r/LawCanada • u/Quick_Description_87 • 2d ago
New call just terminated
Took a job at this random firm I applied to as a new call. Employment contract was a standard offer letter with no real termination clause. Just fired today. The admin told me to pack up and go home as the Partners didn’t like me. I’ve been there for around less than a months. Firm treated me like trash from day one. They told me I didn’t meet the billable after the first week of employment. Given little to no instructions on assignments. No feedback. I thought all was fine till a week ago. Just got an email now that the Firm won’t be paying any other monies out and I’m not owed anything extra, including my vacation pay (3 days’ pay I think)
Any idea how to go forward from here? Do I get an employment lawyer? Report to the LSO? My self esteem is ruined and so I am trying to also get MH support as well.
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u/Effervescent-Essence 2d ago
The admin told you? Geez. Probably doesn’t feel like it now, but you dodged a bullet. I would let it go and focus on finding a new job.
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u/ricosauve2 2d ago
Sucks man, it happens more than you think. I don't think you have any recourse since you worked less than a month there.
Just keep applying, unfortunately there are alot of shitty employers out there in the legal field.
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u/Striking-Issue-3443 2d ago
There is no recourse to the LSO when fired this quickly. Probably for the best that you are leaving now. I would probably just move on.
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u/Messor_Animae 2d ago
You are better off not working there. Less than a month's employment should not be in your resume. Apply for Ontario civil service lawyer jobs, no billable hours required, unionized. Federal civil service lawyers are not as well paid as Ontario civil service lawyers.
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u/Noble_Word 2d ago
Probably best to just move on, it’s no easy feat, but you’re definitely better off.
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u/MapleDesperado 2d ago
You may be owed something, but probably only for your vacation days. What would you advise a client to do? Probably not to fight over three days’ pay.
Count your blessings that you didn’t fit in there. It sounds horrendous.
Enjoy a long weekend, then start working hard on making some connections, scouring LinkedIn and the ORs, and finding a much better place to work.
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u/Cheap_Shallot_3102 1d ago
My first job as a lawyer, I ended up reporting to a sociopath with severe rage issues. I lasted 3 weeks. I quit, and it sucked, but I got my next job and it went well. Glad you got mental health help. You will move forward. This too shall pass.
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u/Vegetable-Corgi-447 2d ago
Suing will just make you look bad to future employers. Take the L and apply elsewhere.but you should make sure they give you 4% vacation pay
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u/Dinsdale55 1d ago
Which is less than one day if he worked there one month (not totally clear from OP's post), not three days as he claims.
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u/Vegetable-Corgi-447 1d ago
Yeah. But hey if someone owes me a days wages I’d like to have it
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u/Dinsdale55 1d ago
Sure, but you're going to be in the hole pretty fast if you have to hire a lawyer to recover it. So ask and see what happens.
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u/vouspar 1d ago
I articled (12 years ago) with a guy who’s been fired 8 times since then. Mostly from in house firms. Longest job was 2.5 years. Most ended right before the one year mark.
He’s my friend but please don’t be like him. This post sounds like many of the messages I’ve gotten from him over the years. He complains about inadequate training and says if he could just get a good mentor (mind you, he’s 12 years in) his career would take off. Truth is, he doesn’t try very hard and has a tendency to cut corners. Treats work product like handing in an undergrad essay.
Just a cautionary tale. Don’t blame others. Look in the mirror honestly and improve.
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u/Lumpy_Cartoonist8083 1d ago edited 1d ago
I am sorry, how is this relevant? You don’t know OP. Anybody that’s been in this field knows you’re either trained or not.
Your friend is not OP.
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u/Richard_Swinger_Esq 1d ago
How is it not relevant? It’s a cautionary tale to maybe use this experience for inward reflection.
There is no judgement. There were no conclusions drawn. There were no accusations. Getting fired that quickly isn’t rare, but it’s certainly not common. OP’s experience reminded him of a friend, and the poster wanted to make sure OP wasn’t heading down the same path. It was a “heads up” warning. Nothing more.
I’m on the back 9 of my career. Some of the best advice and mentorship I ever got was people telling me I was doing it wrong. It wasn’t cruel. It allowed me to learn from mistakes and right the course.
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u/Lumpy_Cartoonist8083 1d ago
You are applying facts from one individual, to another. This woman is a new call discussing being fired from one job. Just reread your response.
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u/Richard_Swinger_Esq 1d ago
I’m not applying anything to anything.
I was defending a poster who encouraged OP towards some inward reflection based upon a friend who had a similar experience. That’s it. That poster didn’t apply anything either. They made no conclusions. It was a just a kind warning. It was advice to look inwards to ensure there wasn’t anything OP might have done differently.
Perhaps you should reread that post. It didn’t say getting fired so quick was OP’s fault. It didn’t say OP was exactly like their friend. All it said was they’ve seen this before and take some time to make sure that you’re not the problem.
The reality is that Reddit tends to side with OPs. The first complaint defines narrative. The weight of the responses concluded the firm was toxic. It may well have been. It’s also possible that OP effed up and encouraging them to look inwards is good advice.
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u/Superman777Good 1d ago
Write them a review on glassdoor google reviews and everything else so that other perspective employees and customers know how they operate
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u/Choice-Steak-9478 2d ago
Hey sorry to read about your experience. Since you did not complete 3 months, I belive you do not have a recouse. This was certainly a terrible experience. I know hob market is bad as well. But at this point, I will advice you to move on, reset and start job hunting. Keep this experience out of your resume and do not mention it in the interviews . Ask if the firm provides mentorship when you are interviewing. All the best, i hope you feel better soon! More power to you!
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u/Patient0L 1d ago
I would check in with an employment lawyer before signing anything. I had something similar happen and I was able to negotiate a notice period more than twice as long my tenure of employment. IDK about Ontario but in BC there is caselaw that makes it so hiring someone and then firing them without cause shortly thereafter can increase the notice period. This addresses factors like the precariousness of being a new employee, passing up other opportunities, and how it can look to other employers. Anyways, I would get some profesh advice as, if you were fired without cause, you are entitled to common law notice. Also, I would not be surprised if the employer might be expecting to pay you something. Requesting pay in lieu as a matter of mitigating the situation you now find yourself in is not the same as threatening to sue and does not have to be acrimonious. You might be leaving money on the table if you don’t ask.
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u/Party_Lead1274 1d ago
Chin up OP. You dodged a bullet. Better things await. But do consult an employment lawyer for sure.
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u/KaKoke728 2d ago
I wouldn’t fight the termination with. I’d also leave it off my resume