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The Real World Is Coming For Gen Z Lawyers

The 'Gen Z gets fired' trend hits the legal space.

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Unemployed woman expressing negative emotions during recession. Jobless woman looking vacancies online with no successIf your social media feed is anything like mine, it’s filled with stories of Gen Z failing at work. It’s sparked by a recent survey by Intelligent about how Gen Z is faring in the workplace — and it’s not great.

Sixty percent of employers said they’ve had to fire Gen Z hires only months after they’ve been onboarded. Hiring managers said the generation is “unprepared for the workforce, can’t handle the workload, and are unprofessional,” with 90% saying Gen Z needs etiquette training. Intelligent’s Chief Education and Career Development Advisor Huy Nguyen said, “Many recent college graduates may struggle with entering the workforce for the first time as it can be a huge contrast from what they are used to throughout their education journey.” Nguyen continued in the harsh assessment, “They are often unprepared for a less structured environment, workplace cultural dynamics, and the expectation of autonomous work. Although they may have some theoretical knowledge from college, they often lack the practical, real-world experience and soft skills required to succeed in the work environment.”

Now that the oldest Gen Zers are starting to graduate law school and enter not just the workforce, but the legal workforce, it has us at Above the Law wondering how it’s going. Well, one experienced Florida lawyer, Sheila Zolnoor, took to TikTok to share an infuriating experience dealing with Gen Z at work. If this story is any indication, reality is going to be a rude awakening.

@_.sheilove

So i undertsand professional boundaries and i dont think people need to work themselves to the bone. I am a proponent of a 3 or 4 day workweek and leaving the office when youre done with your work—even if thats 11:30 am and nor 5pm. Ok? So i am down for that cause. But i also think we need to appreciate where we are in our career…if i have 29 days experience, there’s a chance i haven’t really started to nanage my time right yet and maybe i need to stretch myself a little further til i learn the ropes…is that outrageous?? Whatever im willing to be wrong…thanks for the vent session. #lawtok #law #lawyersoftiktok #lawyer #genz #fired #workethic #boundaries #getoffmylawn #storytime

♬ original sound – Sheila🧿

Kathryn Rubino HeadshotKathryn Rubino is a Senior Editor at Above the Law, host of The Jabot podcast, and co-host of Thinking Like A Lawyer. AtL tipsters are the best, so please connect with her. Feel free to email her with any tips, questions, or comments and follow her on Twitter @Kathryn1 or Mastodon @[email protected].

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