To PKSebban, or another associate working in biglaw:

Can you give an example of how your billable record looks for a given day (or half day)?

A little perspective will go a long way.

As a senior associate at a large law firm, I think that I could offer some advice on how to be successful in receiving an offer at the end of your summer associate position.

1) Always have a positive attitude. I can't tell you how many summers I've seen ruin their chance at receiving an offer by having a negative attitude. There was one summer recently where a very significant number of our summer associates did not receive an offer for this reason.
2) Never hesitate to work on pro bono matters. For one thing, many of the partners that you will be working for enrolled in law school because they wanted to effect great change in their communities. Furthermore, many of the people who need legal representation the most are those who will be the least able to afford it.
3) When you have work, do it at the office. Make it look like you actually enjoy being where you work instead of sneaking off to do it from home.
4) Don't make lawyer jokes, ever. They reflect poorly on the profession, and law firm partners rarely find them funny.
5) Say "thank you" when you receive an assignment. Say "please." Open the door for people. Be nice to the paralegals and the secretaries. You will come to rely on other people greatly during your time at a law firm.

When in doubt, remain absolutely silent.

When asked about your past, give vague, open-ended answers.

Have a great name.

Look fantastic in a suit.

Look fantastic in casual wear.

Look fantastic in anything.

Sound good.

Smell good.

Kiss good.

Strut around with supreme confidence.

Be uncannily successful at your job.

Blow people away every time you say anything.

Take six-hour lunches.

Disappear for weeks at a time.

Lie to everyone about everything.

Drink and smoke constantly.


Your friend,

-DD

Anyway, to respond to anyone still worrying about the drinking issue.

I was the last anony to actually give 5 tips.

This is absolutely true. I have no idea what firm would force you to drink or play golf but thank god it's not mine. I didn't drink at several summer events (in fact, I only went to about 2/3 of them as a 2L because I was either staying late in the office billing or just couldn't make it) nor did I play golf or do any other kind of ridiculous wannabe madmen bullshit - fyi, absolutely nobody cares about that shit if you can't do the work. I still got an offer and got to work on interesting deals with both partner and client exposure. Why? All that matters is whether or not you're going to bill enough to make partners money. You're generally too inexperienced for them to even judge you on ability or potential as a summer. They're not hiring you as a partner, they're hiring you as a junior associate and junior associates are profitable because they are billing machines as opposed to offering high level value-adding advice on deals. You bill a ton as a summer and you'll be golden as long as: 1) you aren't so socially messed up that people just can't stand being around you, and, 2) you're capable of doing boring, menial tasks while paying tons of attention to detail (hence my advice to follow up quickly, do things on time, ask enough questions to understand what your assignment is, keep people informed, and double or triple check everything you send to anybody).

there are a shitload of summers in my class that are vegetarians. way more annoying than non-drinkers, because teetotaling doesn't deprive me of my rightful steakhouse. assholes.

Holy cow I found this thread so interesting and at times entertaining that I had to start a TLS account and pose a couple related questions:

What is to be expected for a SA's first day of work (or the first couple of days, for that matter)? Is is mainly just introductions, meeting people, and learning the lay of the land? I am a 2L starting as a SA for a large DC firm next week and have no idea what to expect from a private firm (I worked in-house for an investment bank last summer.) Though I've been given a (lengthy) list of prospective social events, I know nothing other than to be there at 8:30am on Tuesday and ask for John Doe.

Seriously folks, thanks for all the great information!

Hey thanks anony.

I'm sure this has already been addressed somewhere in the annals of TLS, but I start 2L SA tomorrow and I'm often grappling with the seeming paradox of on one hand being eager to work hard/stay late but on other, not coming off as a jackass brown nose/gunner. It seems to be a really fine line.

I really like the work I'll be doing, and since I just moved some 500 miles from MA to DC (and have like one friend here) I would be totally cool with working into the evenings. I would really appreciate any practical advice based on prior experience, preferably in larger private firms (only if there is a difference between small, large, gov't jobs in this regard). Oh what the hell, even if not based on prior experience, I am all ears to logical ideas.

When should you apply for a 1L summer associate position? As in, how do you balance no grades with applying early?

When should you apply for a 1L summer associate position? As in, how do you balance no grades with applying early?

I am shocked that some of you have to actually work late at your firms.

I know a lot of people who put in extra hours the first week. I think it's a combination of a steep learning curve (piecing together how file systems work, wtf a memo is, learning how much work is expected on any given assignment, etc.) with a desire to really knock it out of the park - or at least not look like an idiot - on the first assignment. My guess is it will become more rare as people grow more efficient and aware of the expectations. I only know a small handful of firms with a reputation for demanding huge hours out of their summer class.

I know a lot of people who put in extra hours the first week. I think it's a combination of a steep learning curve (piecing together how file systems work, wtf a memo is, learning how much work is expected on any given assignment, etc.) with a desire to really knock it out of the park - or at least not look like an idiot - on the first assignment. My guess is it will become more rare as people grow more efficient and aware of the expectations. I only know a small handful of firms with a reputation for demanding huge hours out of their summer class.