One situation in which you may need to look for a new job is when your whole firm is in trouble. Maybe the firm has suffered some real setbacks in the last few months, or maybe there has just been an exodus of some of the top talent that the firm needed to stay in business. When a firm starts losing clients, especially if they are old clients that have had business with the firm for quite a while, you'll find that there are plenty of reasons to start looking around for a new position. A related warning sign is any exodus of some of the top partners.
One of the best ways to figure if the firm is in trouble is to take a look at company morale. And don't just look at the other lawyers, either; keep an eye on how all of the firm's employees are acting. It is always a mistake to ignore the people working under you, and this is no exception. You'll find that just by paying a bit of attention, you'll be able to get a sense of how strong or weak the firm's morale is, and this can tell you a lot. Does everyone seem to be extremely tense? Are things a lot more quiet than they have been in the past? These things could be a sign that trouble is in the air.
Another thing you'll notice when a firm is experiencing problems is that there will be a lot of gossip flying around. Of course, gossip is a common part of any workplace, and a law firm is no exception, but in times of trouble, the gossip will be even thicker, and you'll notice that while gossip has never been known for its accuracy, the deviations from the truth will become even more extreme. If your company is having trouble, chances are, the gossip will have a panicked undertone to it as people try to figure out what is going on so that they can be one step ahead of any disasters.
If your firm is having trouble, then you might also notice some sudden and unexplained changes in policy. Are you having meetings about changes that you really didn't see coming? If your firm is making sweeping changes in this fashion, it might very well mean that the partners are floundering around and trying to get back on their feet. Quick and abrupt change can mean that your firm is simply struggling to tread water, so regard such developments with caution.
Signs You Are on the Way Out
If you are going to get fired or asked to quit, you may find that they are going to start up a paper trail. Your employers will start asking for documentation on your most recent activities, and in some circumstances, you might be required to sign statements regarding the things that you have done. Essentially, what they are doing is putting together a case for firing you. While some firms will do this as a matter of course just in case they need to fire you, others will only do this after they have made the decision. You may find that performance reviews become more frequent just to provide them with an excuse for the paper trail.
You may also find that when your job is in question that you are getting left out an awful lot. You'll discover that you are not going to the same meetings that other people are going to, and that you are not getting all of the correspondence. This means that you are getting left out of the loop, and that unless something changes, your situation will just continue to get worse. You might also find that your workload is getting lighter and that some clients or projects might be taken away from you without warning.
No matter what situation you find yourself in, you already know that it is important to make sure that you keep your wits about you. Use the time and resources you have to figure out what's going on, and use the information you gather to your best advantage.
See the Top 32 Reasons Attorneys Lose Their Jobs Inside of Law Firms to learn some of the most common reasons attorneys are fired or let go from law firms.
