Pls Hndle Thx:Hot for Partner

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Dear ATL-

About a week ago I was out for happy hour drinks with some people from my firm. I really hit it off with a young-ish junior partner who I hadn’t really spoken to before. He asked me out for drinks and I said yes, but I’m wondering if this entire situation isn’t a disaster in the making.

Do you think I should cancel? By the way, I’m a corporate associate and he’s in litigation, if that changes anything for you.

Sincerely,

The Other Wendy Savage

Dear The Other Wendy Savage,

JACKPOT. If all goes well, you’re only two years away from quitting that crappy job of yours and spending your days sitting on a couch watching Guiding Light and eating gummy worms. But before you can live the dream, you’ve got to navigate the rocky terrain of dating both a boss and a co-worker.

If things go badly on the first date, no harm no foul. You’ve scored free drinks, he won’t mention it to his fellow partners for fear of Megan’s Law, and you’ll probably never have to work together. Even if there are no sparks, non-billable time with a partner at your firm may come in handy anyway. I once went on a date with a partner from another firm and I asked about that year’s bonus and whether partnership meetings resemble Priory of Sion rituals.

The problems creep in if you continue dating and then things go south. At that point any attempts to hide your relationship from co-workers will be laughable, and, depending on whether you work in a corny firm, once you’ve gotten to third base you may have to report it to human resources and sign a sexual harassment release. Partners and associates may talk about it behind your back or look down on you, but people have been drinking haterade since time immemorial. If it doesn’t work out between you two, you can always move your desk, lateral out, or date another partner at the firm.

Look, is it risky to go on date with the partner? Sure, but it’s a far greater gamble to date an M.F.A. student (future poverty), a bartender (adulterer), or someone in finance (future poverty). As humble servant of Christ Joel Osteen implied in his Portfolio magazine profile, “God wants you to be rich.” And so do I. So do I.

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Your friend,

Marin

What does Elie think about all this? Find out after the jump.

Don’t $h*^ where you eat.

This situation isn’t a “disaster in the making,” it’s a total disaster that is getting more disastrous.

I don’t care if the junior partner is Pierce Brosnan crossed with Warren Buffett, the simple fact that he is a partner and you are not should be enough for you to deny sexual access of any kind.

Besides, there are much easier ways to go prospecting. Stay late after a basketball game for an “autograph.” Go to the next Association of Plumbers and Pipe Fitters meeting. Move to Charlotte Iceland India!

This isn’t Jerry Maguire. Don’t hitch your wagon to somebody you work for, it always ends badly.

Playa Hater,

The Game

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Even if it does end “badly,” if you refrain from dropping by his office and slapping him in front of clients, you should be fine. Just strap on those Manolos, guzzle that Cosmopolitan, tell David Lat there’s a new sheriff in town, and give Hope Winters a run for her money.

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