This might be a long shot, but I’m sharing this in case someone out there has been through something similar or can offer some perspective.
I graduated from law school last year and joined a mid-sized boutique firm in D.C., where I had previously summered after both my 1L and 2L years. I was genuinely excited to return full-time. I had built relationships with people at the firm and was eager to keep learning and growing as a junior associate.
From day one, I rotated through different practice areas and did my best to get up to speed quickly. Like most new associates, I made some early mistakes, but I asked for feedback regularly, took on whatever work I could find, and stayed proactive. My hours ended up being lower than expected, but not because I wasn’t trying. I was consistently reaching out for assignments and making a real effort to stay engaged.
A couple of months ago, I had what I believed was a productive check-in with firm leadership about my performance. I left that meeting feeling hopeful and under the impression that I’d have the opportunity to improve. Since then, I’ve worked on several matters, submitted what I thought was solid work, and continued to show initiative.
Then, without much warning, I was called into a meeting with HR and told I was being let go due to “performance issues.” I was given a list of mistakes, most of which were from early on, and was told to clear out my desk that same day. There was no performance improvement plan and no indication that recent feedback had been considered. It didn’t seem like they had spoken to anyone I had worked with closely in the past few months. I later signed the severance agreement.
To be honest, the past few months have been tough. I’ve been applying widely, working with recruiters, and doing my best to stay motivated, but the market feels slow, especially for someone just starting out. What makes it harder is knowing that others at the firm were given second chances. I can’t help but wonder if I was held to a different standard, especially as a minority attorney.
I know I’m not the only one who has experienced something like this, but it can feel incredibly isolating. I’m trying to move forward and learn from it, but I would really appreciate any advice on how to talk about this in interviews, how to refocus my job search, or where I might look for opportunities.
If anyone is hiring or knows someone who is, I would be truly grateful for any leads. I’m currently based in D.C. but open to relocating, especially to Texas, which is home.
Appreciate any and all advice! :)