Need advice on job situation

I'm an attorney, I've been working at this job for the past 9 months (to save for the wedding and to get some experience). My wedding is over, and I'm not pressed for money right now. Here's the thing: I work with two VERY experienced partners in the law firm, one of which is nice but is never here in the office, and the other, who I am here with most of the time, is SUPER anal retentive about everything. To make a long story short, the stress I receive from him daily makes me sick. I also greatly dislike the field in which I practice, and I definitely make a meager salary (since it is a smaller firm and I'm relatively new).

DH and I just got back from our honeymoon on Tuesday night. While I had a great time, the entire week I DREADED coming back to this job. DH and I are going to Aruba in June with my family, and I'd really like to enjoy that vacation WITHOUT the added worry and stress of the politics of this office. I'm thinking of seriously giving my two weeks notice on Monday. The partner is VERY intimidating, and I feel a mix of guilt and apprehension about his reaction. He's told me many times how he appreciates my work and just yesterday, mentioned how he would change the office letterhead, my business cards and our e-mail system to reflect my new married last name. I know I could find another job (probably soon) in a transactional field with more money (b/c it's so boring) and much less stress. That's a tradeoff I'm willing to take.

To you ladies, especially those of you who are attorneys, what would you do? I'm sorry this is so long. I'm just in a very close bind.

Do what makes you happy!!!!! Specially if money is not an issue right now, why would you continue to burden yourself with this job you don't like!
FH is in a similar situation where he is not happy and wants out asap. We are pressed for money so its difficult to just leave but if you're fine in the finance department just let go so you can be happy!!!
XOXOXO
Kitty

I should also add that our entire walk-in closet is FILLED with brand new unpacked stuff from the registry! Between this job and my wedding, I haven't had time to unpack anything. DH and I share one fork and didn't even buy a kitchen table yet! He went to put his suit on and can barely reach it through all the boxes. I could definitely use a little time to unpack and set us up in our new apt.

In addition, the job I'd like to have requires you to be available on a moment's notice, so I can't take one of those jobs and expect them to wait for me two weeks until I finish up here. I could, however, keep myself available while I set the apt up and start a new job the following day after I get the offer provided I'm not working here.

I'm not an attorney but I am a human being. Let me tell you, if you are unhappy and dreading going into work-- it's not worth it!! Even if you are making a ton of money or even if money is tight right now-- life is TOO short to be miserable!!

You need to follow your heart and from what I read it already sounds like you are one foot out the door. And for you, your options are SO opened-- you should go, take some time off to yourself to organize your life (new apartment, etc like you mentioned) and find a job that makes you WANT to get up in the morning.

I know most people say that all jobs are like that-- that no one enjoys going to work. Let me tell you, six months ago I was you and I didn't have the kind of options you did. I needed the money and I was making good money where I was BUT it was Hell on earth for me... I cried every Sunday night because I had to go back on Monday morning. Finally, I realized that this is MY life-- and it could be all over tomorrow so I'm going to live it happy and never worry about 'what if?' but just follow my heart. I had my FH's support and I quit the job and now I found a job that I literally LOVE and do look forward to going to everyday...

Anything is possible and you CAN do it... Of course, do what you feel is best but that is what I would do in your shoes. Good luck to you and I hope everything works out and you are happy!!

I'm not an attorney, but I work in a similiar job environment with the stress, etc.

Personally, I would look for other jobs first before leaving your current job, so just when you start going on interviews and they ask what you currently do, you don't have to say unemployed (not that that is a bad thing, but you don't want to run the risk of them thinking that you quit b/c you couldn't handle the job or any other negative comments), but that you are looking at other avenues now that you have job experience.

Hope everything works out for you!

if the money is not an option, do whatever would make you the happiest and healthiest in the long run!!! good luck!!

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Posted by ewickens

I'm not an attorney, but I work in a similiar job environment with the stress, etc.

Personally, I would look for other jobs first before leaving your current job, so just when you start going on interviews and they ask what you currently do, you don't have to say unemployed (not that that is a bad thing, but you don't want to run the risk of them thinking that you quit b/c you couldn't handle the job or any other negative comments), but that you are looking at other avenues now that you have job experience.

Hope everything works out for you!

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Thanks However, for the job I want to do (that's much less stress but longer hours) I would get called with a prospect, express my interest, and they can call me back that same day and tell me I start the following day. Although I do hate my current job, I want to be fair and give them two weeks so that they can find someone else. The job I want will expect me to start immediately. In other words, I'd have to quit this job without giving them any notice and I don't want to leave that kind of taste in their mouths, especially if I someday wish to use them as a reference. The legal community is a small world.

I am an attorney - and I'll tell you, if you hate where you're currently working and money is not a factor, put in your two weeks notice NOW!!

But for needing the $$ to pay for this wedding, and the paid vacation time (the entire month of October) I am getting I would be out the door - not because I don't like it or I'm miserable, but because I haven't had a raise in two years, and it's not looking good for the remainder of this year.

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Posted by BHW

I'm a little confused. What kind of job would make you start the next day without giving you the opportunity to give your two weeks notice? Most firms I know are understanding about giving notice. Do you have something set up already? It may take longer to get a new job than you think. Personally, I'd continue at this job until you get a new one and then give your two weeks notice. All of the attorneys I know who left their jobs waited until they had another one lined up before leaving.

FYI, if you stayed, your boss shouldn't change the letterhead to reflect your new married name until you change it with the court first. In NY, you can't practice under your new married name until you formally change it with the Appellate Division.

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The type of job I'm referring to is a 'document review' position. For those jobs, you need to be able to start right away because the projects fill up fast. There's no court appearances involved, mostly just a lot of reading legal documents for huge firms for privilege, confidentiality, and responsiveness. It would pay twice what I'm making right now, and I have experience with that type of work and enjoyed it for the most part.

I'm aware of the rules for changing a maiden name to a married one; I just wanted to share what he said to emphasize how his willingness to take those affirmative steps indicate how he expects I'll be here for a while.