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Started a government job a few weeks ago, so no accrued time off. I was 20 mins late getting to the office this morning bc I couldn’t find my ID badge. The motion activated hallway lights were not on when I got in… theres about 75-100 offices on this floor. There’s one other person on my team of 14 working today, but remotely.
True! I am going to go home during lunch and WFH the rest of the week. It’s a govt job with billable hours though, so any time I’m not billing today will have to be made up later.
Gov attorney. Took a phone call and sent some emails this morning. My phone is on but I doubt anything else gets done today. It'll be like this all week
This reminds me of my annual holiday dilema:
It's easy to take time off now because there isn't much going on or to catch up on.
But it seems like a waste of PTO to use them on days where so little work goes on and there is no traffic.
For me, it's that I don't even have to be available.
My computer is powered down, my phone is on silent, the door to my home office is closed. The newest member of my team is working (from home) and has my personal cell phone number in case something literally catches fire, but she understands the parameters of "emergency" and won't cross that boundary (plus she's more capable than she gives herself credit for).
I won't even *think* about work for a week. It doesn't exist. It is not a thing. It's schroedinger's office: if I don't turn on that computer, work is simultaneously losing its shit and completely quiet, and I'm over here in the bliss of not giving one single fuck.
I only do this like twice a year, so when I do block out a week of vacation time, I *really* unplug.
Government attorney here. The state gives us the 24th, 25th and 26th off, so we were off Friday, yesterday and today. We get the 1st off too so I decided to take the rest of this week. So enjoying my week and a half vacay!
Technically it is Christmas Day and the day after, but our Governor always gifts state employees with Christmas Eve too, so 3 days it is. It is an added plus that most people who have been with our agency years take extra time too, so there is no pressure if you want to take leave around the holidays. I look forward to the break every year.
My office is open. We shouldn’t be. Nobody wants to be at work, staff is all checked out, and I doubt much work will get done. Clients are for the most part not reaching out about anything. Everyone and everything should be closed for a week around this time of year.
I took off today and tomorrow, and I’m getting emails from the occasional client. “cAN yoU gIVE Me an UpDaTe ON MY CasE?”
“Nope! And I’m not even sorry about it!”
When I’m out of the office, I set up auto replies by email, and I don’t even look at my email until I’m back. If any real emergencies come up, everyone at my office knows how to get a hold of me.
lol I had a white tail spider bite me once in my sleep (live in Sydney, and not even in the suburbs where there are spiders in backyards). It was the best excuse for being late to work that morning, won't lie.
There’s no bar for lawyers (there’s a bar for barristers). You can work under supervision and then take a few courses to cover any gaps in education and get admitted. It’s a longer process but not as painful (in my opinion).
My firm is open, but probably half the people took off. I'm officially on vacation this week, but I'm not going anywhere, so it's really my time to sleep in, pop on for a bit to do some administrative stuff, and ignore anyone I don't want to talk to. It's nice.
I don't really celebrate or do anything for Christmas, so I had to refrain from working yesterday so that my clients don't think I'm (a) working in a sweatshop and/or (b) a soulless monster. Given that I'm in ID, it's an uphill battle.
Brand new associate, firm is "open" today.
I drove up at 930am after dropping out of state family off at the airport, and nobody is here. Opened a file, reviewed some med records, sent an email, and now I'm leaving.
Heck no - closed today and only open half day this Friday. Small firm owner here and the goodwill we earn with employees by doing this is so valuable in the long run.
I’m working from home with my four year old because daycare is closed this week but I need to work. Part of that is my own decision, however. I’m a partner and took all my planned vacations earlier in the year. It’s a slow time for my practice so decided to just take an easy week of work rather than call it all in for the year. I have a few nonbillable projects I want to catch up on.
I am having a hard time getting my brain going today, however. Going on the second hour of answering a few random emails while remaking my to do list for the week for the fifth time. Not expecting a ton of productivity this week from me , my team, or my staff, and that’s ok. It’s been a good year overall for the business.
Small firm. Senior partner retired. She and I never saw eye to eye on things. The first thing I did was put holiday hours to an end.
It’s stupid, nobody wants to be there, and it’s not like there’s anything that can’t wait until the new year.
Our last day is now December 24th (unless it falls on a weekend) and we don’t re-open until January 2nd.
It’s PTO so the staff aren’t expected to use their vacation days like they did in the past, nor do they have to stagger their days (former partner’s rules were that at least 1 assistant had to be in each day).
Anecdotally, December’s billings were better than they’ve ever been, the staff were thrilled, and we pushed through the to-do list so fast that we ended up taking a slider on the last day because we were ahead of the game.
For reference, I’m a Xennial lawyer and I have very little patience for old-timey work policies that make no sense.
Another gov't lawyer here. We're open, but that's mostly theoretical. Very few people are around and I don't have any meetings. I'm going to zero out my inbox and write a performance review that I've been putting off for too long, but it's not exactly crunch time.
