Page 21 of Partner Pursuit
No, not of the type you’re looking for. But if the theme becomes general law firm horror stories, let meknow.
To:WinnieChu
From: Audrey Willems
Date: Tuesday,August 24
Re: horror stories,yes
I’m about to star in my own horror story. Malaburn won the pitch. I can’t believe I have to work with him in this finalrun-upto partner. Now I wish Stacy hadn’t found me crying in my office and gotten me pulled off his case threeyearsago.
She slumped in her chair. She had known then that Malaburn would not forgive her for leaving his case. The senior associate Stacy had said not to worry about it—that they had easily found another associate to replace her, that the partners recognized that she had had an unfair workload, that Malaburn would forget—when Audrey had worried out loud that Malaburn would hold this against her when she was up for partner. Which she had felt silly saying as afourth-yearassociate. But even then, she had been aiming to make partner.
To: Audrey Willems
From: Winnie Chu
Date: Tuesday,August 24
Re: Horror Story TakeTwo
Stacy was right to insist that you get pulled off his case. You had been working for him for eight months straight AND the last two months with no days off. Of course, Stacy found you crying in the office.
And it was THREEYEARSago.
What is with him that he’s bringing that up? He’s mean. He has no life outside the office, so he doesn’t want anyone else to have a life either.
He might be better now. He knows he can’t pull that again—now that partners are supposed to watch associates’ time sheets and make sure they get a smidgen of time off. They don’t want an associate dying in the office.
It was time to talk to Hunter about Malaburn. After seven years of working together, she had to believe that Hunter’s insider knowledge of her work ethic and ability would withstand any aspersions cast by Malaburn. She knocked on Hunter’s door that afternoon. He gestured that she should come in. Hunter looked a bit like Clark Kent, but she would never tell him that. His office was decorated in a soothing, warm,mid-centurymodern style. They’d find a solution. She quickly explained her predicament and asked again if he advised working forMalaburn.
“Yes, I talked to Malaburn.” He looked down and straightened the pile of papers in front of him. “Malaburn thinks you don’t have whatit takes.”
She clenched her jaw. She hated Malaburn. Awhite-hotanger filled her like a tea kettle about to boil. But she couldn’t let itshow.
“What am I missing? He just extolled my research abilities to the client. I’ve been working here day and night for seven years.” Her voice cracked. Hunter still hadn’t looked up.He couldn’t believeMalaburn.
Hunter met her gaze and said softly, “He thinks you’re too emotional. He does think you’re a great researcher, but he thinks that’s a good senior counsel trait.”
She was emotional, but she was not “too emotional.” She would like to show Malaburn her being emotional. Emotionally angry.
“Is that code for I’m a woman?” Leaning forward, she grippedtheseat.
“I don’t think so. He’s supporting Colette. He’s concerned about the time you were pulled off his cases because it was too much.” His voice lifted on the last part of the sentence, almost making it into aquestion.
Heat flushed her body. “It was too much. And I was pulled off only one case. But adding him to my caseload now is too much. I’m being set up for failure.” She was proud that her voice was firm. She had to counter Malaburn. She had not given up her life to be a senior counsel. No way was she letting Malaburn derail herbid.
“He says you can’t handle a lot of work—that you’ll crack under pressure and that you won’t pull your weight as a partner.” Hunter grimaced. “I told him you had more than pulled your weight as an associate. But I can’t see a way out. He’ll oppose your bid otherwise. You need to show him you can handle it. Because you can, Audrey.” He said it as if he was stating a closingargument.
She nodded. She had to show confidence. But she hadn’t been able to handle him earlier. She had to believe she could do it. It was just one case. But it wasn’t the case, it wasMalaburn.
“But to free you up, I’ll also staff Colette on this Rothman case,” Huntersaid.
“What? Why? But you just said I could handle all three cases. Do you doubt my ability?” she asked, her voice rising in frustration.
“Not at all, but I want to help,” Hunter said. “This is a good solution. You and I have worked together for years, and I already know you would make a good partner. I’m one of the few partners who hasn’t worked with Colette. She asked me the other day for an assignment. I need to work with her so I can make an informed recommendation on her as a partner. Unfortunately, I don’t have any other cases that are really suitable for her.” Hunter explained that she would retain overall case strategy under his direction and offensive discovery, and Colette would manage defensive discovery. “This gives you more time to work on your trial case with Anderson and your case withMalaburn.”
“It’s a bit complicated when both Colette and I are the same level,” she said hesitantly.Wrong move, don’t express doubts to Hunter.Hunter was hard to get to know personally, although he had opened up after he had kids—but just in that area of his life. As a lawyer, he presented a confident, impenetrablestrength.
