Biggest Challenges Faced by an Associate at Latham and Watkins
Shawna's biggest challenge as a junior associate at Latham & Watkins is the expectation of 24/7 availability, a demand that makes achieving work-life balance difficult, as "the hours can be a little tough." Despite the firm's respect for personal time, the reality of immediate responses to emails and urgent matters makes maintaining a healthy equilibrium a continuous process.
Work-Life Balance, Time Management, Stress Management, Overcoming Challenges, Industry Realities
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Shawna Strecker
Lawyer/Associate
Latham & Watkins
University of California Los Angeles, 2018
UCLA School of Law; Juris Doctorate
History, Art History
Law
Legal
Video Highlights
1. The demanding hours and "always-on" expectation, especially for junior associates.
2. The importance of effective time management and setting boundaries to maintain a work-life balance.
3. The firm's culture of respecting employees' time, despite the demanding nature of the work.
Transcript
What is your biggest challenge in your current role?
Probably the biggest challenge, especially as a junior associate, is that you're almost expected to be present and on call 24/7. In the legal world, things can pop up at any given moment. Sometimes, even if an email comes in at midnight, it's very important to respond within about an hour.
However, in my law firm, people tend to really respect your time. They respect the time you've set aside for yourself, like vacation time or when you want to eat dinner with your family. Still, the hours can be a little tough, and work-life balance is something I'm still working on achieving.
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