ITT: Summer Associates Post About Their Anxiety (2012) Forum

[Anonymous User]

Any cool arrival gifts?

Kindle Fire and bag of firm goodies

Umbrella and terrorist protection gear (flashlight, breathing mask, etc)

CGSH?

[Anonymous User]

What is an appropriate time to leave the office as a summer associate ?

Probably okay to leave now. Getting pretty late.

We were told 930 - 530. Two days in, and I (along with most others) get in around 9ish and leave no earlier than 6. This is NYC biglaw. Of course, this assumes you have no pressing work, in which case all bets are off.

I will note that the office is pretty empty at 9. Most full-time employees (non-staff) roll in between 930 - 10.

[Anonymous User]

What is an appropriate time to leave the office as a summer associate ?

Also, what is an appropriate time to arrive in the morning?

I'm a 3L who worked in DC last summer (and will be returning to my firm in the fall). I got in around 9:15-9:30 every morning, made coffee and puttered around on the internet/emails until 10am when I actually started working. I was out by 6-7 most nights. I will say that I'm very, very efficient when I actually get to work. There were 2-3 days during the summer I got in super early (7am) and/or stayed late (8pm+) to finish up projects, but every time I stayed late I would have multiple attorneys come by my office and tell me to leave because nothing I was doing was that important to justify staying past 7pm.

Don't stress out about staying late to look busy. Do you work and if you're done at 6, leave; if you need to stay until 9 to finish a project due the next morning, stay until 9. Sitting around on cnn/ATL/tls is just a waste of your time if you have nothing left to do. Most attorneys will think you're a crazy gunner or really inefficient if you're consistently staying super late anyways. Its the summer. Enjoy it. Chill out. You will (probably) get an offer as long as you do the work competently and turn it in on time.

[r6_philly]

What is an appropriate time to leave the office as a summer associate ?

Also, what is an appropriate time to arrive in the morning?

It's been two days but I have been in earlier than most attorneys. They gave us a "billable" hours target, so I try to stay around and do enough training. I imagine things will change once I get actual assignments because I would spend as much time as I need making sure I do a decent job.

[Anonymous User]

When writing a memo, or analyzing an issue, do practitioners use IRAC? or what method do they usually use?

[Anonymous User]

What is an appropriate time to leave the office as a summer associate ?

Also, what is an appropriate time to arrive in the morning?

It's been two days but I have been in earlier than most attorneys. They gave us a "billable" hours target, so I try to stay around and do enough training. I imagine things will change once I get actual assignments because I would spend as much time as I need making sure I do a decent job.

I asked this of my immediate supervisor and they didn't seem to really care. I found the firms "business hours" located in the recess of a handbook so I figure I'll take those as a minimum.

[Anonymous User]

Also, what is an appropriate time to arrive in the morning?

I asked this of my immediate supervisor and they didn't seem to really mind me being there whenever. I found the firms "business hours" located in the recess of a handbook so I figure I'll take those as a minimum.

Just as an aside, is mine the only firm that starts at 8?

[bk1]

Any cool arrival gifts?

Kindle Fire and bag of firm goodies

Even though a Kindle Fire is small in comparison to even a week of SA pay, that is pretty cool.

[Anonymous User]

I somehow got stuck with 2 fellow SA's who are gunners. Office hours are 8-5, they are there 730-530 with no work to do. Lunch break from 12-1, they don't take. Absolutely no talking in our cubicle area. Insane.

[wiseowl]

You guys be sure to enjoy the best summer of your lives, because that's what this will be.

Meanwhile, I have 500 or so hours of Barbri ahead of me

[Big Shrimpin]

You guys be sure to enjoy the best summer of your lives, because that's what this will be.

Meanwhile, I have 500 or so hours of Barbri ahead of me

This.

Also, bummer to the poaster with gunner SA-mates. Gunners take all the fun out of the summer.

[Ludo!]

I somehow got stuck with 2 fellow SA's who are gunners. Office hours are 8-5, they are there 730-530 with no work to do. Lunch break from 12-1, they don't take. Absolutely no talking in our cubicle area. Insane.

This would be the worst. Who doesn't take their lunch break?? I haven't started yet but from what I gathered during interviews we are encouraged at my firm to go to lunch with associates over the summer.

[rad lulz]

I somehow got stuck with 2 fellow SA's who are gunners. Office hours are 8-5, they are there 730-530 with no work to do. Lunch break from 12-1, they don't take. Absolutely no talking in our cubicle area. Insane.

