A lot of times, associates just need a reality check. The work can be very disappointing at first, especially when you spend multiple nights at the office making sure documents are letter-perfect, adds Rogers. It isn t uncommon for high-priced junior associates to be doing the work of paralegals or secretaries, like making copies and inputting changes to a document. This only adds to the feeling among associates that they re being abused. In addition, if things just don t show any signs of changing, it may be up to the associate to find a firm where the salaries may not be as lucrative but the happiness quotient is higher.
Happiness often happens at a smaller firm.
We pride ourselves on knowing that our associates do have a life. At other firms, keeping in touch with associates is a major priority. To address some of the concerns the firm s 18 associates have about their personal life, professional life, and the relationship between the two. We ask associates to anonymously choose one of our 16 partners to pair with, says Mark Vecchio, a shareholder at the firm who is in charge of the program. The idea is to help associates identify some concrete goals.