I’m a first year at a V100, wondering if I'm overreacting or if this is a legitimate reason to start looking elsewhere.
I was actually enjoying my group and work until I was staffed directly under this one partner on a matter type I have zero experience with. Every associate who used to do this work has left the firm, so there's no senior associate buffer between us. In the past two weeks:
• Got reamed out for being 7 minutes late into the office and accused of working from home.
• The partner tried to convince me they never told me something even with written proof otherwise.
• Told me I ruined their holiday weekend with reviewing documents even though they randomly took back their original draft deadline for the following week at 2pm that Friday.
• Blamed for being behind schedule, despite turning comments or initiating tasks immediately upon request. The partner won’t review drafts electronically, does not answer emails or phone calls, and won’t let me email externally at all regarding the matter.
• Yelled at for being slow on drafts/review, while simultaneously trying to learn the subject matter from scratch with no senior associate or the partner to ask.
• Not allowed to be seen working on any other matter, or I get accused of not prioritizing this one.
The breaking point for this post was today the partner told me, unprompted, that I don't work harder or longer hours than them, and that they're "still working" when I "run off at 5." I live alone with pets, so I leave the office around 5:30 to let them out, but log back on immediately from home to continue working, making sure to respond to anything with this partner within 15 minutes. But if you're not physically in the office, the partner believes you're not working.
Is this just normal biglaw and I need to get a grip or is this a real reason to start looking elsewhere?