This would be the worst. Who doesn't take their lunch break?? I haven't started yet but from what I gathered during interviews we are encouraged at my firm to go to lunch with associates over the summer.

This. People at my firm have been no offered for NOT being social and trying to do lunches.

Also I had yet another dream about screwing up just now.

[traehekat]

I somehow got stuck with 2 fellow SA's who are gunners. Office hours are 8-5, they are there 730-530 with no work to do. Lunch break from 12-1, they don't take. Absolutely no talking in our cubicle area. Insane.

This would be the worst. Who doesn't take their lunch break?? I haven't started yet but from what I gathered during interviews we are encouraged at my firm to go to lunch with associates over the summer.

This. People at my firm have been no offered for NOT being social and trying to do lunches.

Also I had yet another dream about screwing up just now.

Yeah, I was going to say the same thing. Maybe they'll loosen up, could just be a case of extreme nerves or something.

[5ky]

It doesn't seem like a major market, considering the 8am start time and few SAs, and so maybe there is not a real lunch program, but I agree that behavior is a bit odd.

[DreamsInDigital]

Not quite a big law SA, but I'm working at a tiny firm this summer doing labor law. Extremely excited, but also worried because they don't ever take 1Ls (this summer it is going to be me and a 2L), and I'm worried I'm going to be totally unprepared.

Any advice on how to make sure I don't screw it up?

[r6_philly]

Not quite a big law SA, but I'm working at a tiny firm this summer doing labor law. Extremely excited, but also worried because they don't ever take 1Ls (this summer it is going to be me and a 2L), and I'm worried I'm going to be totally unprepared.

Any advice on how to make sure I don't screw it up?

Make sure you ask question from day one about anything you don't understand. The attorneys may understand that you know nothing, but you have to remind them what you don't know. Don't take the assignment not understanding thoroughly how you are supposed to do it.

[Anonymous User]

Is anyone else worried about the potential collapse of Greece/Eurozone affecting offer rates this summer? It seems like things are getting worse and have the potential to spill over into the U.S. economy if things really go downhill.

[r6_philly]

Is anyone else worried about the potential collapse of Greece/Eurozone affecting offer rates this summer? It seems like things are getting worse and have the potential to spill over into the U.S. economy if things really go downhill.

I don't think firms are that reactionary in the short term. They may have overreacted during the down years and now are a little shorthanded due to latency. I feel that firms are fairly (from what I see) conservation with this year's classes so I don't know if they offer rate will be very low. I mean they could have just kept the class small and be more selective. I don't know if it benefits anyone by keeping offer rates low.

[Veyron]

I don't think firms are that reactionary in the short term.

(It is 2007).

[Reprisal]

When writing a memo, or analyzing an issue, do practitioners use IRAC? or what method do they usually use?

CRACC

Conclucion, Rule with string cites and parentheticals containing summary Analysis, Conclusion with Caveats

[Veyron]

When writing a memo, or analyzing an issue, do practitioners use IRAC? or what method do they usually use?

CRACC

Conclucion, Rule with string cites and parentheticals containing summary Analysis, Conclusion with Caveats

Dunno man, I've seen quite a bit of CRA or even CA (when there is no clear rule) - especially for interoffice stuff. CRAC is redundant and practitioners tend not to have time for that shit.

[hallet]

Did everyone get a start date email, such as what time to be there and other specific work stuff? I got my offer and other informational questions, but I still haven't heard anything about starting time and I start on Monday.

[Reprisal]

Dunno man, I've seen quite a bit of CRA or even CA (when there is no clear rule) - especially for interoffice stuff. CRAC is redundant and practitioners tend not to have time for that shit.

Agreed. CC is only if there are CCs. Otherwise just CRA that shit.

[Dany]

Not quite a big law SA, but I'm working at a tiny firm this summer doing labor law. Extremely excited, but also worried because they don't ever take 1Ls (this summer it is going to be me and a 2L), and I'm worried I'm going to be totally unprepared.

Any advice on how to make sure I don't screw it up?

Sort of the same here. Small-medium sized firm and I'm freaking out because I don't know how to do... well, anything. Had training today but it was just showing me around the firm (and my office ) and teaching me how to use the firm software and documents and stuff. And re-learning how to use Windows. I start in a couple weeks.