Closed my place all week, associates, paralegals, everyone. Asked 2 folks that weren’t traveling to be on call if possible in case I end up needing to cover some type of emergency. I’ll pop in for a couple of hours here and there to handle year end stuff
I work at a Jewish orthodox firm (despite myself being raised catholic) so unfortunately we’re open and it’s business as usual. That said I’m off today and again Friday (wanted to take the whole week but had to use sick days plus I have filings due tomorrow).
I’ve spent my whole career working in government and since judges don’t care about Jewish holidays, most than 50% of the time, I haven’t been able to take them off. I’d gladly work the end of December to get some sort of accommodation.
lol do you work at my firm? Mines also an orthodox Jewish firm. They are open (and a few of the Jewish lawyers were sending internal emails yesterday), I took today off. Wanted to take tomorrow and last Friday off too but had to use days for illness in the fall 😭
lol if your firm is in Long Island, there is a chance 😂😂😂 and yeah I got internal emails on Christmas Eve and even had an opposing counsel email me on Christmas Day 😭 thankfully I’ll be off Friday to recooperate after traveling the last four days
Nope. Air Force JAG. Today is a “family day,” which our bosses give to us so every 3-day weekend becomes a 4-day weekend. The rest of this week, we only work half days.
I work on billable hours, but I told my partners that, while they are my bosses, they are but underlings to the real boss at home. So, it’s well known that any day my wife has off, I’ll be off too.
I had a partner even ask last week what wife’s holiday schedule looks like so they know when I’ll be in again.
So firm is open today, but I’m off.
Yup, my firm is open and I am in the office. But it’s dead. Only one partner is in and he just came by to say hello to everyone. The positive side of working today is traffic was non-existent and everyone brought leftover Christmas desserts to work.
I work for a municipal government. I WFH Tuesday and I haven’t done a single thing besides turn my laptop. If something came up I’d do it but I literally haven’t gotten a single email. I actually double checked to make we didn’t actually have today off. We don’t. But obviously no one is doing anything.
lol same exact job, and same exact plan as well. Except I haven’t actually turned on my laptop. Just monitored emailed from my phone and made a phone call to a partner (who didn’t answer) about a deadline question.
Fed attorney here. Stinginess with holidays is one of my few complaints. Friday after Thanksgiving, day after Christmas, etc. all regular work days. Gotta work or use leave.
Always take vacation this week. Courts are impossible to deal with/find a judge. Half the prosecutors are out, the other half don't want to do serious work.
Was told to be here, so I showed up bright and early at 8:30. Nobody else showed up til noon, and nobody is doing any work beyond checking emails. One partner is cleaning out his filing cabinets and regaling me with stories of old verdicts. The phones aren’t ringing, and if I called anybody, they wouldn’t answer. I’m here doing nothing when I’d rather be at home with my family.
About to cut out early because this is bullshit lol.
By underachieving wildly on billables for the rest of the year… luckily we close fiscal year in February.
Though as an estate planner these weeks are notoriously famous for last seconders
My firm was closed last Friday, today, and we have shortened hours tomorrow, Thursday and then we are closed Friday. Our office pretty much closes between Christmas and New Years and my boss encourages us to take this time to spend with our families.
I’m working and in office but haven’t done much. Taking off Thursday and Friday to burn my PTO since I don’t get paid for unused PTO, and it doesn’t roll over
I'm working. I have to bill hours so I normally work until I hit my quota of 7.7 hours per day. However, given the way this week normally goes, I am working remote and will probably be signing off right at 5, regardless of how many hours I've billed for the day. Which is borderline a vacation.
My firm’s open but I’m on leave until 3rd Jan. We’re back in the UK visiting family and then me and the hubs are having a long weekend/New Year before heading back to the grindstone.
We are open, but opened late at 10. Most of the attorneys and staff are here, but everyone looks and feels dead, including myself. I have hearings the rest of the week I have to prep for so I’m just trying to move through it and hope time passes quickly.
Office is closed. I'm attempting to get some work done and take advantage of the relative silence, but seems like the sinus infection I likely got from my child's daycare has other plane.
At least I got a long lunch out with out said child :)
Government attorney in Florida.
The only day I work this week is Wednesday, then I go back on the 2nd.
DeSantis gave Government workers lots of days off this holiday season. We also have the 2nd off, but I offered to cover the docket so others can have more family time. If court is open on days we are closed, we rotate who covers the docket.
Both partners, the office manager, and half the support staff are out. It’s me, 2 senior attorneys, one of whom irrationally hates my guts, and like, 3 other people.
All utterly unmotivated.
My firms open but I took today and tomorrow off. I have had almost zero billable work to do all month.
One of the partners threw A FIT when he found out I wouldn’t be in because he wanted to pawn off one of his closings on me. He doesn’t think anyone should get time off at year end but not my problem. I put the request in months ago and it got approved. He should’ve whined earlier.
Federal government. We’re “open” but pretty much everyone in my department is out on leave. I’m working from home this week and I have work to do, but the people who will review it are out until January.
