date: August 8th, 2013 3:44 PM
Author: insanely creepy bawdyhouse digit ratio

explain plz.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2331712&forum_id=2#23803254)



Reply Favorite

Date: August 9th, 2013 3:14 PM
Author: Bespoke aphrodisiac public bath

He means you're not good. You're not. Your stuff is good if you take your time--big deal. That's not how life works. to be of value, you need to make people money. This isn't a contest to become the next James Madison-quality writer. It's to be able to churn out a good enough work product in a short period of time. You can't do that apparently.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2331712&forum_id=2#23809128)



Reply Favorite

Date: August 9th, 2013 3:23 PM
Author: diverse gold heaven

Holy shit, devastating and not flame

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2331712&forum_id=2#23809173)



Reply Favorite

Date: August 9th, 2013 8:15 PM
Author: Fuchsia Vivacious Parlor Police Squad

titcr. cats need to settle for "good enough". once you can identify "good enough", you're golden. That take time ironically enough.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2331712&forum_id=2#23811205)



Reply Favorite

Date: August 9th, 2013 3:21 PM
Author: sinister love of her life

Not really. My problem has alwayts been the exact opposite. I'm fast as shit at writing and research, but occasionally get sloppy. Both are problems.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2331712&forum_id=2#23809164)



Reply Favorite

Date: August 8th, 2013 4:12 PM
Author: provocative weed whacker station

This is totally normal. Biglaw sucks and there is no way around it.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2331712&forum_id=2#23803352)



Reply Favorite

Date: August 8th, 2013 4:26 PM
Author: insanely creepy bawdyhouse digit ratio

Fair enough but some clearly handle it better than others and I don't see other associates as visibly stressed all the time as me.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2331712&forum_id=2#23803415)



Reply Favorite

Date: August 8th, 2013 4:19 PM
Author: Motley Immigrant Roommate

Sounds like you have ADHD to me!

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2331712&forum_id=2#23803378)



Reply Favorite

Date: December 21st, 2014 1:55 PM
Author: cerebral cocky ticket booth

adderrall really is cr here

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2331712&forum_id=2#26974517)



Reply Favorite

Date: August 8th, 2013 4:28 PM
Author: Flickering State

glad I'm not alone in my suckage

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2331712&forum_id=2#23803424)



Reply Favorite

Date: August 9th, 2013 1:46 PM
Author: insanely creepy bawdyhouse digit ratio

Ok so point taken my situation isn't all that unique. What types of litigation exit ops are a good fit for someone like me?

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2331712&forum_id=2#23808621)



Reply Favorite

Date: August 9th, 2013 1:50 PM
Author: Scarlet cheese-eating market

What kind of shitty are you talking about? Example: Getting the law wrong? Not providing enough clarity? Not taking a strong enough stance?

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2331712&forum_id=2#23808644)



Reply Favorite

Date: August 9th, 2013 1:57 PM
Author: insanely creepy bawdyhouse digit ratio

I almost always nail the legal standards. When I have to rush I sometimes overlook key distinguishing facts in our situation or in the cases I read. Also find it really hard to translate my findings into concrete practical recommendations. Also I instinctively don't give a shit about typos and those show up when I rush.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2331712&forum_id=2#23808682)



Reply Favorite

Date: August 9th, 2013 2:00 PM
Author: Razzle-dazzle drab pit deer antler

you either know the law so well beforehand that you know exactly what you are going to say where to look

or you just have to sacrifice some quality for efficiency for the time being until you have enough experience

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2331712&forum_id=2#23808704)



Reply Favorite

Date: August 9th, 2013 2:04 PM
Author: insanely creepy bawdyhouse digit ratio

I suppose I just hate criticism of my work and am a perfectionist. Problem is I let it become a liability instead of an asset.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2331712&forum_id=2#23808725)



Reply Favorite

Date: August 9th, 2013 3:00 PM
Author: mind-boggling overrated institution macaca

LOL at junior litigation work being stressful or having demanding deadlines. You'd be crying at your desk daily if you were doing corp or fin.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2331712&forum_id=2#23809044)



Reply Favorite

Date: August 9th, 2013 3:11 PM
Author: wine black woman

lol corp isn't law. it's being an i-bankers bitch. only litigation is respected as law. if you aren't doing jury trials or appeals you're not doing shit.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2331712&forum_id=2#23809114)



Reply Favorite

Date: August 9th, 2013 3:16 PM
Author: Bespoke aphrodisiac public bath

lol at corp being law.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2331712&forum_id=2#23809139)



Reply Favorite

Date: August 9th, 2013 3:39 PM
Author: mind-boggling overrated institution macaca

