Departure memos are a time honored tradition in Biglaw — a way to let your colleagues know where you’re going, how to reach you, and maybe burn a few bridges on the way out the door. But not all farewell messages are bitter screeds lamenting the terrible conditions at the firm.
Some, like this recent email from a departing Weil attorney, are just a kind way to say goodbye to your firm. And sure, maybe there’s some humor of the self-deprecating variety. But all in good fun.
Subject: Veni, Vidi, Arrivederci
Dearest Weil Fam,
I’m emailing to notify you that henceforward, any inappropriate communications from me will be reportable to the local authorities, not HR, because today is my last day at the firm.
My two and a half years here have far surpassed the professional experience I’d dreamt of. That’s partly because I don’t have an active social life, and I’m rarely let out in public. But that’s also thanks to the incredible people that I’ve met and worked with along the way. Thank you for all your support, guidance, friendship, and tolerance of my eccentricities (however successful you may have been at hiding your annoyance). There are so many people that I want to single out for their positive impact on my Weil career that I had to list them all in a separate document attached hereto.
For my next act, I will be joining XXX’s National Tax group as a managing director. Please feel free to keep in touch by email XXX or text XXX or by following my continuing adventures in tax on LinkedIn.
It has been an honor and privilege to be your colleague.
Then you know what the attachment says? You’re never gonna g…ive you up! Yup. That classic of aughts internet culture and one of the few good things 4chan ever gave us, Rickrolling.
Weil people I love
Kathryn Rubino is a Senior Editor at Above the Law, host of The Jabot podcast, and co-host of Thinking Like A Lawyer. AtL tipsters are the best, so please connect with her. Feel free to email her with any tips, questions, or comments and follow her on Twitter @Kathryn1 or Mastodon @[email protected].
#Biglaw #Farewell #Memo #Classic #Genre