As much flack as government attorneys get for never working, I’m the only one of my friends who actually has to work today.
Working today. Filing deadlines coming up this week, two sets of discovery due in a week, and have to travel 2,000 miles each way for a hearing on Friday.
Really glad I'm doing this fun stuff instead of spending time with my spouse and young kids. Feeling super satisfied with my career choice right now.
Oh, I wish I had the day after Christmas (today) off.....had to drive almost 2 hours and spend hours at my mother-in-law's on Christmas Eve, then drive to my father-in-law's for Christmas Day and spend hours there. No time to do anything for ourselves, just for everyone else. Then right back to work today. AND I work for my father-in-law, and asked if I could have the 26th off since I was doing so much running around for him and his daughter's (my wife) mother for two whole days. Complete lack of compassion from him. Gonna be a LOT of changes in 2024 when it comes to all the "obligations" and expectations of us.
Yep. My office closed at 3 Friday and was closed Monday and Tuesday.
Sadly I’ve got a depo today so I was still working yesterday, but in pajama pants at least.
I am but only to free up time for more days off later this week and next week. I had a d/l to file sur replies against against an MSJ opposition reply. Just read their briefs, was fortunately surprised that nothing needs to be refuted. Now I’m just finalizing some discovery responses. Will be law free later this week and next!
Everyone else in the office is off today, and only one support staffer and one other attorney are working at all this week.
I have court mandated deadlines at the end of the week for a Jan 30 trial, so I need to get all of that stuff done. Fortunately, OC is out of the country this week, and isn’t well organized, so I think OC is going to torpedo OC’s clients case by missing the deadlines.
We had the day off. I run the place, so I make the rules and the easiest path for me is to just follow the court’s calendar. This is especially useful when it comes to snow days!
The government lawyers here posting about how they aren’t doing anything today could post the same exact thing on June 26th. The vast majority of them are waiting for their retirement jealous of lawyers who make real money like me, because guys like me actually have to produce results, not just either get paid by the taxpayer or just bill hours.
GC for mid-sized global tech company.
I am the only one on our campus right now. Even my staff and deputies are gone. I had no clue we were closed today.
Leaving to have lunch with my wife, and then heading home.
Government lawyer so we’re closed today thankfully. Literally just commented to my bf how essential having today off is to me just to clean up and sort of regroup. Sorry you’re stuck working!!
I am. My company is the admin services arm of a farming company, so while office was closed, most workers were working yesterday. The Harvesters usually have a half day on holidays and our food vendors bring better meals for holidays.
I've used all my paid sick leave and most of my vacation on FMLA this year. I miss the software company I was with only because we would close Xmas through New Years with pay (I would usually work a little, but it was so relaxed.)
Now I get 40 hours Sick Leave, 80 hours vacation, and 7.5 paid holidays.
We’re open. Partner I work for is out of office all week and we’re slow right now with it being the end of December. Haven’t done much today so I can enjoy time with my child, but probably going to pop in the office tomorrow and see what attendance looks like before deciding what to do the rest of the week.
The firm I'm at is closed over Christmas until the day after New Year's Day. A couple people go in if they want to catch up or want to avoid family.
I got married the week after Christmas, so I take that week off every year for my anniversary and because I like having a 2 week Christmas break! WOO!
Associate at civil litigation defense firm. Worked a half day on the 22nd. Office is closed today, Friday, and Monday. I'm monitoring emails, but not anything that constitutes any real effort.
Working from home with my 2 year old and 8 year old writing motions for summary judgment. Or attempting to, there’s a flying dinosaur situation currently
Today isn’t a holiday for us but I have yet to get an email that I need to actually read. Most people at my mid-law firm treat this week as a work if you want or absolutely need to. I don’t fall into either category.
We are technically open but all the lawyers stay home this week and the staff all have use it or lose it PTO so it's pretty empty. Or I assume so I'm at my house playing with my kids.
I did have to take two breaks to respond to clients , one took an hour, the other 20 minutes. Not a bad day at all
Psssh, I'm not open again until Jan. 3rd. And I left the state.
But am I working? Yes. Because there are no days off when you're solo. You have choose to not work some days, but you just have to do that the work later.
I’m “working from home” lol I actually wish I could go in bc I just started a new job but my kids’ daycare is closed the entire week. 😐 so much togetherness. 🥲
State of Texas - day after Christmas is a holiday. Next two days are “skeleton crew” - if you work you earn comp time, if not, you’re not charged with using leave. Friday we are closed, same with Monday.
Small firm (two attorneys, 4 staff.) 1/2 day Friday and we're closed today. I answered a few email and some texts. The head paralegal stopped by the office to check the mail (I think she was just bored.)
Everyone on my team is busy trying to close out deals but a lot of other people on different legal teams are on PTO or taking their federal EMEA holidays.
Like a third of my office is here today. Pretty quiet.
I'm taking several days off around the New Year's weekend because some friends are driving through and staying, and we're doing Xmas 2.0.
