Contract attorneys are a discontented bunch. I mean, I understand. This is boring work and we're here for very long hours. The two things that really bother me about this project are:
1) The basement room - no windows makes for a very mole-like existence.
2) No transportation costs on Saturday. At my last job we got transportation and lunch paid for on the weekends. At some magical, elusive, legendary jobs, people gets transportation and/or meals every single day. I don't need that, I'd just like to know that if I have to wind up parking in a parking garage come Saturday because taking the Metro on a weekend is just silly and unpredictable, I will get reimbursed.
However, I'm very happy to have a job, to have 60 hours a week to work, and to be getting paid an awful lot of money for what is essentially pretty simple (if mind-numbingly boring) work.
That is not the case for the majority of the people I work with. Most of them gripe and moan about every little inconvenience in our working conditions. Granted, our perspectives are different. For one, they've all been doing this for awhile and probably have memories of being on some sweet, sweet project in the past and wish this one were more like that.
Two, I'm only doing this for a few months (fingers crossed! Doc review doesn't pay nearly as well in Boston so I'm hoping for a permanent job by the time I get back there, or at least very soon after). Most of these people have been doing this for awhile and see no end in sight really because the money's good. Most of them aren't even looking for permanent jobs. Personally, the stress of contract work would drive me crazy. The actual job isn't stressful, it's the knowledge that it could end whenever really. If a case settles or there aren't as many documents as the client originally thought, the contract attorneys are SOL.
Most of the people I work with are constantly talking about what's in the hopper with other agencies. It's surprising to me how readily the contract attorneys would ditch this job to take another, possibly better job, and just tell the agency there is an emergency or a death in the family or a client needs them (most of the people I'm working with have clients too). Although the agencies would cut us or string us along to suit their needs without a second thought, so I suppose it's all fair play.
I'm happy to be here for a couple of months, work, collect my paycheck every week, and pay off some debt. I'm very happy that my investment in the DC Bar has paid off. However, I hope I'm not in this contract attorney world forever.
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