Not sure why anyone cares what you consider it to be? It's higher value work than litigation.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2331712&forum_id=2#23809286)



Reply Favorite

Date: August 9th, 2013 3:46 PM
Author: kink-friendly potus ape

just offer securities / solicit shareholder votes in a public merger without knowing '33 and '34 Acts, bro

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2331712&forum_id=2#23809323)



Reply Favorite

Date: August 9th, 2013 3:52 PM
Author: Ebony faggot firefighter

Guys at my high school did it all the time, it was NBD

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2331712&forum_id=2#23809376)



Reply Favorite

Date: August 9th, 2013 3:00 PM
Author: Scarlet cheese-eating market

P R O TIP: Squat.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2331712&forum_id=2#23809047)



Reply Favorite

Date: August 9th, 2013 3:03 PM
Author: chrome flatulent toaster nursing home

How slow are you? Like starting from scratch, how long would it take you to crank out a highly polished 20 page brief on an extremely complicated issue?

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2331712&forum_id=2#23809064)



Reply Favorite

Date: August 9th, 2013 3:16 PM
Author: Charismatic box office mood

This would probably take me a few months.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2331712&forum_id=2#23809136)



Reply Favorite

Date: August 9th, 2013 3:19 PM
Author: rambunctious big forum

hahahahahahahahaha

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2331712&forum_id=2#23809155)



Reply Favorite

Date: August 9th, 2013 3:49 PM
Author: Charismatic box office mood

I mean, it might only be 20 hours of actual work, but it would take me months to accumulate those 20 hours in between posting and managing my fantasy sports teams.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2331712&forum_id=2#23809346)



Reply Favorite

Date: August 9th, 2013 3:52 PM
Author: rambunctious big forum

sure. 20 hours of actual work, 50+ hours of billable work, 3 months to complete. seems like the typical lit assignment.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2331712&forum_id=2#23809373)



Reply Favorite

Date: August 9th, 2013 6:39 PM
Author: insanely creepy bawdyhouse digit ratio

If by starting from scratch you mean absolutely no research on an unfamiliar area of law, It would probably take me 8-10 working days (ideally)

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2331712&forum_id=2#23810551)



Reply Favorite

Date: August 9th, 2013 3:19 PM
Author: sinister love of her life

Being slow is a significant problem. My experience is that most slow associates are just really anxious and spend most of their time torturing their writing. Even that can be a problem that sinks someone's long term prospects. But if you're also slow at understanding concepts, chances are you're just not that bright.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2331712&forum_id=2#23809150)



Reply Favorite

Date: August 9th, 2013 3:20 PM
Author: rambunctious big forum

what if i am 'slow' because i 'don't do anything'

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2331712&forum_id=2#23809158)



Reply Favorite

Date: August 9th, 2013 3:23 PM
Author: self-absorbed bateful theatre bbw

Elaborate on how it's a significant problem. I thought the whole point was to be as inefficient as possible.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2331712&forum_id=2#23809174)



Reply Favorite

Date: August 9th, 2013 3:25 PM
Author: sinister love of her life

When your litigation team is facing a deadline and you can't be counted on to turn around something quickly, someone else is going to get that work. You'll become the "discovery expert" of your team, which is code for "the guy who we stick with the scut work because he can't be counted on to do anything more".

It is about 99% myth that partners encourage people to milk their hours. And even when that does happen, it's all fine and good until suddenly shit needs to get done NOW. Then it's all about who can produce the goods. IMO, there is SIGNIFICANTLY more value in someone who can produce B+ quality work very quickly than someone who can produce A-level work but needs forever and a half to do it.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2331712&forum_id=2#23809198)



Reply Favorite

Date: August 9th, 2013 3:28 PM
Author: self-absorbed bateful theatre bbw

Describe what a typical fast turnaround looks like? Are we talking 20 pages on a complicated topic in a week? Are people really too slow even if they put in the requisite all-nighters, if necessary?

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2331712&forum_id=2#23809213)



Reply Favorite

Date: August 9th, 2013 3:32 PM
Author: sinister love of her life

I don't know that there is "typical" work. Litigation covers a broad array of shit. But just yesterday I banged out a 21-page TRO filing on a fairly complex set of issues (organization was tricky, the legal issues themselves were middle of the road). We learned about the issue first thing yesterday morning. I started writing at noon. I was done by about midnight (I also went home, had dinner, put my kids to bed, and watched a little tv in the middle). We filed 2 hours ago.

