Most legislation companies usually have huge portfolios of labor that hold associates and workers busy. This may embody issues that reach throughout totally different observe areas in addition to numerous state and federal courts. Generally, associates can select the forms of issues they work on, however more often than not, associates are assigned issues and observe areas relying on the wants of a legislation agency. In some circumstances, legislation companies might assign disagreeable work assignments to associates to get them to go away a legislation agency or to punish them for not assembly expectations.
Just about each legislation agency has disagreeable matter that the agency accepts to generate income and hold the lights on at a store. As an example, there are sometimes sexual assault circumstances on which legislation companies work involving non secular organizations, civic teams, and different forms of defendants. All these issues are sometimes filed in waves, so at any given time, a legislation agency employed to defend some of these circumstances may need quite a few issues linked with a tragic material. As everybody deserves a protection, a legislation agency normally shouldn’t be faulted for accepting such work.
Nevertheless, engaged on such issues is perhaps rather more disagreeable than engaged on different forms of circumstances. Sexual abuse circumstances or different forms of unappealing issues would possibly contain troublesome matters, uncomfortable questions, and could also be extra emotionally draining than different kinds of labor. A technique legislation companies can deal with the emotional load of such issues is to evenly distribute such circumstances in order that nobody affiliate must spend an inordinate time on such issues.
Nevertheless, I’ve heard tales of some associates being assigned to deal with such disagreeable issues as their major supply of labor. Since associates usually have billable hour necessities, they won’t be ready to reject such issues and request different assignments since such issues is perhaps the one manner they will meet expectations. I’ve heard a number of tales about associates who have been assigned such disagreeable issues since companions hoped this could compel an affiliate to depart a agency. In fact, that is troublesome to verify, however anybody who watches “Seinfeld” ought to know that employers would possibly make life difficult for employees they want to quit.
This technique appears crass and irresponsible. Attorneys usually have psychological well being points at baseline because the battle, stress, and feelings already make it troublesome to deal with authorized work. Including in troublesome assignments that contact upon emotional points may need a big impression on the psychological well being of associates. Additionally, not giving associates a selection about whether or not they should work on unappealing issues can get rid of company of associates and negatively impression morale.
Regulation companies additionally usually assign higher issues to associates who’re extra favored by administration of a store. As an example, I as soon as labored at a legislation agency that didn’t pay as a lot as different retailers, however companions on the agency preferred me and seemingly wished me to remain. They assigned extra fascinating assignments to me than the common affiliate was given. I additionally argued appeals, dealt with fascinating issues in federal court docket, and accomplished extra duties that different associates didn’t. This observe may also be pernicious since associates may not be comfortable that different associates are being given privileges that aren’t obtainable to everybody at a store.
All informed, most legislation companies have disagreeable issues that should be dealt with in order that the agency can generate cash. Nevertheless, it’s not honest in most circumstances to assign such issues disproportionately to at least one group of associates, particularly whether it is being performed to punish associates or get them to stop. Regulation companies ought to implement safeguards to make sure work is doled out equitably to all associates.
Jordan Rothman is a companion of The Rothman Law Firm, a full-service New York and New Jersey legislation agency. He’s additionally the founding father of Student Debt Diaries, an internet site discussing how he paid off his pupil loans. You possibly can attain Jordan via e-mail at jordan@rothman.law.
