Open Letter to New Attorneys: It’s OK to Ask for Extensions

Deadlines are one of the most unexpected, but daunting aspects in the practice of law. As a new lawyer, you are thrown into an environment where all your colleagues are very smart, intimidating professionals with years of experience. You want to produce excellent work product and establish a good reputation, so you seek out work until your plate is full with the seemingly simple expectation of getting it all done in a timely manner. Then you find yourself drowning in a sea of deadlines and wonder whether you should sacrifice sleep, a meal, or the work product. Will the partner even notice if you let the quality of your work slide? Yes, they most certainly will.

However, let me let you in on a little secret: not every deadline is a hard deadline. Partners and senior associates know that rookies may take a little more time producing great first drafts, so sometimes they will provide soft deadlines to leave room for editing. Therefore, it’s okay to ask a superior if a given deadline is a soft or hard deadline, especially when your plate is exceptionally full. We all know that sometimes sacrifices must be made, but senior attorneys are people too.

They know what it’s like being the new kid on the block, they have been where you are, and more likely than not, they are more understanding than we give them credit for. So, before you start on your third all-nighter and suffer in silence, don’t hesitate to ask your team for that 24-hour extension. If it can happen, they will let you know so you can reorganize and regroup. Likewise, if everyone needs to rally, they will let you know and you can prioritize accordingly.

In any event, please remember you are not alone. We’ve all been there, we welcome you to this amazing profession, and we want you to succeed, both personally and professionally.