I happen to work in a practice area where I get a lot of super tight deadlines. I basically picked what I do for exactly that reason, because it fits my strengths and tends to be somewhat forgiving of my weaknesses. But this kind of thing isn't unheard of in most areas of lit, even if the stereotypical biglaw lit case is some slow-moving behemoth class action.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2331712&forum_id=2#23809236)



Reply Favorite

Date: August 9th, 2013 3:43 PM
Author: self-absorbed bateful theatre bbw

Holy shit. What year (or range) are you? There's no way I could do something like that. Ever.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2331712&forum_id=2#23809302)



Reply Favorite

Date: August 9th, 2013 3:45 PM
Author: rambunctious big forum

21 pages in a night is fairly heroic, but bear in mind that original legal research and writing likely represented only some small fraction of that

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2331712&forum_id=2#23809311)



Reply Favorite

Date: August 9th, 2013 3:49 PM
Author: sinister love of her life

Other than the basic four-part test bullshit legal standard section, every word of it was original. At least 15 pages worth. It wasn't a research heavy brief, and I had a junior associate helping me with a piece of the research.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2331712&forum_id=2#23809343)



Reply Favorite

Date: August 9th, 2013 3:51 PM
Author: rambunctious big forum

cot damn brother, that's well done

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2331712&forum_id=2#23809364)



Reply Favorite

Date: August 9th, 2013 3:58 PM
Author: sinister love of her life

I guess. And today I'm doing jack shit. I'll probably bill 4 hours, meaning that my 2-day total will be like 17 hours, which implies to someone who doesn't know me that I just logged two average days.

This is the difference between me and the 2800+ hour strivers. They somehow convince themselves to endure being slammed day after day.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2331712&forum_id=2#23809416)



Reply Favorite

Date: August 9th, 2013 3:49 PM
Author: sinister love of her life

6th yr. But I was doing this shit as a 2nd yr.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2331712&forum_id=2#23809348)



Reply Favorite

Date: August 9th, 2013 3:56 PM
Author: self-absorbed bateful theatre bbw

Was it stressful or just another day in the office?

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2331712&forum_id=2#23809407)



Reply Favorite

Date: August 9th, 2013 3:59 PM
Author: sinister love of her life

I have always been a cram studier, so I don't usually get too "stressed" about facing a tight deadline, but it was certainly taxing. As I just said above, I'm pretty good and fried today. Not doing very much. Will probably go home sometime in the next 45 minutes. Told my kid I'd take her to get ice cream.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2331712&forum_id=2#23809421)



Reply Favorite

Date: August 9th, 2013 3:24 PM
Author: self-absorbed bateful theatre bbw

LSAT? School range? Vault range?

Has your speed improved at all in 18 months?

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2331712&forum_id=2#23809186)



Reply Favorite

Date: August 9th, 2013 6:36 PM
Author: insanely creepy bawdyhouse digit ratio

168. Made top 20% LR at one of the better non t14 schools. Yes I have gotten faster, but the responsibilities are also more.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2331712&forum_id=2#23810522)



Reply Favorite

Date: August 9th, 2013 9:25 PM
Author: floppy address private investor

become a federal judge or academic

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2331712&forum_id=2#23811576)



Reply Favorite

Date: December 21st, 2014 1:57 PM
Author: Comical deranged karate

megaposting will hone your mind like a blade

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2331712&forum_id=2#26974528)



Reply Favorite

Date: December 21st, 2014 2:14 PM
Author: Painfully Honest Pisswyrm Sanctuary

career clerk/slow-paced fed job

some other practice group requiring deeper analysis on a longer timeframe (i have no fucking clue which groups these are, only that u should stay away from bankruptcy lit / TROs)

if u can't do that, befriend another associate who has complementary skills. i'm decent at blitzing out briefs/fast research and hitting the broad themes, but will occasionally miss some details. i actively try to work with associates who may be slow as fuck but like to wordsmith and obsess over checking stuff.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2331712&forum_id=2#26974605)



Reply Favorite

Date: December 21st, 2014 2:43 PM
Author: Bright startling hospital

if you like your job and the pay check that you are receiving, my advice to you is to hurry the fuck up.

if you are aware of the issue, it is extremely likely that your supervisors are too. I'm working with a 1-3 year lit associate who is essentially you. two partners have already come to talk to me about this person individually. the general premise is that "Associate X" does great work, but he/she is too damn slow and bills way too much. they are looking to bump this person from the lit team(s).

at this stage, I have invested a ton of time into training associate x, and advocated very strongly for his/her continued inclusion. still, this person continues to move too slowly, and it's looking like it's only a matter of time.

think of it this way: you are not in biglaw to show the world just how special / brilliant you really are. you are there to do a job, and the people you are working for are running a business. they do *not* like writing off time, or otherwise explaining to the GC why you are on the case.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2331712&forum_id=2#26974800)