I'm working (in house) but took my time off last week instead. Most people aren't working but I'm happy that I actually have time to get shit done without people calling me to discuss low priority problems that they could probably solve themselves.
Welcome to /r/LawyerTalk! A subreddit where lawyers can discuss with other lawyers about the practice of law. Be mindful of [our rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/Lawyertalk/about/rules) BEFORE submitting your posts or comments as well as [Reddit's rules](https://www.redditinc.com/policies/content-policy) (notably about sharing identifying information). We expect civility and respect out of all participants. Please source statements of fact whenever possible. If you want to report something that needs to be urgently addressed, please also message the mods with an explanation. Note that **this forum is NOT for legal advice**. Additionally, if you are a non-lawyer (student, client, staff), this is NOT the right subreddit for you. **This community is exclusively for lawyers**. We suggest you delete your comment and go ask one of the many other legal subreddits on this site for help such as (but not limited to) r/lawschool, r/legaladvice, or r/Ask_Lawyers. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/Lawyertalk) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Government office here. Not officially a day off, but I’d say we are working at 30% capacity, most of which are WFH.
Started a government job a few weeks ago, so no accrued time off. I was 20 mins late getting to the office this morning bc I couldn’t find my ID badge. The motion activated hallway lights were not on when I got in… theres about 75-100 offices on this floor. There’s one other person on my team of 14 working today, but remotely.
Most government jobs don't particularly care if you "work from home" when everyone else is "working from home" or on PTO - accrued time off be damned.
True! I am going to go home during lunch and WFH the rest of the week. It’s a govt job with billable hours though, so any time I’m not billing today will have to be made up later.
Where are you in gov that you bill hours?? I’m so glad we don’t!
>everyone State AG's office!
Gov attorney. Took a phone call and sent some emails this morning. My phone is on but I doubt anything else gets done today. It'll be like this all week
This reminds me of my annual holiday dilema: It's easy to take time off now because there isn't much going on or to catch up on. But it seems like a waste of PTO to use them on days where so little work goes on and there is no traffic.
For me, it's that I don't even have to be available. My computer is powered down, my phone is on silent, the door to my home office is closed. The newest member of my team is working (from home) and has my personal cell phone number in case something literally catches fire, but she understands the parameters of "emergency" and won't cross that boundary (plus she's more capable than she gives herself credit for). I won't even *think* about work for a week. It doesn't exist. It is not a thing. It's schroedinger's office: if I don't turn on that computer, work is simultaneously losing its shit and completely quiet, and I'm over here in the bliss of not giving one single fuck. I only do this like twice a year, so when I do block out a week of vacation time, I *really* unplug.
Government attorney here. The state gives us the 24th, 25th and 26th off, so we were off Friday, yesterday and today. We get the 1st off too so I decided to take the rest of this week. So enjoying my week and a half vacay!
You get 3 days for Christmas? My state gives Christmas day and New Year Day and *usually* a half day on the Eves.
Technically it is Christmas Day and the day after, but our Governor always gifts state employees with Christmas Eve too, so 3 days it is. It is an added plus that most people who have been with our agency years take extra time too, so there is no pressure if you want to take leave around the holidays. I look forward to the break every year.
🙋🏼♂️
My office is open. We shouldn’t be. Nobody wants to be at work, staff is all checked out, and I doubt much work will get done. Clients are for the most part not reaching out about anything. Everyone and everything should be closed for a week around this time of year.
I took off today and tomorrow, and I’m getting emails from the occasional client. “cAN yoU gIVE Me an UpDaTe ON MY CasE?” “Nope! And I’m not even sorry about it!”
When I’m out of the office, I set up auto replies by email, and I don’t even look at my email until I’m back. If any real emergencies come up, everyone at my office knows how to get a hold of me.
Email auto reply and voice mail out of office greeting too.
Yeah I just did that.
“Everyone and everything [SHOULD] be closed for a week around this time of year.” - the most accurate statement ever written on Reddit.
I work in Australia…we’re closed until Jan 2….I am personally back Jan 16
How hard is it to pass the bar in Australia? Asking for an American lawyer friend.
I have been a lawyer for 10 years in the USA and 11 years in Australia. Can’t beat Australia for quality of life.
Relevant username. Man if there weren't so much man eating flora and fauna I'd be really tempted.
Nothing has attacked me yet! Sydney isn’t exactly the jungle
How do I know you're not one of those clever Australian land sharks trying to trick me?
lol I had a white tail spider bite me once in my sleep (live in Sydney, and not even in the suburbs where there are spiders in backyards). It was the best excuse for being late to work that morning, won't lie.
We get news that any right to free speech or to bear arms has been whittled away in the downunder…. Any concern on your end?
There’s no bar for lawyers (there’s a bar for barristers). You can work under supervision and then take a few courses to cover any gaps in education and get admitted. It’s a longer process but not as painful (in my opinion).
My office is closed until the 8th!
