How often do small firms retain 1L interns for 2L summer? Forum

Anonymous User · Post by **Anonymous User** » Sat Apr 02, 2011 4:20 am

As stated in title. How often does this happen? Got hired for a small firm. The partners said they're growing and hoping to expand, which says a lot considering the economy. They even joked about keeping me on board 10 years down the road when they've grown. A 3L at my school was offered a job at graduation with them, but she turned it down as she's moving back home to somewhere in the east coast.

Dunno if it's my imagination but this employer seems to like students from my school even though we're just ranked T100.

Reason I ask is that even nabbing this internship gig was really tough. Only got about 3 interviews.

Thoughts?

Renzo · Post by **Renzo** » Sat Apr 02, 2011 11:27 am

There's really no way anyone could ever answer this. It depends entirely on the firm and their prospects for growth. Many small/midsize firms hire 1Ls because its hard to compete with big firms for 2L talent, and they hope that the 1Ls will fall in love and want to come back. On the other hand, if they only need clerks, and don't have enough business to bring in another lawyer, no matter how much they like you they won't be able to hire you permanently.

I would focus on doing your best this summer, and once they're thoroughly impressed with you, talk to them about what they foresee for hiring needs, etc. There's no downside to expressing enthusiasm for returning.

ohnowtf · Post by **ohnowtf** » Sat Apr 02, 2011 11:35 am

Does the firm have other clerks? Do they work year-round?

From my experience, firms prefer to keep clerks/interns as long as possible. It is usually a student deciding to go somewhere else, instead of a firm telling them to leave.

Anonymous User · Post by **Anonymous User** » Sat Apr 02, 2011 1:28 pm

Renzo wrote:There's really no way anyone could ever answer this. It depends entirely on the firm and their prospects for growth. Many small/midsize firms hire 1Ls because its hard to compete with big firms for 2L talent, and they hope that the 1Ls will fall in love and want to come back. On the other hand, if they only need clerks, and don't have enough business to bring in another lawyer, no matter how much they like you they won't be able to hire you permanently.

I would focus on doing your best this summer, and once they're thoroughly impressed with you, talk to them about what they foresee for hiring needs, etc. There's no downside to expressing enthusiasm for returning.

Yep. Sounds about right. I'm going to bust my ass this summer. Probably buy coffee and stay late if I feel there's work to be done.

Anonymous User · Post by **Anonymous User** » Sat Apr 02, 2011 1:29 pm

ohnowtf wrote:Does the firm have other clerks? Do they work year-round?

From my experience, firms prefer to keep clerks/interns as long as possible. It is usually a student deciding to go somewhere else, instead of a firm telling them to leave.

Dunno what the difference is between "clerks" and "interns," but I have noticed that there is at least 1 2L and another 3L who is leaving working here.

zomginternets · Post by **zomginternets** » Sat Apr 02, 2011 5:33 pm

Anonymous User wrote: Dunno what the difference is between "clerks" and "interns,"

Clerks are usually 2L's and are usually paid. Interns are usually 1L's and are almost invariably not paid.

Anonymous User · Post by **Anonymous User** » Sat Apr 02, 2011 5:42 pm

zomginternets wrote:
Anonymous User wrote: Dunno what the difference is between "clerks" and "interns,"
Clerks are usually 2L's and are usually paid. Interns are usually 1L's and are almost invariably not paid.

Not sure whether we have any clerks. Looks like I'll be asking the 2L a lot of questions.

Thanks for the tips!!

Renzo · Post by **Renzo** » Sat Apr 02, 2011 6:52 pm

Anonymous User wrote:
ohnowtf wrote:Does the firm have other clerks? Do they work year-round?

From my experience, firms prefer to keep clerks/interns as long as possible. It is usually a student deciding to go somewhere else, instead of a firm telling them to leave.
Dunno what the difference is between "clerks" and "interns," but I have noticed that there is at least 1 2L and another 3L who is leaving working here.

There's no difference between law clerk and legal intern. Except perhaps "intern" is more likely to be used if the position is unpaid.

Anonymous User · Post by **Anonymous User** » Wed Apr 13, 2011 10:39 pm

How many retention-related questions did they ask in the interview? Did they ask a lot about your interest in the geographical area? Did they nudge you to discuss your family situation? Did they talk about the locations of the various schools and employers on your resume? Or did they just like you and offer you the job? I'd say those are HUGE signals reflecting their long-term goals.

Rule11 · Post by **Rule11** » Thu Apr 14, 2011 12:10 pm

Sorry, but unpaid internships with small firms are usually just a scam to get access to your student Westlaw account for a summer.

jkay · Post by **jkay** » Sat Apr 16, 2011 10:52 pm

Rule11 wrote:Sorry, but unpaid internships with small firms are usually just a scam to get access to your student Westlaw account for a summer.

Does this really happen? I was under the impression that unless we appeal for a good reason, our Westlaw gets cut off during the summer?

Either way, I am in the same boat as the OP. I am in a single-school market and have a paying summer job lined up at a midsize firm (for this market; and we are called 'interns' around here). It has between 10-20 attorneys. It will continue through 2L school year, and I expect to stay if we all get along and they offer me a job for 2L summer. I am the only 1L summer, and I believe that is typical for most firms in this market - 1 1L, 1 2L, etc.

I think this is a reasonably common approach for mid-size firms in this market, and that quite a few 2L summers get offered permanent positions but some leave for Art. III or state supreme court clerkships and then don't return to the area.

Anonymous User · Post by **Anonymous User** » Sun Apr 17, 2011 1:34 am

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