It's not going to stop
The deluge of work is simply never going to stop coming. That's how it feels right now--like I am running down a hallway (think Titanic) with a tidal wave of water behind me and it's just never going to stop coming. And I have to keep running at breakneck speed to stay ahead of it, but I'm so tired. And so worried I'm going to trip, and fall, and drown.
And just to make matters worse, the associate I share a secretary with is heading to trial next week, and my secretary is basically unavailable to me. I dictate my time every night before I leave but no time has been entered into our system since Feb. 14th. I'm starting to worry that she's not downloading it (it's digital and transmits to her automatically) and that it isn't going to be saved, so at the end of the month I will be stuck recreating all of this again. I was trying to be good about avoiding the monthly Billathon nightmares that consume a day or two, and look where it gets me!
It is days/weeks/months like this that lead to associates quitting their jobs and going backpacking in India. It is the nightmares about blown deadlines and screaming emails from bosses that make us start daydreaming about going to work at a clothing store or as a caterer or something, anything, less stressful than this.
As of right now it appears I will be working all weekend too, along with everyone else on our team. It will never let up. And as soon as I get behind on anything, even a little bit, I completely lose the ability to catch up.
I know this is what they overpay all of us lawyers for, I totally get it, but the stress is sometimes just so overwhelming. And right now I'm in the shit, and it sucks. And I don't know when it will get better.
In case you were wondering why posting has been sporadic and largely limited to musical stuff and short posts...this is why.
2 comments:
Is there a comfortable medium between quality of life vs. billable hours? If so, would your employer give you a hard time about it?
I don't know your career goals or level of ambition but it sure seems like you're enjoying that place - and the legal grind - less and less.
I hope you get some slack time soon.
I don't hate it or anything, it just wears on you. And right now everyone is so swamped that the collective tension is just adding to it.
But realistically, no, law firms don't allow you to craft a better balance that involves less hours for less money or something along those lines. This is the deal you sign up for, and if you can't hack it then you go elsewhere.
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