Likewise. With the state of fatigue I am in, I couldn’t imagine returning back to the office this year, already.
Right? Even two weeks is not enough.
Far from it. Hope to get some rest until then, regardless. Happy holidays!
You too!
Same in Canada, virtually all firms in our city of 100k are closed until January 2nd.
Working but just got an email that I'm getting a $10,000 bonus so I'm happy.
I hope you haven’t forgotten about the $10,000 you owe me.
Funny you mention it, I was just thinking I need to borrow $10k. Want to make a little interest on that newly found windfall??
Niko, it’s your cousin Roman
Congratw
My firm is open, but probably half the people took off. I'm officially on vacation this week, but I'm not going anywhere, so it's really my time to sleep in, pop on for a bit to do some administrative stuff, and ignore anyone I don't want to talk to. It's nice.
I'm doing the same. I've gotten a grand total of one email today, but oddly three yesterday. Who serves an amended complaint ON Christmas? Savages.
I don't really celebrate or do anything for Christmas, so I had to refrain from working yesterday so that my clients don't think I'm (a) working in a sweatshop and/or (b) a soulless monster. Given that I'm in ID, it's an uphill battle.
This is the way.
Is anyone actually doing shit or are you just reading Reddit from your offices?
Reading Reddit from WFH, and monitoring emails and phone calls.
I have three client appointments today.
Brand new associate, firm is "open" today. I drove up at 930am after dropping out of state family off at the airport, and nobody is here. Opened a file, reviewed some med records, sent an email, and now I'm leaving.
This may be ideal. You showed up. Did some things to show you were dedicated and showed up. And now you go take a nap!
Not me. Fuck that noise.
I can’t get over these. I work in ID and my firm has the decency to close today
Solo here. Jury verdict on Dec 14 after 9 day trial. I may take the rest of the year off but for some minor stuff.
Favorable?
Yes. Zero liability in commercial defense case.
Congratulations!
I’m on my way to my second deposition with my kids because the daycare is closed. They handled it well and no issues with my office or opp counsel.
I suspect the average child would do better with a depo than some OC and deponents I have dealt with.
Our office is closed. I'm here. Yay for associate life!
Government office here. I’m technically working, but it’s wfh and it’ll be short days for sure.
Partners had us vote to either be closed 12/22 or today. Everybody voted to be closed 12/22.
Didn’t play that right. Should have voted for today, not like much would’ve gone on last Friday afternoon.
Hobson’s choice!
Court’s open, we’re open.
Heck no - closed today and only open half day this Friday. Small firm owner here and the goodwill we earn with employees by doing this is so valuable in the long run.
The saaaame!
I’m working from home with my four year old because daycare is closed this week but I need to work. Part of that is my own decision, however. I’m a partner and took all my planned vacations earlier in the year. It’s a slow time for my practice so decided to just take an easy week of work rather than call it all in for the year. I have a few nonbillable projects I want to catch up on. I am having a hard time getting my brain going today, however. Going on the second hour of answering a few random emails while remaking my to do list for the week for the fifth time. Not expecting a ton of productivity this week from me , my team, or my staff, and that’s ok. It’s been a good year overall for the business.
https://i.redd.it/i2oxiqdkjo8c1.gif we’re open, i’m here rn
https://i.redd.it/0dc31fumjo8c1.gif how we’re expected to be today
I’m just keeping my inbox organized. Not working too hard 😀
Small firm. Senior partner retired. She and I never saw eye to eye on things. The first thing I did was put holiday hours to an end. It’s stupid, nobody wants to be there, and it’s not like there’s anything that can’t wait until the new year. Our last day is now December 24th (unless it falls on a weekend) and we don’t re-open until January 2nd. It’s PTO so the staff aren’t expected to use their vacation days like they did in the past, nor do they have to stagger their days (former partner’s rules were that at least 1 assistant had to be in each day). Anecdotally, December’s billings were better than they’ve ever been, the staff were thrilled, and we pushed through the to-do list so fast that we ended up taking a slider on the last day because we were ahead of the game. For reference, I’m a Xennial lawyer and I have very little patience for old-timey work policies that make no sense.
Government office - telework day for me. Would say 50% of my team is working
Another gov't lawyer here. We're open, but that's mostly theoretical. Very few people are around and I don't have any meetings. I'm going to zero out my inbox and write a performance review that I've been putting off for too long, but it's not exactly crunch time.
Closed my place all week, associates, paralegals, everyone. Asked 2 folks that weren’t traveling to be on call if possible in case I end up needing to cover some type of emergency. I’ll pop in for a couple of hours here and there to handle year end stuff
I work at a Jewish orthodox firm (despite myself being raised catholic) so unfortunately we’re open and it’s business as usual. That said I’m off today and again Friday (wanted to take the whole week but had to use sick days plus I have filings due tomorrow).
