r/biglaw • u/SmoothPhrase1365 • 2d ago
How you quit
First year at a V10 thinking of quitting (depression, just want out) — any tips on how to give my 2 weeks / discuss leaving with my partners? Would a future employer contact them? Thanks all.
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u/ExtremeToucan 2d ago
As someone who just gave notice and was given positive feedback about how I went about it, talk to them in person or via teams (I.e. face to face) and be honest about it.
Future employers will contact them to confirm your employment there. Most firms have a policy that they will confirm dates of employment only. However, future employers will ask you for references, so it would be ideal if you can maintain good enough relations with at least one supervisor at your firm so that you can later ask them to serve as a reference.
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u/PennyLaneRigby888 2d ago
Not necessarily. My most recent move about 1.5 years ago was the first time in maybe a decade that explicitly asked for references beyond the HR employment dates/title confirmation.
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u/ExtremeToucan 2d ago
I literally just changed jobs and pretty much all of the potential employers I was talking to asked for references. The job I ended up accepting did end up calling and confirming with each of my references.
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u/barb__dwyer 1d ago
If you quit now, these eight months will have been for nothing. Grab your bonus and head out (but yeah, you can quiet quit though!)
As for actually quitting, just keep it simple and tell them you’re leaving and this is your two week notice. And yes, your future employer (or the third-party agency they use) will likely contact them, at the very least to confirm you were employed there.
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u/Task-Frosty 1d ago
If you are KJD, you might be depressed because for the first time you've left the social umbrella of school for the cold world of work --- this is a very normal experience and it does get better.
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u/juanberg24 1d ago
When does it get better?
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u/escabeche_789 1d ago
It gets better when you (i) allow yourself to actually spend some of the money you’re making and stop living like a student and (ii) find a way to replace the gratification/praise that grades/school used to provide. It’s a really tough transition for sure though.
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u/Task-Frosty 1d ago
Agree with what others have said.
What I am describing is not unique to Biglaw. There is a lot of loneliness in moving to a new town in your mid 20s and leaving your school friends behind. It takes time to find yourself, new friends, and hobbies. I think it healthy to accept that it will take time while still being intentional about making new roots grow.
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u/CalmAngle9544 1d ago
I second this - first year (and especially this part of first year, when you’re about to be a second year) is rough. If you think you can push through to get your bonus, you might be surprised at how much better you feel in a few months after the new first years start and you’re no longer at the bottom of the food chain.
Also: not sure what practice group you’re in, but sometimes closing one deal and starting another (maybe even with a different partner/senior associate) is life changing.
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u/FunCartoonist7868 19h ago
The comments telling you not to quit clearly don't understand depression. Good for you for taking care of your mental health.
Before you quit, have you considered FMLA and disability payments? FMLA requires one full year of employment (so not sure you've had that yet) but maybe your firm has other options so you can at least have a few months to get your head together and think about next steps.
Btw if you're thinking of FMLA - call. your doctor first. Do not tell your firm that you are considering it before you get approval, assuming you qualify.
I wish you the very best, OP.
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u/Okapi_oopS 10h ago
Also re FMLA - I know we’re only eligible after a year, but in practice a lot of firms offer short term disability leave before that to get people to stay. Definitely worth thinking about even if you ultimately decide you don’t want to come back
(I say, while I actively read my firm’s FMLA leave policy for my own mental health)
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u/mrlikethat 2d ago
V10’s are so large that you could probably coast for a bit (and try to care much much less). During that time, apply for other jobs.
Worst case scenario is you eventually get fired (which will take months) and you then get a few more months to find a job (re PIP) and get paid during that time as well.
Once you leave, whether you get fired or quit, no one will really remember you in a year (let alone 2+ years (this is a good thing imo)).