I need you to come into work this weekend

Quote: Evenbob

Saw a video of a waitress in Queens
who makes $60K a year and has
a 2 bedroom apartment in Queens
for $950 a month. She lives quite
well on $60K a year. Isn't Queens
a better commute than LI?

Bob, I grew up in Queens. There are areas in Queens which rival any slum you would ever see. And some beautiful neighborhoods as well. Where I grew up in Queens his commute would be 30 minutes each way. I don't think you get a two bedroom for that little though.

Quote: SOOPOO

That just sounds intolerable on any level. I of course do not know your particular living situation, but since you are solo and not in any desire to find a partner, why don't you move near to your place of employment? I'd rather be in a small one bedroom apartment near work than commute 4 hours daily from my mansion.....

I think your letter of resignation was perfect. If they agree to terms 1 and 2 you KNOW that will only be temporary, and you will be in the same predicament a month or two from now.

As far as asking for a raise, using your long commute as a reason is worth ZERO. If you can show your worth at getting more cases settled, attracting more clients, doing research efficiently, etc., that would be something to bring up when asking for a raise.
If a doctor ever asked me for a raise because he lived far away I would have laughed. If he asked me for a raise because the surgeons liked him I would have considered it.

I am not asking for a raise - I am not asking for anything - I want out - if they happened to offer a gigantic raise such that I could afford to live in Manhattan so my commute would be minutes instead of hours then I would consider it BUT, that is not going to happen - it was merely a throwaway statement

Quote: Evenbob

Saw a video of a waitress in Queens
who makes $60K a year and has
a 2 bedroom apartment in Queens
for $950 a month. She lives quite
well on $60K a year. Isn't Queens
a better commute than LI?

I have only visited a few times and cannot imagine commuting from LI to the city. Thing is if you live in the city, even an outer borough, it costs in taxes and other problems.

Quote: Evenbob

Saw a video of a waitress in Queens
who makes $60K a year and has
a 2 bedroom apartment in Queens
for $950 a month. She lives quite
well on $60K a year. Isn't Queens
a better commute than LI?

Yes, but it is still Queens and, depending upon where in a queens, the commute could still be 40 minutes and, if 1&2 are not resolved and things are back to normal, then I am stuck paying rent on an apartment in Queens that serves no purpose

Quote: aceofspades

Yes, but it is still Queens and, depending upon where in a queens, the commute could still be 40 minutes and, if 1&2 are not resolved and things are back to normal, then I am stuck paying rent on an apartment in Queens that serves no purpose

40 minutes is not all that bad of a commute. Long end of acceptable to be sure, but nothing to complain about.

Find a firm in Suffolk County, that has to be a juicy divorce market.

Quote: AZDuffman

40 minutes is not all that bad of a commute. Long end of acceptable to be sure, but nothing to complain about.

Find a firm in Suffolk County, that has to be a juicy divorce market.

That's where my interview is tomorrow

So I'm on the train sitting in the alleged "quiet car" (certain cars on each train are designated as "quiet cars" in the morning for people who just want to read or take a nap without everyone talking (to one another or on their cell phones) - the success rate of this designation is about 50% - there is a "couple" (in their 50's) that gets on at this one station every single morning - I do not think they are actually a couple but they always sit together and for some reason always sit in the town directly in front of me or directly behind me (this, after the woman surveys a few rows to see if the seats are "clean" - I have seen her take out hand sanitizer, dispense it into the seat and then take a napkin from her purse to clean the seat - and then points to the man directing him to where they are going to sit) and they talk and talk for the first half-hour of the ride - this usually annoys me but today I just smiled, knowing that soon enough, I would no longer bear witness to the "couple" nor be held captive to the aural displeasure their conversations bring me - talk on you crazy kids - talk on

UPDATE

Just had meeting with the owner - he wanted to tell me that the co-counsel denied having told both the client and me to "shut-up" while we were in court but that the does not believe him

He then told me he does not want me to leave and asked me if I would still leave even if he insulated me from ever having to work with the protege and co-counsel ever again (I do not think that is possible as things happen day-to-day in a law firm where things need to be done quickly by all hands on deck)

I informed him that that was a noble gesture but I did not see how it could be enforced - he told me to let him worry about that

I also stated commuting 4 hours per day is no longer workable - he asked me why I did not just rent an apartment in Manhattan (as if I just have an extra $3k/month available) - I told him it was not in the budget so he replied that he would "have to just give me a raise" - he asked if I would give him a day to figure it out - out of respect for him I said "Sure" - plus, my notice is already in so it's not as if I told him I was postponing the notice - just going to listen to his pitch

Thoughts...?

Quote: aceofspades

UPDATE

Just had meeting with the owner - he wanted to tell me that the co-counsel denied having told both the client and me to "shut-up" while we were in court but that the does not believe him

He then told me he does not want me to leave and asked me if I would still leave even if he insulated me from ever having to work with the protege and co-counsel ever again (I do not think that is possible as things happen day-to-day in a law firm where things need to be done quickly by all hands on deck)

I informed him that that was a noble gesture but I did not see how it could be enforced - he told me to let him worry about that

I also stated commuting 4 hours per day is no longer workable - he asked me why I did not just rent an apartment in Manhattan (as if I just have an extra $3k/month available) - I told him it was not in the budget so he replied that he would "have to just give me a raise" - he asked if I would give him a day to figure it out - out of respect for him I said "Sure" - plus, my notice is already in so it's not as if I told him I was postponing the notice - just going to listen to his pitch

Thoughts...?

Let him give you the pitch...if the raise is substantial enough that you could move, you have to weigh the prospect of continuing to work with the protege (since we all know he won't be able to 100% protect you).

Of course you need to weigh the cost of having that apartment if you were to lose the job in the future. I don't know much about the law scene in NYC (in fact I know zero). If your skills aren't portable and you couldn't feasibly land a job with another firm that could support that rent, then moving is probably not the right call anyway.

Probably you will end up gone, but out of good will and respect doesn't hurt to let him make the diving save.

Quote: aceofspades

Thoughts...?

Let him make his full counter. You have zero to lose short term. I assume you want to live on Long Island vs. the city or upstate. So assuming he gives you three dimes a month for lodging, take it and rent on airbnb or a room on craigslist, though in Manhattan the later might be too much adventure. Airbnb you can rent 2-3 nights a week, pocket the rest.

I know a bit of what you are talking about working cases. In my office time, I have drawn more than my share of political enemies in the office. This stuff does not get better. One of a few things happens. They are better at their job but feel threatened and keep trying to force you out. Because they are better there is little you can do. Or you are better and they feel even more threatened. They will bad mouth you behind your back at every turn. I've had this one happen to the point a guy was near ready to throw fists over flipping time zones! I was right and he was slapped down. Didn't change his attitude one bit.

Worst thing might be if you have any kind of divided leadership and both sides split under one or the other leader. This amounts to you both being on different crews each led by a made man and nearly at war.

Suck it up. Short term rental. Keep looking for a new job. At the least see how much you can get away with. It is amazing what a manager will put up with if they really need people.