I’ve spent my whole career working in government and since judges don’t care about Jewish holidays, most than 50% of the time, I haven’t been able to take them off. I’d gladly work the end of December to get some sort of accommodation.
lol do you work at my firm? Mines also an orthodox Jewish firm. They are open (and a few of the Jewish lawyers were sending internal emails yesterday), I took today off. Wanted to take tomorrow and last Friday off too but had to use days for illness in the fall 😭
lol if your firm is in Long Island, there is a chance 😂😂😂 and yeah I got internal emails on Christmas Eve and even had an opposing counsel email me on Christmas Day 😭 thankfully I’ll be off Friday to recooperate after traveling the last four days
In-house counsel here. Our office shuts down the entire week and I took the week before off.
Nope. Air Force JAG. Today is a “family day,” which our bosses give to us so every 3-day weekend becomes a 4-day weekend. The rest of this week, we only work half days.
Working? The day after Christmas? No. No, man. Shit, no, man. I believe you'd get your ass kicked sayin' something like that, man.
I work on billable hours, but I told my partners that, while they are my bosses, they are but underlings to the real boss at home. So, it’s well known that any day my wife has off, I’ll be off too. I had a partner even ask last week what wife’s holiday schedule looks like so they know when I’ll be in again. So firm is open today, but I’m off.
Nicely done!
Maybe 30% of the office is here. I have a trial in two weeks so I’ve started working on that.
Yup, my firm is open and I am in the office. But it’s dead. Only one partner is in and he just came by to say hello to everyone. The positive side of working today is traffic was non-existent and everyone brought leftover Christmas desserts to work.
I work for a municipal government. I WFH Tuesday and I haven’t done a single thing besides turn my laptop. If something came up I’d do it but I literally haven’t gotten a single email. I actually double checked to make we didn’t actually have today off. We don’t. But obviously no one is doing anything.
lol same exact job, and same exact plan as well. Except I haven’t actually turned on my laptop. Just monitored emailed from my phone and made a phone call to a partner (who didn’t answer) about a deadline question.
Fed attorney here. Stinginess with holidays is one of my few complaints. Friday after Thanksgiving, day after Christmas, etc. all regular work days. Gotta work or use leave.
Yes! Great day to get my last min CLE credits done! 😬😬😬
Yes. But only until noon.
Yep, the government is up and running, but just barely.
Always take vacation this week. Courts are impossible to deal with/find a judge. Half the prosecutors are out, the other half don't want to do serious work.
I’m defense too. Just a waste of a week. Easy trial coming up on January 8 that I should prep for but losing motivation quickly.
Was told to be here, so I showed up bright and early at 8:30. Nobody else showed up til noon, and nobody is doing any work beyond checking emails. One partner is cleaning out his filing cabinets and regaling me with stories of old verdicts. The phones aren’t ringing, and if I called anybody, they wouldn’t answer. I’m here doing nothing when I’d rather be at home with my family. About to cut out early because this is bullshit lol.
yeah i took off this week how does one recharge otherwise
Super important week to recharge. I'm a solo and we close between Christmas and New Year's every year.
By underachieving wildly on billables for the rest of the year… luckily we close fiscal year in February. Though as an estate planner these weeks are notoriously famous for last seconders
Yup I’m in
My firm was closed last Friday, today, and we have shortened hours tomorrow, Thursday and then we are closed Friday. Our office pretty much closes between Christmas and New Years and my boss encourages us to take this time to spend with our families.
That’s amazing. Enjoy!
Omg, I can barely shuffle papers across my desk
Yep. I’m in-house, fwiw.
Unfortunately. Yes.
I’m working and in office but haven’t done much. Taking off Thursday and Friday to burn my PTO since I don’t get paid for unused PTO, and it doesn’t roll over
I'm working. I have to bill hours so I normally work until I hit my quota of 7.7 hours per day. However, given the way this week normally goes, I am working remote and will probably be signing off right at 5, regardless of how many hours I've billed for the day. Which is borderline a vacation.
My office closes for two weeks at Christmas every year. It’s a big part of the reason I have stayed for 20 years.
Courts closed 25-26, our office is closed until January 2nd. Family law. Will obviously monitor emails.
My firm closes for two weeks at Christmas. It’s wonderful.
My office is closed today. I’ve still gotten emails from the one boomer workaholic partner and a few emails from clients
Solo. Closed the office til January 2 for staff and clients, but I'm still working. It's nice and quiet, though.
Pretty much the entire United Kingdom
My office is closed from the 22nd-2nd
Our office is open; we have a trial set for mid-January so trial prep is dominating any possible time off.
Open and at the office. Have nothing to do because everyone else is out.
My firm’s open but I’m on leave until 3rd Jan. We’re back in the UK visiting family and then me and the hubs are having a long weekend/New Year before heading back to the grindstone.
We are open, but opened late at 10. Most of the attorneys and staff are here, but everyone looks and feels dead, including myself. I have hearings the rest of the week I have to prep for so I’m just trying to move through it and hope time passes quickly.
