Beyond Biglaw: Holiday Party Time

The holiday party represents an opportunity for career advancement; how can you make the most of it?

We are approaching holiday party time for many Biglaw firms. Even ATL has an upcoming holiday party. I can’t make it, but I am sure it will be a good time.

A good test for your firm’s financial standing: how much is the firm blowing on the holiday party? If it is at a hotel or a fancy venue, congrats. It was probably a good year. Or at least the institutional clients needed some expensive legal help. Bonus points if spouses are invited.

What if the party is in the office? At a minimum, the firm is sending a message that “cost control” is a priority. Sushi and beer in a conference room can be fine, but unlikely to generate much excitement in the hearts and minds of the staff and the associate ranks. Especially the latter, if they are forced to hear of the fancy parties their compatriots at more prestigious firms are having. There are two good reasons to have holiday parties in the office: (1) It is a small branch office, without the critical mass to justify a more expensive shindig, or (2) the firm has some “problem partners,” who can’t be trusted at a public event with free booze. No firm wants to end the year with bad publicity. Inappropriate partner behavior has a way of attracting that kind of publicity, so there is no reason to tempt fate.

I am a veteran of many years of Biglaw holiday parties. Some were fun, some less so. There were years when the holiday party was a fancy affair, with multiple food options, and live entertainment. Holiday party day was always interesting. Some people took it very seriously, going so far as to change before heading out for the night. Others, myself included, usually saw the party as a night to “get through” before heading home.

But at some point I realized that as with everything in Biglaw, the holiday party presented an opportunity for career advancement. Internal marketing — very important when you are trying to make partner, for example. And with everyone out of the office, and forced to display good cheer, holiday parties do present some unique opportunities for effective internal marketing.

Sure, you can just go to the holiday party, eat something and maybe have a drink or two. You can even decide to make a full night of it, and stagger into one of the black cars for the ride home. If you want to get fired, the firm holiday party presents a grand stage for some memorable hijinks that will separate you from your job. And maybe get you immortalized on ATL for good measure.

What if you are an associate hoping to make partner? Holiday parties have a way of overlapping with partnership votes. It may be too late for this year’s vote, but you can never get started too early on garnering support for next year. Make a list of the partners you need on your side. Especially those who you don’t necessarily work for on a daily basis. Try and spend some time with those partners at the holiday party. Don’t be annoying, and don’t try and accomplish anything other than getting to know them better. Pleasantries are fine, the point is for them to see you as a good citizen and an asset for the firm. If there are any partners visiting from other offices, be pleasant and welcoming to them. Very often the input of partners from other offices is sought during the partnership decision-making process. So every chance to make a favorable impression is important.

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You do not want to be the last to leave if you are an associate hoping to make partner, or even if you are a junior partner. Because you have work that needs to get done, or at least need to get home to your family. It is key to leave the party in good cheer, and convey how much you appreciate working at the firm. And how nice it was to celebrate for a few hours with colleagues.

Especially for junior partners, who are usually still dependent on others for work, the need to display good citizenship is critical, even after making partner. Bonus points if as a junior partner you manage to set the stage to work on a pitch or two with a senior partner outside of your group in the new year. Everyone in Biglaw wants to increase the amount of work their clients are doing with the firm, and while it may be hard as a junior partner to get the senior partners in your group to take you on the key pitches, you may have better luck with partners in another group who may be willing to cross-sell you to their clients. Using the holiday party to build those relationships is a productive use of your time.

In a boutique context, a holiday party seems like overkill. Better to spend the money on some client visits, or at least hosting some key clients. The scale is different, of course, but the business considerations are often the same. Biglaw uses holiday parties to keep the staff and attorneys happy. Boutiques don’t have as much staff, and should focus on clients as much as possible. Because happy clients make happy lawyers. A happy Thanksgiving to all.

Please feel free to send comments or questions to me at gkroub@kskiplaw.com or via Twitter: @gkroub. Any topic suggestions or thoughts are most welcome.

Earlier: Come To The ATL Holiday Party In NYC!

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Gaston Kroub lives in Brooklyn and is a founding partner of Kroub, Silbersher & Kolmykov PLLC, an intellectual property litigation boutique. The firm’s practice focuses on intellectual property litigation and related counseling, with a strong focus on patent matters. You can reach him at gkroub@kskiplaw.com or follow him on Twitter: @gkroub.