You are not the problem.

I’ve drafted and redrafted and deleted and redeleted thoughts about the time I received an email in the TroutmanPepper-viral-partner style. It is still hard for me to talk about. It still comes up in therapy. I still have some internalized self blame about it.

It is not uncommon for associates to be spoken down to that way. And yet: it is not appropriate, necessary, or required. It should not be normal, excused, accepted, or rewarded. Full stop.

One day I’ll have more, better articulated thoughts about it. Until then: if you have experienced this or are experiencing it, please know: you are not the problem, you do not hold the blame, you cannot fix it, you deserve better, and there is better out there.

#biglaw #mindfullyemily #professionalwen #lawyerwellbeing