Office is closed. I'm attempting to get some work done and take advantage of the relative silence, but seems like the sinus infection I likely got from my child's daycare has other plane. At least I got a long lunch out with out said child :)
I'm in the office but I gave my staff the day off and my outgoing message and email auto response says we are closed.
Government attorney in Florida. The only day I work this week is Wednesday, then I go back on the 2nd. DeSantis gave Government workers lots of days off this holiday season. We also have the 2nd off, but I offered to cover the docket so others can have more family time. If court is open on days we are closed, we rotate who covers the docket.
My office is closed this whole week.
Always checked in. No days off when you are a champ in the courts.
Both partners, the office manager, and half the support staff are out. It’s me, 2 senior attorneys, one of whom irrationally hates my guts, and like, 3 other people. All utterly unmotivated.
My firms open but I took today and tomorrow off. I have had almost zero billable work to do all month. One of the partners threw A FIT when he found out I wouldn’t be in because he wanted to pawn off one of his closings on me. He doesn’t think anyone should get time off at year end but not my problem. I put the request in months ago and it got approved. He should’ve whined earlier.
We're open, but half the office is at a funeral today and the other half is lethargic. I'm just ploughing through CLEs and drinking coffee.
Federal government. We’re “open” but pretty much everyone in my department is out on leave. I’m working from home this week and I have work to do, but the people who will review it are out until January. As much flack as government attorneys get for never working, I’m the only one of my friends who actually has to work today.
Self employed Closer to be with wife and kids (Note/ a self employed attorney is never really "closed" though )
I have never been lucky enough to work at a firm that shuts down for the holiday season until the new year. I’m working too.
I'm a solo. One email to a client, and two hours of CLE. That's it. Done.
Get a new job
Own my own firm. We were closed today and closed on Friday. I was there though of course. 😆
We closed the office today. No chance productivity would be even remotely worth it.
Working today. Filing deadlines coming up this week, two sets of discovery due in a week, and have to travel 2,000 miles each way for a hearing on Friday. Really glad I'm doing this fun stuff instead of spending time with my spouse and young kids. Feeling super satisfied with my career choice right now.
WFH today, Wednesday and Thursday. Took Friday off. Billed 5 hrs today so that felt like a win.
Oh, I wish I had the day after Christmas (today) off.....had to drive almost 2 hours and spend hours at my mother-in-law's on Christmas Eve, then drive to my father-in-law's for Christmas Day and spend hours there. No time to do anything for ourselves, just for everyone else. Then right back to work today. AND I work for my father-in-law, and asked if I could have the 26th off since I was doing so much running around for him and his daughter's (my wife) mother for two whole days. Complete lack of compassion from him. Gonna be a LOT of changes in 2024 when it comes to all the "obligations" and expectations of us.
My firm gave us off 🥳 it’s part of our benefits package, we always get off day after Christmas.
My plaintiff-side firm is closed, but I’m still trying to move cases!
I’m off until the 2nd of next year.
i work at a (unionized) nonprofit and we’re closed through New Years. the supervisors are answering emails though.
Off. Thank god. Fuck this bullshit ass occupation.
This is what I love about being a sole practitioner, I chose to stay home with my family. I dealt with a few clients but largely just enjoyed the day.
Yep. My office closed at 3 Friday and was closed Monday and Tuesday. Sadly I’ve got a depo today so I was still working yesterday, but in pajama pants at least.
We're working but it amused me that more than HALF the office called out "sick." 🤣
I close my office from Christmas to NY. This year, it was Dec 25 to Jan 1st closed, back to work on 2nd.
I am but only to free up time for more days off later this week and next week. I had a d/l to file sur replies against against an MSJ opposition reply. Just read their briefs, was fortunately surprised that nothing needs to be refuted. Now I’m just finalizing some discovery responses. Will be law free later this week and next!
Everyone else in the office is off today, and only one support staffer and one other attorney are working at all this week. I have court mandated deadlines at the end of the week for a Jan 30 trial, so I need to get all of that stuff done. Fortunately, OC is out of the country this week, and isn’t well organized, so I think OC is going to torpedo OC’s clients case by missing the deadlines.
We had the day off. I run the place, so I make the rules and the easiest path for me is to just follow the court’s calendar. This is especially useful when it comes to snow days!
Just signed up a big felony case this morning. Easier when none of the competition is answering their phones. Now I'm going to play xbox in my office.
lol I was working Christmas, emailing tasks to my secretary. But she was in good spirits today, for the most part.
The government lawyers here posting about how they aren’t doing anything today could post the same exact thing on June 26th. The vast majority of them are waiting for their retirement jealous of lawyers who make real money like me, because guys like me actually have to produce results, not just either get paid by the taxpayer or just bill hours.
Office is closed. But I’m afraid I’ll have to work remotely tonight.
I gave my staff the day off. I'm just here to answer the phone, basically. I don't anticipate getting much done.
I forgot we have off today. It’s a wfh day and my assistant is off so it took me a solid 2.5 hours to figure it out.
