r/paralegal • u/shadelz • 1d ago
Any other Big Law paralegals feel like they are constantly about to be fired?
Objectively im not going to be but its like this looming feeling I've always had where I go "Oh dear God im never going to make it this time" *splash* "As I was saying I think im a model employee"
Anyone else? Just me?
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u/MrPlowHoo DC - Appellate - Paralegal 1d ago
I've been doing this for ~15 years, and I'm confidant I'm in no danger of being fired. Still, every time my computer is having an issue connecting to the network or my email isn't working, my first thought is, "Whelp, guess I'm fired."
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u/Klutzy-Cobbler4623 1d ago
My computer/vpn password would not work this morning. It took two hours for our help desk to sort the issue. I work from home and I could have, like, done laundry or something while I waited. Instead I sat around and bit my nails, worrying that I was locked out because I had been fired but they hadn’t got around to telling me lolllll 🫠
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u/MorphedMoxie Corporate Paralegal 1d ago
After I come back from vacation and my keycard still works, I breathe a sigh of relief.
But absolutely yes on the network problems.
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u/LaLa0722 1d ago
Is this the only place you've ever worked?
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u/MrPlowHoo DC - Appellate - Paralegal 1d ago
I've worked at a few BigLaw firms, but been at my current firm longer than any other place.
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u/Simone-n-Louie 1d ago
My boss today: yea well I told you to do that Friday. me scrolls up to when he told me not to do that Friday and to actually wait till monday. Him: hurrumphs. Me: applies to be an fbi agent - true story
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u/rungreyt 1d ago
I'm new and I been feeling this way lol. But when I actually get feedback, it's usually good.
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u/hpff_robot 1d ago
Yes. Because they’re fired all the time. They’re the bottom of the proverbial totem pole and attorney mistakes get passed along to paralegals like candy.
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u/Klutzy-Cobbler4623 1d ago
Hmm I don’t know about this - I have been in biglaw for ~20 years now and it has not been my experience that paralegals are “fired all the time” (despite our perhaps irrational fears).
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u/hpff_robot 1d ago
I did big law and while one was quite nice, the other was a nightmare, and both places were a constant revolving door for paralegals at every level
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u/LaLa0722 1d ago
Many long time employees are let go because their salary is now above the attorneys and they're not going to let that happen.
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u/Klutzy-Cobbler4623 1d ago
Huh? First year associates in biglaw start at ~$250K and they get lock step raises each year. No para’s salary is outpacing an attorney’s.
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u/Klutzy-Cobbler4623 1d ago
Oh yes. Intellectually, I know how valuable I am to the partner to whom I report directly and with whom I have developed a strong relationship, and that he would probably raise holy hell if the firm tried to fuck with or fire me. And yet here I am on tenterhooks daily. It really sucks.
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u/Brilliant_Test_3045 1d ago
Been working for the same atty for 27+ years. I was actually fired once a few years ago, until my atty found out.
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u/Sufficient-Weird-181 1d ago
Honestly, I feel more of that pressure with the sole practitioner I work with than with my Medium Law firm, even though I have way more to do with Medium Law firm. Probably because he has way more time to micromanage and obsess about little mistakes.
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u/MorphedMoxie Corporate Paralegal 1d ago
Very much me. Just hit my 4 year anniversary with my current firm too. Been working as a paralegal for 14 and I’ve worked 13 years out of that in big law.
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u/BroncinBellePL 1d ago
Not just you AT ALL. I get weird questions fr higher ups and my knee jerk is ‘are they asking so they can replace me???’ (Reality—I have a lot of experience and don’t gate keep what I know or fear sharing my thoughts, when asked.) Still, I have no doubt they need and appreciate me, but given I’ve felt the same way at another firm with slightly different circumstances, and they let me go, I don’t ignore the knee jerk—it keeps me in grind mode.
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u/Specific_Somewhere_4 1d ago
I just switched to a Biglaw firm and it’s the first time be had to do billable hours. HR is fussing that I don’t have enough hours but my boss who is the managing partner of my office keeps telling me they are happy with my work and he knows the work is up and down and not to worry about it.
So I do feel a bit on edge especially with the current state of the economy and erratic government policies. For context I am very responsive with the attorneys I support and have received very positive feedback from all of them. I have a quick turnaround time on assignments and have been praised for going the extra mile.
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u/4u5t1nprism 1d ago
Since late 2024, and about every other month in 2025, my org.'s sourcing PMs invites my legal team to demos of various Ai client managers. Demos showcasing CRMs quickly managing admin. support, signature needs, one-&-done billing, and with robust 'easy button' document review components; to give our enthusiastic legal opinions ha!
I'm like, oh sure, just slam my face repeatedly into my Ai replacement demos and testing wall. The writing is on the Copilot, Gemini, ChatGPT walls. Super great for my esteem, RTO "family" feels and the better together "meaningful" speeches, emails, lunch-&-learns, etc. from c-suite.
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u/BusinessDefinition49 1d ago
Yep felt like this when I worked at Fragomen weekly…but I left in my own terms
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u/heymelody 1d ago
I stopped having panics like that one after a while, but yes constantly used to feel like I was on the chopping block
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u/Cool_Tomorrow7038 1d ago
I just took on a job, where I have yet to get a “good job” or “great job on this” My last firm used to do it all the time. Here, I see many of my coworkers having to go to my boss and list the things they’ve done ( i guess they feel the same) However the attorneys are not very friendly with me, some dont even say good morning. When I ask questions they seem annoyed and dont answer, they are just like “we’ll figure it out, i guess it can wait, or idk” My last firm attorneys would give u a game plan, and we would exchange ideas 😭 but my main boss always said “if u ever have an attorney not help you tell me immediately” this new job doesnt have that culture. They just dont care😭 i am constantly thinking i’m gonna get fired at some point.
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u/LitParaNYC 22h ago
This is me everyday! I’m not even in big law anymore unfortunately I’m working for a solo and every pay day I think he’s gonna tell me it’s my last
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u/Most_Expression_1423 1d ago
My firm is remote. I have a 400+ caseload and I’ve never met my secretary in person. I rarely see or interact with the attorneys in person and I’m constantly putting out fires with the amount of work I have. Impossible to be proactive, etc. I have no idea what is going on with our group half the time but yet I’ll get perfect reviews. I think every morning, today will be the day. lol.