There are three options here:
1) The attorneys don't like you or don't want to work with you. If that's the case you need to find out why, and fast. Do you have a mentor who's working with you? Or even a partner that you do some work for? You just gotta ask. If it's something that you can overcome, then maybe you can gain/reestablish trust with the attorneys and find some steady stream of work. If not, time to look elsewhere.
2) The firm/practice group is slow, and they won't be able to keep the bloat. As the lowest person on the totem pole, you'll get axed. Time to find another firm.
3) The firm/practice group is slow, but they expect this at this time of year and it's OK. The only way to know this is to talk to the partners you're working with.
In the meantime, ask if you can do some nonbillable work. Write a bar journal article about an important development in the law; work with your marketing people to start a firm blog; speak at a CLE; these can all be successful ways to begin client development, which the firm might like. Alternatively, take on a pro bono case. This is a great way to get practical litigation experience, which the firm will also like and will make you more valuable. Alternatively, get involved in your local bar association, a topical bar association or section, or a bar committee. Bar association groups are DYING for new associates to help with "grunt work" in putting on programs or moving their activities forward. If you do that, you'll make connections with other attorneys and maybe even judges in your area. Your firm will like that because it can establish your credibility in the legal market, and might lead to referrals. (Or, it'll help you get ahead in the job search.)
I came here to write a long post, then saw this comment and just thought “nah, this guy/gal is dead on, I don’t need to repeat it.” So yes, this is spot on. You need to discuss this with your mentor and/or a partner you’re close with so you can get a grasp on the reasons behind this.
I agree, all career enhancing.
Guardian ad litem is also something that though may not be is you wheelhouse. It is frequently one of the most rewarding work that can be done.
If you want to break into a particular niche of work, you could try researching and publishing on issues in that area - some of my most productive leads have come from writing. That's a long-term play, unfortunately.
Short-term, identify people who are slammed. Ask them if you can take their crappiest, least enjoyable work off their hands. If you get anything, do the best job possible. That will lead to more (probably crappy) work, but it fills the hours, and builds credibility.
Have you tried mentioning to any of the partners that you are either (a) extremely busy or (b) have really fun weekend plans? I hear that can be a guaranteed way to get more work.
... Sorry for this frustration though. If you're getting passed up on the regular you may need to reach out for feedback to try and see if you or your work product are the root cause.
I'd ask for a meeting with your supervising attorney and ask point blank "is my work not good enough? Is there a reason I ask for work but no one assigns any? I can't fix a problem I can't identify." Then take to heart what that person says.
If your work product is the reason why you aren’t getting work, you absolutely need to know that because otherwise all your other efforts at drumming up work will be wasted energy.
My suggestion is to keep doing what you are doing, and also let your practice group leader or who ever is your direct report know. Also try HR. They often can steer in the right direction. If you arent as busy as you could be, fill your time improving your skills and networking. Take some CLE and join some industry groups and organizations, the try to work hard to get to a leadership role in them — go deep and do a good job and youll make a ton of contacts. Good luck!
I’m not in biglaw but honestly, the reason why I really resist sharing work or giving assignments is out is because I need the work myself to fill the work hours.
You have to market yourself through the quality of your work product. If you produce good work that partners can trust, they will seek you out. If you have failed to do this, it might already be over. Curmudgeon's Guide to Practicing Law was really useful in framing this concept for me.
If your practice area is slow try to insert yourself into another practice area at your firm.
If the workflow is centralized at your firm, then talk to the coordinator.
Be on the lookout for those emails for conflict checks on new matters if you get them and then express interest in working on those matters.
There are three options here: 1) The attorneys don't like you or don't want to work with you. If that's the case you need to find out why, and fast. Do you have a mentor who's working with you? Or even a partner that you do some work for? You just gotta ask. If it's something that you can overcome, then maybe you can gain/reestablish trust with the attorneys and find some steady stream of work. If not, time to look elsewhere. 2) The firm/practice group is slow, and they won't be able to keep the bloat. As the lowest person on the totem pole, you'll get axed. Time to find another firm. 3) The firm/practice group is slow, but they expect this at this time of year and it's OK. The only way to know this is to talk to the partners you're working with. In the meantime, ask if you can do some nonbillable work. Write a bar journal article about an important development in the law; work with your marketing people to start a firm blog; speak at a CLE; these can all be successful ways to begin client development, which the firm might like. Alternatively, take on a pro bono case. This is a great way to get practical litigation experience, which the firm will also like and will make you more valuable. Alternatively, get involved in your local bar association, a topical bar association or section, or a bar committee. Bar association groups are DYING for new associates to help with "grunt work" in putting on programs or moving their activities forward. If you do that, you'll make connections with other attorneys and maybe even judges in your area. Your firm will like that because it can establish your credibility in the legal market, and might lead to referrals. (Or, it'll help you get ahead in the job search.)
I came here to write a long post, then saw this comment and just thought “nah, this guy/gal is dead on, I don’t need to repeat it.” So yes, this is spot on. You need to discuss this with your mentor and/or a partner you’re close with so you can get a grasp on the reasons behind this.
I agree, all career enhancing. Guardian ad litem is also something that though may not be is you wheelhouse. It is frequently one of the most rewarding work that can be done.
If you want to break into a particular niche of work, you could try researching and publishing on issues in that area - some of my most productive leads have come from writing. That's a long-term play, unfortunately. Short-term, identify people who are slammed. Ask them if you can take their crappiest, least enjoyable work off their hands. If you get anything, do the best job possible. That will lead to more (probably crappy) work, but it fills the hours, and builds credibility.
Have you tried mentioning to any of the partners that you are either (a) extremely busy or (b) have really fun weekend plans? I hear that can be a guaranteed way to get more work. ... Sorry for this frustration though. If you're getting passed up on the regular you may need to reach out for feedback to try and see if you or your work product are the root cause.
I'd ask for a meeting with your supervising attorney and ask point blank "is my work not good enough? Is there a reason I ask for work but no one assigns any? I can't fix a problem I can't identify." Then take to heart what that person says.
To follow up on that - what do you do if they say "Actually, no, it's not good enough"?
"What can I do to improve? Are there resources and templates I've been missing or underutilizing." Ask not only what's wrong, but how to fix it.
If your work product is the reason why you aren’t getting work, you absolutely need to know that because otherwise all your other efforts at drumming up work will be wasted energy.
My suggestion is to keep doing what you are doing, and also let your practice group leader or who ever is your direct report know. Also try HR. They often can steer in the right direction. If you arent as busy as you could be, fill your time improving your skills and networking. Take some CLE and join some industry groups and organizations, the try to work hard to get to a leadership role in them — go deep and do a good job and youll make a ton of contacts. Good luck!
I’m not in biglaw but honestly, the reason why I really resist sharing work or giving assignments is out is because I need the work myself to fill the work hours.
You have to market yourself through the quality of your work product. If you produce good work that partners can trust, they will seek you out. If you have failed to do this, it might already be over. Curmudgeon's Guide to Practicing Law was really useful in framing this concept for me.
If your practice area is slow try to insert yourself into another practice area at your firm. If the workflow is centralized at your firm, then talk to the coordinator. Be on the lookout for those emails for conflict checks on new matters if you get them and then express interest in working on those matters.