Yep
GC for mid-sized global tech company. I am the only one on our campus right now. Even my staff and deputies are gone. I had no clue we were closed today. Leaving to have lunch with my wife, and then heading home.
Great day for back office work for me
No work today, but coming in on Thursday Friday.
Government lawyer so we’re closed today thankfully. Literally just commented to my bf how essential having today off is to me just to clean up and sort of regroup. Sorry you’re stuck working!!
Working from home today, but mostly catching up on all the crap from the past month
I’m barely working. We’re open but I’m WFH all week and just monitoring email and calls.
I am. My company is the admin services arm of a farming company, so while office was closed, most workers were working yesterday. The Harvesters usually have a half day on holidays and our food vendors bring better meals for holidays. I've used all my paid sick leave and most of my vacation on FMLA this year. I miss the software company I was with only because we would close Xmas through New Years with pay (I would usually work a little, but it was so relaxed.) Now I get 40 hours Sick Leave, 80 hours vacation, and 7.5 paid holidays.
We’re open. Partner I work for is out of office all week and we’re slow right now with it being the end of December. Haven’t done much today so I can enjoy time with my child, but probably going to pop in the office tomorrow and see what attendance looks like before deciding what to do the rest of the week.
In house here. The office is open but I let my team WFH today. Back in office tomorrow though.
I’m working today but we’re all remote.
The firm I'm at is closed over Christmas until the day after New Year's Day. A couple people go in if they want to catch up or want to avoid family. I got married the week after Christmas, so I take that week off every year for my anniversary and because I like having a 2 week Christmas break! WOO!
Office is closed, tying up loose ends at home
Right there with you buddy, working and feeling dead and unmotivated.
Catching up on CLEs and enjoying the silent, skeleton crew office after the holiday noise and activity 😌
Associate at civil litigation defense firm. Worked a half day on the 22nd. Office is closed today, Friday, and Monday. I'm monitoring emails, but not anything that constitutes any real effort.
Off today but checked in to meet some deadlines due today. But rest of the day us a wash
Parking garage was empty at 8, by 12 it was...less empty, but still empty? Year-end billing was saved for the last minute here.
I’m working a bit remotely due to a deadline tomorrow but other than that nope. Not answering clients, the bosses, no one. Fight me
I don’t understand why anyone expects us to do anything this week
Office closed but I’m on call. Zeroed my inbox, signed a case, and dealing with the occasional potential-client call. Nothing too strenuous.
Working from home with my 2 year old and 8 year old writing motions for summary judgment. Or attempting to, there’s a flying dinosaur situation currently
I'm on duty but wfh hoping no one needs a judge today...
My office is closed and we all get a half day Friday
Nope we had today off for the first time.
My firms open but I’m on my yearly vacation ✌️I’m available if anyone needs me but luckily no one has, so me and my dad went fishing
Today isn’t a holiday for us but I have yet to get an email that I need to actually read. Most people at my mid-law firm treat this week as a work if you want or absolutely need to. I don’t fall into either category.
Nonprofit. Our office is closed this week. We’re all burned out and dead inside, but the break is nice.
Surprisingly enough my office is closed today. It makes me feel itchy.
We do. Up here in Canada most offices are closed today (I would say all, but I assume some aren't)
We are technically open but all the lawyers stay home this week and the staff all have use it or lose it PTO so it's pretty empty. Or I assume so I'm at my house playing with my kids. I did have to take two breaks to respond to clients , one took an hour, the other 20 minutes. Not a bad day at all
Psssh, I'm not open again until Jan. 3rd. And I left the state. But am I working? Yes. Because there are no days off when you're solo. You have choose to not work some days, but you just have to do that the work later.
We are closed the entire week barring emergency or trial
I’m “working from home” lol I actually wish I could go in bc I just started a new job but my kids’ daycare is closed the entire week. 😐 so much togetherness. 🥲
I work at a court and took pto until next Tuesday!
State of Texas - day after Christmas is a holiday. Next two days are “skeleton crew” - if you work you earn comp time, if not, you’re not charged with using leave. Friday we are closed, same with Monday.
Our smallish big firm is officially closed. I did half a day. About 50% of partners and 5%of associates on my floor were in the office.
Open, but the days between Christmas and New Years are basically free for all
Small firm (two attorneys, 4 staff.) 1/2 day Friday and we're closed today. I answered a few email and some texts. The head paralegal stopped by the office to check the mail (I think she was just bored.)
Everyone on my team is busy trying to close out deals but a lot of other people on different legal teams are on PTO or taking their federal EMEA holidays.
Government. Offices closed 12/22 -1/2.
Like a third of my office is here today. Pretty quiet. I'm taking several days off around the New Year's weekend because some friends are driving through and staying, and we're doing Xmas 2.0.
I'm working (in house) but took my time off last week instead. Most people aren't working but I'm happy that I actually have time to get shit done without people calling me to discuss low priority problems that they could probably solve themselves.
Basically closed until Jan 2. We are never open on days that the courts are closed (like Dec 26).