Facing Another Request for a Weekend Project? Here’s How to Refuse
A lawyer coach says it is possible to head off constant partner requests for weekend work, and it involves more than the single word “no.”
In a Legal Intelligencer article, Debra Bruce offers several strategies to free up your weekend while satisfying a demanding partner. They include:
–Approach the partner earlier in the week and ask about upcoming projects. For example, you could say, “I have an important commitment this weekend, so I want to make sure I cover all the bases for you by Friday. Are there any projects that you could find the need to hand off to me later? If so, I would like to know about them now, so that I don’t have to leave you in the lurch.”
–If you get questions about why you are busy on the weekend, simply answer that “it’s personal.” Don’t disclose too much, since more information may result in the partner trying to find a way for you to do your work and attend whatever event you are planning. Hold firm; if you get more questions, repeat “it’s personal” or answer, “I’d rather not talk about it.”
–If you decline a last-minute project, offer alternatives. You could explain, for example, that you have handled several weekend assignments. Then you could say: “It’s not that I’m not committed or that I’m unwilling to put in the hours. I want to make sure we impress our clients. This time, however, I have an obligation I can’t push aside. Would you rather find someone else, or would you like me to come in early on Monday to get started on it?”
