How Long Should I Stay at High Turmoil Starter Position?
Hey so I finally got a job after a very long job search but it's not in the field I want and after only a month I'm absolutely miserable at this job. I'm going to list a good amount of my annoyances and concerns but I'm just wondering how long until I should send my applications out again and try to get out of here.
Office Politics and High Turnover: As I mentioned, this is very clearly a high turnover, high turmoil position. Outside of myself and an individual who started a few weeks after who has not yet passed the bar, there are three attorneys. Two partners and an attorney who has been here for over 5 years and is allegedly hoping to make partner. There is no attorneys in-between the experience levels of "potential partner" and "first job" and multiple office staff have said that consistently talent stays for about a year or so then leaves. It seems the firm is completely unable to develop any loyalty between new attorneys and themselves. Considering Partner 1 spoke to me multiple times during the interview process and first day about "young hotshot attorneys" and "people unable to follow the process", I wonder if its other individuals who raised concerns.
Concerned about Training: Outside of those quick "check-ups" and some admittedly fair criticism, I have not spoken to Partner 1 and have barely spoken to Partner 2. Currently I am being passed between paralegals to learn how to draft the documents that I'll be signing later to "earn the respect of the paras" or something similar which I do understand. They want me to learn what to look for in our filings so that I can ensure I'm approving ready to go documents and that everyone on the team feels secure in trusting my signature. All I've been told for "Training" in terms of my long-term attorney role at the firm so far has been to "learn the rules of civil procedure in your off-time" in a way that seems to imply that at some point soon it'll be a "here's the file, figure it out as you go but also we expect you to know what to do". I do not expect much if any training from the partners as once I was told "its your job to figure out and solve the questions I ask, not the other way around". With the one senior associate out on paternity leave for a few months, this concerns me."
Terms Not Discussed In Interview: This one I'm willing to admit I may be wrong on and if this is common in the industry let me know. After a few weeks in the office, I was informed both that I would be expected to drive across practically the entire state (I was literally told courts 4 hours away from the office) for trials along with being asked to get reciprocity in two states with no assistance from the office and apparently with the costs not repaid? The partner didn't say "once you file it, send us the receipt, we'll cut a check" but "with your tight financial situation currently, you are not expected to file right now". While one state is a neighboring state, the other state is not. This is where I was told "do not ask me questions, that's your job to figure out" as I assumed with this being a starter position they would know how to work around both states reciprocity stating you have needed to practice for 5 years. I am not sure how they expect a starting attorney who has not met that requirement to work around the requirement listed on both states bar association websites.
Concern for Professional Growth: The reason I originally took this job was because employers were telling me the one reason I was not being chosen was due to a lack of courtroom experience. In this office however, the documents including pleadings and client letters are basically all templates with some fill in the blank elements and with the massive case load, the goal is to minimize trial dates as much as possible. While I may end up doing some basic court appearances, I am not sure how long I would have to be there in order to receive enough court appearances to be able to be seen as proficient to do court appearances in another field of law.
I did receive a job offer in a field I would prefer to work in (family law) but I denied the offer currently as despite the pay-raise and them allowing me 2 weeks to wind down with the current position, I thought it would be against my own ethical code to abandon the firm and the two partners when the one senior associate was about to go on paternity leave. Additionally, before this, I was working an unpaid internship at an immigration firm and enjoyed the work and people much more.
Despite this however, I am constantly anxious about this current position and its made me question if I was ever meant to be a lawyer and if I have the personal and professional aptitude to work in the legal field. My original plan was to stay at this office for a year and then send applications and leave. I am already miserable after only a month so I have been questioning if I should send applications instead once the senior associate returns from his paternity leave in a few months. What's the best way to both ensure my professional growth and deal with all these issues already making me anxious and unhappy after only a month?
TLDR: I am just wondering what a good minimum time is to apply elsewhere for a position closer to my professional interests when I do not believe this is the right firm for me.