1. My boss, the Big Guy. He's been away on vacation for two weeks and I'm so glad he's back. He's smart, nimble, creative, thoughtful. He's personable, funny, likeable. He's a clear writer, a strong negotiator, and a great teacher. And he takes the time to give me background information, tell me what's really going on in a deal, de-brief conversations and meetings with me, share his strategies, etc., which is fantastically helpful and motivating. He is generous with praise and tactful with criticism. He's laid back and friendly.
2. The other partners (also my bosses) are as different from one another as can be. They're all good lawyers, who enjoy and respect one another. It's great to be in a place where there's no one mold, where I can see such distinct styles and approaches. Makes me realize there are different ways to be an effective lawyer, and feel safe discovering and growing into my own style.
3. The staff are good, and they are happy here. There's been no staff turnover in six years, and we've got six staff for 10 attorneys, which I guess is lean. They're smart and efficient, and there's very little grumbling, infighting, or backstabbing. There's a lot of laughter and teasing, office pools and banter and birthday parties. There are often kids in the office, enough that I have a drawer of toys and markers to lure them in to play with me.
4. The office is a great place to be: light, spacious, with ocean views. I guess it's stupid, but nice physical space matters a lot to me. I thought about going to Prestigious Law Firm and one reason I didn't was because I felt like a rat in a maze there -- narrow corridors, cubicles for the staff, low ceilings with fluorescent lights, a cramped little wierdly-lit office for each associate. It would have been so depressing to go in every day. Prestigious Law Firm 2 was a little better -- more space and light, but with this corporate blandness that was numbing. Day after day it would have crushed my spirit.
5. I'm paid well. Best in town, as far as I know. And the firm is generous with 401(k) and benefits, etc.
6. Business casual dress code, jeans on Friday. Although I'm beginning to find that wearing a suit is sometimes less bother than the mix-and-match A.M. decision making of business casual.
7. I've already mentioned the every-other-week chair massage. It bears repeating. What a cool perk.
8. My paranoid co-worker, just above me on the associate totem pole, is hilarious, smart, and a great friend. Before she came I enjoyed the other associates but didn't particularly connect beyond work stuff. (Everyone but me was married, almost all have kids.) With the arrival of PCW I have a friend here, and it's tremendously fun. She's goofy and smart and is in my office making me laugh several times a day.
9. They send me to whatever CLE seminars I want to go to. AND they take me to the New England Bankruptcy Conference. I love that stuff, never get tired of learning. They tease me for being a dork but they are enablers, and I am so grateful.
10. Really good baked goods in the kitchen several times a week.
11. Oh yeah! This should be near the top, because it is central to my sense of contentment about my life. WE WORK REASONABLE HOURS. I almost never work weekends -- if I do, I come in for just a couple of hours. I've done that fewer than 10 times in 2 years. I get to work between 8 and 8:30, and generally leave before 7, sometimes right at 6. On fewer than 5 occasions I've stayed until 9 or 10 PM. Summers, I leave before 5 on Tuesday nights to go sailing. People here take vacations, they value their families, and they go home.
If every office worker were as lucky as you, there'd be less absenteeism, less stress. You have it good. From your comments, everyone you work with knows it too. Kudos to your bosses for running a great place.
Posted by: Carol | September 17, 2003 at 10:13 AM
"Tell me is there balm in Gilead"
At least I know there's hope. :)
Posted by: A. Rickey | September 17, 2003 at 10:29 AM
Grr.... you have no idea how envious that makes big firm lawyers.
Posted by: TPB, Esq. | September 17, 2003 at 12:40 PM
Why aren't more firms like yours here at OCI?
Posted by: Andrew | September 17, 2003 at 12:53 PM