Too, don’t ever forget that birds of a feather, fly together, so yes, if your interviewer was an asshole that’s the culture of the firm with the few exceptions of partners who are there solely for the pay and ignore the antics of their colleagues. For example, a huge top tier Atlanta firm where I worked “excused(?)” a Sr. partner who downloaded kiddie porn to a printer shared by 6 people no less than THREE times before they finally sacked him. Considering this type of individual has to be separated from the general prison population for fear of murder by fellow inmates while incarcerated says a lot about that firm and it’s partners who would turn a blind eye to that type of behavior, doesn’t it? A firm’s hiring committee which (it is hoped) is comprised of partners collectively having any morals at all would never dream of sending an idiot to conduct interviews. There is only one chance to make a good first impression, and that includes the firm too — not only you, so trust your instincts. I once asked a hugely successful recruiter the secret of his success. “It’s simple,” he said, “just figure out the personality type of person(s) responsible for hiring and send him/her/them a clone. People want to work with other people LIKE THEMSELVES.” Take heed his advice.

I hate to burst the bubble of the too many male attorneys who believe legal sec’s are working not only for their cheque but also in the hope(?) to service their sexual needs as we secs KNOW your wives married you ONLY for your paycheck as that’s ALL you have to offer another human being, isn’t it? Seriously, it’s not as if you are a nice man or anything remotely truly desirable. GIven your long hours at the office it’s common knowledge amongst us that your wife lucks out insofar she has to spend far fewer waking hours with you than does your secretary and has oodles of “free” time to spend your $$$’s, raise your children and sleep with the instructor of whatever her athletic endeavor. Interestingly, every legal sec I’ve ever met who slept with her asshole boss was as either as NPD or psycho as he, with NO exceptions.

I always felt sorry for the young, new associates to the big firms who arrived bringing idealistic ideas about law and lawyers knowing that within three months they’d be overworked and on the road to becoming jaded about their chosen profession – especially once they heard the office gossip. But don’t despair as smaller firms are usually comprised of former partners from those top tier firms you now covet who left their former employ because they ARE decent people who wanted HAPPY LIVES and have successfully made their own way. They may not pay as much, and you won’t brag as loudly to your classmates, but you won’t regret your choice to practice law.

Does this woman not pay any attention to what BigLaw really is – a machine that has evolved to bill clients enormous sums of money for what is seldom – strike that, never – better than they could get for less elsewhere, and all too often simply mediocre work by committee?

And if her goal is to make the best possible lateral, why not go for that job NOW (unless there are student loans, of course – but she didn’t mention them as a consideration)

So of course a young lawyer, hoping against hope to find some top shelf beef, and then winds up landing with a morass of fat and grizzle, is going to be disappointed, and even surly particularly if he is giving up a full day and potential billables, to meet a bunch of overstuffed porkers who may think they are hot, but are zero’s in the real world, where there are legal secretaries who are more than willing to put out after a beer or two, and then keep their traps shut at work the next day.

My advice: Don’t sweat it. If you get a job at the firm, chances are the guy won’t even remember you from the next porkball that walks down the hall.