Grand Jury Duty?

I showed up for my Grand Jury summons and immediately regretted not doing more research ahead of time to understand what I was getting myself in for. There's a reason why probably 30% of names called did not show up. 

I did end up volunteering now as we're not all that busy and I don't know how busy we'll be in six months, and of course I got picked. Projects I was working on have already been shifted to other analysts and associates. 

I messaged a couple directors on my team saying I'd do everything in my power to stay involved, and please don't hesitate to continue using me as a resource. 

Any pieces of advice for how else I should approach this? What can I do to best spin this / not have it have a major impact on my career? It is quite an interesting process - if I were a college kid, or in a job that's more forgiving for taking time off, then I'd probably be pretty into this. 

Comments (21)

  • Analyst 2 in IB - DCM
2mo 

Point taken but… to be fair it is 4 weeks. 

  • Associate 1 in Consulting
2mo 

And? It's not your fault, who cares

  • 1
2mo 
windoflife, what's your opinion? Comment below:
[Comment removed by mod team]
  • Analyst 1 in IB - Cov
2mo 

just get pregnant and then you will be able to excuse yourself from jury duty

  • Analyst 1 in IB - Cov
2mo 

Dude I don't know how you didn't get out jury duty… you literally just lie. They ask you things like are you going to be a good juror, do you have any preconceived notions, relationships with cops. All you have to do is say you'd be a horrible juror. I got called for jury duty a few months ago and I was only gone for the day.

  • 1
  • Analyst 2 in IB - DCM
2mo 

This is grand jury. There is no voir dire. You get selected, that's it. 

  • 1
2mo 
ke18sb, what's your opinion? Comment below:

Getting in early and coming in after much of the day is over won't really matter because you will be out of pocket the majority of the day. What if something needs a turn or a comment or a question answered. You're too unreliable in your situation to trust with any project with a deadline. Of course this is not your fault.

Therefore, as opposed to creating some plan in your head of what you THINK your bosses will want...you should sit down with the MD/staffer, whoever is in charge and work with them to create a game plan and expectations to be met. There is zero point of charting your own course here as it could be futile. Your method of trying to prove yourself with facetime is far less valuable than showing the maturity to establish a line of communication and crafting a plan that works for all together.  

Lastly, as others have said, this doesn't matter in the grand scheme of things. I was an analyst on a trial for 2 weeks and low a behold my career was not effected. 

So while I get the ib anxiety inducing stress test machine might have you on edge, really don't sweat it. 

  • Analyst 2 in IB - DCM
1mo 

Thanks for the feedback. Looking back I understand that I was definitely overstressing, but at the end of the day, it is a rare situation and there are good and bad ways to handle it. I just want to put my best foot forward with this team, is all. 

  • Associate 3 in IB-M&A
2mo 

Stop going in early every day. Work from like 5pm-9pm, but your team really just needs to take you off staffings and put you on internal projects right now

This isn't your fault and no one will hold it against you - everyone has to do jury duty, it just is what it is. Also this is SUCH a short time - I know it feels like forever but this is part of life.

  • Analyst 1 in IB - Cov
2mo 

Bro, I say this with the utmost respect, but the high-grade investment bonds you're working on as a DCM Analyst are going to be okay with or without you. I understand the mind set and the anxiety that gets ingrained when you're an analyst, but this is your legal obligation as a citizen. I can assure you that things will be okay. 

  • 1
  • Analyst 2 in IB - DCM
1mo 

As long as that goes both ways, sure. 

1mo 
slopestyle, what's your opinion? Comment below:

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