Guess when he called her? You got it! He called her during that three hour period she specifically said she was not available, and he wondered why she did not pick up the phone. She eventually ended up speaking with him, got the notes she needed to alter the agreement she was working on and all was well. However, my friend was very upset at the fact that the partner expected her to be not only on call, but also in the office waiting on him, when she specifically told him she could not for three specific hours.
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She also expressed that during her first three years as an Associate in Big Law, she would keep her phone by her side at all times, checking it even while showering to make sure she did not miss a call from any of the partners at her firm. She would regularly go into the office on Saturdays and Sundays to work, even if only for a couple of hours because that is what is expected of new hires in Big Law. However, she feels that she has reached a level in her legal career where she should be afforded the luxury of her very own uninterrupted personal time.
Expecting to be on call on the weekends is something that should be discussed during the information and interviewing process. If the position you are hired for and the company you work for expect and/or require you to work on the weekend, it is better to receive that information before you accept the gig. If working on the weekend is something new, that only happens once in a blue moon, it may be a good idea to suck it up, take one for the team and keep it moving. In the end, open and honest communication about company expectations and your willingness to adhere may be necessary to avoid any resentment from your boss and/or yourself.
Rashida Maples, Esq. is Founder and Managing Partner of J. Maples & Associates (www.jmaplesandassociates.com). She has practiced Entertainment, Real Estate and Small Business Law for 9 years, handling both transactional and litigation matters. Her clients include R&B Artists Bilal and Olivia, NFL Superstar Ray Lewis, Fashion Powerhouse Harlem’s Fashion Row and Hirschfeld Properties, LLC.
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