Attorney lunches are for summers to get out of the office, explore the surroundings, and dine with attorneys at the firm. Traditionally it's used for summers to get to know various practice areas, departments, and people in the firm. The actual policy is one of great gossip and drama, as every firm sets a different limit/guideline, and it's fertile ground for accusing firms of being cheap or praising them for showering summers with even more wealth than usual. It's common for it to include groups of summers and associates.

I'd hesitate to consider it "treating them to lunch" - though obviously that's more or less what it boils down to. Just think of it as a part of the program that involves you getting to ask more questions but also learn more about the people and culture of the firm in an informal setting. You shouldn't look at it as something in your control to give out to those who win your favor or something like that. It's common for associates to ask summers out to lunch as well.

Likewise, whatever the limit is, try not to develop a reputation for (a) exceeding it or (b) strategically using the absolute weekly maximum. It all boils down to treating the summer as a professional work experience, rather than treating the summer like a chance to beat the firm like a pinata spewing out dollar bills.

Thanks so much!

Yeah, I can't even imagine how one could spend even close to $55 for a lunch not involving alcohol (even in DC)....

$10-15 appetizer, $20-30 lunch, $10 desert gets you to about 40-45, which would be at or over budget after tax & tip. Also, many of the policies include dinners - though I imagine those are more rare, as by dinner time people are pretty focused on finishing up and heading out.

$55/lunch unlimited is definitely on the generous end, though I've heard of $65 and $75 per meal limits at some NYC firms (usually a limited total number amount spent or number of meals per week, however).

Even in week one of my SA, I'm stunned with how much the associates and partners eat during lunch. I always thought my firm's $75 lunch limit was just a way to attract law students, but on all three lunches I went to, the attorneys each wracked up bills near or at the limit.

It depends on your firm. It's not that fine of a line for my firm, because we are assigned work and the department has way too much work and probably not enough summers to do the work. Plus, nobody actually sees us stay late. There's not that much required face time at my firm. Nobody keeps track of when you arrive or leave. The only people who know when you arrive and leave are associates you befriend who sit near your office.

I stay late at the office because we are not allowed to take e-documents home with us. Otherwise, I would work from home.

Yeah... it's not that hard in NYC or DC; at least not at the places other attorneys in the office will be inviting you to.

You're a coward if you don't send that, and I'll be watching ATL to verify.

We had an entire portion of our training dedicated to the axiom: Whatever else you do, do not make above the law

Shameless thread necromancy for this summers batch of nervous incoming SAs? Lead us to the promised land ye wise holders of the sought after offers!

Great mental image.

Thanks for necromancing this thread! Bring on the knowledge!

1. Don't be weird
2. Don't be a douchebag
3. Don't make it obvious that you ultimately want to live in a city other than where you'll be working over the summer and/or that you're definitely going to follow your SO's career to wherever he/she lands a job
4. Be nice and friendly to everyone, and I mean EVERYONE, who works in your office including support staff
5. Do your very best, flawless work

Great thread, (minus the drinking derail).

Tagged for later

how careful do you have to be about this? unacceptable to have a facebook s/o that seems pretty situated in a different city?

Tagging -- this is helpful, thanks.

If your firm is like mine, it will do everything it can to get you to spill the beans about what your long-term plans are and where you want to live long-term.

+1

A lot of people mentioned drinking a beer while out. What about sipping on one mixed drink? Just curious because I'm gluten free and a lot of time gluten free beer isn't available.

Weirder to be the only one drinking hard alcohol among beer drinkers or to be the only one drinking soda among beer drinkers?

You must be real fun at parties.

(I posted this same comment in this same thread 11 months ago. Nothing changes.)

I don't drink beer. Not because I have a sissy digestive system or anything, but because it's for plebes. I was fine, and you will be too.

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Frankly, I'd be impressed. Don't make a show of it, just order a drink, and if its mentioned, just say "thats how I roll." My opinion is its weirder to be the pop drinker than the booze drinker.

But I'd leave out the why part, unless you work with people who take their medical advice from former playboy bunny Jenny McCarthy, or unless you have been diagnosed (self-diagnosis doesn't count) with celiac disease by a non-quack doctor.

any advice on how to answer a question regarding why your grades dropped during 2L?