"I am a DC contract attorney and I read your blog periodically. Kudos for setting up a place where people can air their grievances and expose the garbage that goes on in NYC.
I do have a question, though. Are there any agencies in NYC that have good reputations?"
What do you think? Is "reputable recruiter" an oxymoron, or are there people you can actually trust in this bottom-feeding, cesspool of an industry? Everyone can't be like "throw grandma into oncoming traffic for a nickel" Krowitz, or are they?
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There are agencies that treat temporary attorneys better than the ones considered bottom feeders. Even at the bottom feeders, you can find people who won't treat you like crap. I've had some good experiences. They were good because a) they were honest about the projects (accurate reflection of time, understood when I said that I didn't want to take projects paying lower dollar amounts than the floor I had stated when I did the intake interview with them, etc) ; b) didn't equate law firm reactions to me with whether I am a good temporary attorney (ie, they understood, and said so, when a project was a difficult assignment); c) understood that we are doing temporary work (no attitude about obtaining an interview for a permanent position). But, a lot of this must be understood as the by product of whom the agencies represent. This isn't a situation where they represent us. They are intermediaries who represent the law firms. That dynamic means they don't want to offend them due to fear of losing business rather than because they , the agencies, themselves believe in what the firms are doing. To me this begins and ends with the law firms. The firms are what determines how we are treated. A good firm, or even a good set of associates, I have discovered makes all the difference. You have to be willing to say "no." If you aren't, then yes, they can be bad. Are you willing to say "no" to a project? How many people simply take anything they can get?
I want to repeat the question for emphasis:
How many of you are willing to say "no." Are you willing to walk away from a bad project?
Anticipating the arguments, yes, they can easily replace you, but what would happen if more people learned to say no?
If more people said no, it would change things. But with the current economic conditions, forget it. We are just sheep, continually prepping for the shearing and slaughtering.
Just look at the happy faces on these large projects, chair jockeys working every last hour in near or actual sweatshop conditions - filthy bathrooms, disorganized workrooms, break rooms piled high with garbage, sick people hacking at their desks. Yet we all show up to work to be treated like sub-humans.
No, we all need the money too much and the agencies know it. This blog is great, but nothing substantive will come of it, because as temps we have no bargaining power. That's the genius of the system, no power, no voice and line of attorneys out the door ready to take your spot. If you "strike" or stand up for yourself, you're a goner. Why continually fight it? We're obviously not clever or focused enough to make any changes, and we need the money to eat and pay rent.
So better to take your chunk of change before the economy totally tanks. Be a little grateful that you get the call from the agency and take your work seriously, it's your only way to make a living.
On some projects, some of us are pulling in $4k pre-tax per week. No we can't afford Spitzer's call girl, but who cares? It's good money. It will never be perfect and no, you'll never be an associate there either. Why continually pound your head against the wall? You won't win.
This blog is useful in exchanging information about projects, but not for creating a political movement. Who's gonna pay my rent when I walk off a job?
I don't remember saying anything about a movement. I also find that if you accept the argument you making you get what you've gotten. You make it sound like the way it is and that's the way it is. it's the argument that people who are too afraid to do shit always argue. I can certainly point out multiple examples that would throw your argument into the crapper, but what would be the point. This is about psychology. If you believe there are no other choices, then, there are no other chocies. It's also very rare that people are taking home 4k a week on a consistent basis. That amounts to 200k a year if that were true, and that's simply not the norm.
http://blacksheepcontractatty.blogspot.com/2008/03/libel-free-expression-performance.html
Public shaming of attorneys for mistreatment of contractors and/or incompetence does have some effect. I know that people within the firm hierarchy read these blogs, and become angry when they see their names posted for the world to see.
Whether it has any effect on their behaviour is yet unknown, but at the very least it is worth a try.
"public shaming"? dont flatter yourself. when a bunch of unemployable retards name names, it's hardly relevant. anyone with 1/2 a brain considers the source.
the source here is pissed off losers that NO ONE WANTS TO HIRE.
So, are there any honest recruiters out there? I am new to town. I want to know who to call.
Indeed, people hacking everywhere.
I recently came down with a nasty infection from that crowded Quinn Emmanuel space. Whatever it was, I hope Scott Krowitz contracts a nasty case of it; maybe his pickle will fall off.
I hope you die of that nasty infection 9:46. You deserve it.
I think Julie Dailey and the crew at Hudson is reputable. If by reputable, you mean lying sacks of shit who steal our money and then expect us to thank them for it. There's a special place in hell reserved for legal recruiters!
"steal our money"?? You mean the money the firms give them for your sub-par clicking?
Oh yeah, I'M SUUUURE THE FIRMS WOULD HIRE YOU OTHERWISE AND GIVE YOU ALL THE CASH, right??? Have you forgotten? You are a lousy temp beacaue the firms DO NOT want to give you a job or their money.
A fact is a fact, they want to ship low level doc review to India. Indian attorneys only make $4000 a year and feel happy. Their work is shit, but they're cheap. The Law firm partners are still going to charge $120 an hour for a doc reviewer. Although, now they don't have to pay $35 hour or the recruiter cut. More profit! Doc Review days are numbered. make your money while you can.
Say what you will about recruiters, but many of them have very nice tits.
move to Boston and work for Beacon Hill Staffing
Jennifer Graham at Conduit was pretty decent. They don't seem to get a lot of work, though.
Ed Coughlin and the rest of the group at Strategic are pretty cordial and professional as well.
Umm, maybe I shouldn't open my mouth here, but this attorney recruiter seems to be pretty good. They got me a great job.
I agree with 2:55. I've had good experiences with Strategic Legal (on both sides), as well as with Special Counsel. Peak Counsel is a bit hit or miss re: true quality of temp attys, but find most of its recruiters actually listen and are helpful.
BTW, the prevalence of spiteful, ad hominem and/or irrelevant comments on this blog does little to raise others' opinions of contract/temp attorneys. Why would you do this to yourself and your colleagues? Revealing truth about certain temp agencies, abusive firms and/or horror assignments is great and solely needed, but credibility gets shot when comments are made with such vindictiveness.
The short answer is "no". I used recruiters in the beginning of my career. Never again. I have never nailed a good job from them. To this day, have never gone back. Even if I were desperate. really, it can't help unless you're in the worst of circumstances. You're always better off on your own.
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