A Biglaw Firm Where Associate Well-Being 'Matters More Than The Bottom Line'
A former Biglaw associate explains how his firm offered endless compassion after he was diagnosed with ALS.
Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day.
Biglaw attorneys focus so often on hours, clients, filings, or closing deals without pausing to consider where they fit. What is your self-worth, and does that match how the firm views you? For everyone: at some point in your life you will be (or maybe already are) staring down a scary word in your personal life: cancer, depression, racism, divorce, loss, etc. Ask yourself, “What will happen when that day comes?” Will your employer be more concerned with how to fill the gap left by you or how to ensure your well-being? Will you be left alone to figure it out? Seek a professional setting with people who help you learn who you are in your field, who foster your growth, and who help you get back on your feet when you get knocked down.
A firm that truly invests in you as a person is more likely to care about you when life goes pear-shaped. Those people and places are out there—find them, because you don’t have a moment to spare.
— An excerpt from a moving essay written by Nick Warack, a former associate at Davis Wright Tremaine, where he details how the firm supported him every step of the way through his ALS diagnosis and treatment. Warack goes on to note that DWT approved a pro bono initiative to advance ALS legislation, organized ALS awareness walks in each city where the the firm has an office, delivered meals, and organized regular partner calls to check in on him and his family. “All the while,” he wrote, “there was no pressure, no questions about when I was coming back, and no discussion of billable hours or client needs.” Even as Warack transitioned away from his practice, the firm continued to offer him encouragement and assistance.
Staci Zaretsky is a senior editor at Above the Law, where she’s worked since 2011. She’d love to hear from you, so please feel free to email her with any tips, questions, comments, or critiques. You can follow her on Twitter and Threads or connect with her on LinkedIn.
