Big firm associate working with a team of summers; AMA. Forum

[Anonymous User]

Shoot.

[Jimbo_Jones]

What separates the good SAs from the bad ones?

[Anonymous User]

What separates the good SAs from the bad ones?

Enthusiasm helps a lot. I don't expect them to know anything, to have time to learn anything, to stay late, or to care. But if they gripe, or don't seem to have at least some interest in learning, it can be kind of a buzz kill.

Something some don't realize is that while they get to pick and choose firms/lunch dates/practice groups, I do what I do, theoretically forever. They don't have to love it, but it's still not going to win them any points to talk about how they hate/couldn't see themselves doing my job.

[Cade McNown]

If a SA is doing a longer-term (2+ week) assignment for you, how often should he/she give you progress reports.

[Anonymous User]

If a SA is doing a longer-term (2+ week) assignment for you, how often should he/she give you progress reports.

I could care less. I didn't give them anything I couldn't do myself from start to finish between when I asked for it and when it actually needs to be done, if it needs to be done at all.

On the flip side, occasional check-ins with intelligent questions are reassuring because it fills me with the naive hope that I might not have to do the work I gave them from scratch after I get it.

Of course, all of this assumes the work I gave them actually has to be done, which maybe isn't always true.

[Anonymous User]

have you ever contributed to the no-offering of a summer associate and why

[jrsbaseball5]

In general or specific terms, what do you expect out of the SA's that you work with?

[Anonymous User]

have you ever contributed to the no-offering of a summer associate and why

I cover for my summers. Our recruiter flat out asked me about a potential screw up / attitude issue with one, and I smoothed it over. Not my job to make this environment any more stressful or competitive unless somebody truly screws the pooch.

In general or specific terms, what do you expect out of the SA's that you work with?

Enthusiasm, signs of thinking, timeliness, and a lack of sloppiness. I want it to be obvious that you put in effort, did your best to do so while hitting the deadline, and engaged with the project even though you aren't likely to have the experience to do it properly or efficiently (yet).

For the most part, everyone meets or exceeds those standards.

[6lehderjets]

Thanks for doing this. Do you notice any difference in the work quality between the SAs who have prior substantive (legal or non-legal) work experience opposed to K-JDs SAs?

[Anonymous User]

Thanks for doing this. Do you notice any difference in the work quality between the SAs who have prior substantive (legal or non-legal) work experience opposed to K-JDs SAs?

Sort of. I definitely notice when somebody has years of relevant experience, but I'm younger myself so I also notice and appreciate people closer to my age on a personal level. What you bring from your background will always pale in comparison to what you learn on the job, at least doing what I do though.

[Myself]

.

[Anonymous User]

Have you ever had SAs older than you? How was that? Different in any way?

Do you ever prejudge SAs based on what school they go to?

Can you tell the difference between SAs that might have gone to a TTT school vs. a T10 school? Any correlation between school rank and quality of SA?

Any funny stories?

Thanks.

The crappier the school, the more uniformly high quality. I work at a firm on the "prestigious" end of the scale, and our hiring is heavily concentrated at top schools or the absolute top of the class at other schools.

There are some students from top schools (read: Yale) who clearly have their heads in academic or other clouds, but (rightly) assume they can enjoy an awesome, highly-compensated summer. Generally they're smart and neurotic enough that they aren't doing awful work, but they don't have the same "I must get this job" fervor that the #1 student from the local TT/TTT does.

And for the record, there's no discernible difference in intelligence or talent - just commitment to the summer cause.

I'm not saying it's good or required to give 110% all summer, just that the person from a T100 school is, on average, more likely to than the person from HYS.

[Peyton]

The crappier the school, the more uniformly high quality. I work at a firm on the "prestigious" end of the scale...

That post was absolutely ridiculous.

Unfortunately, posters pretending to be “V-whatever Associates” are not a rarity. Yesterday Dailygrind banned a bogus poster for pulling everyone’s chain. Given your idiotic post, I wouldn’t be surprised if you are that same poster going anonymous.

Please do not come back and claim you “really are” an associate at a firm. It would be way too laughable.

[Danger Zone]

The crappier the school, the more uniformly high quality. I work at a firm on the "prestigious" end of the scale...

That post was absolutely ridiculous.

Unfortunately, posters pretending to be “V-whatever Associates” are not a rarity. Yesterday Dailygrind banned a bogus poster for pulling everyone’s chain. Given your idiotic post, I wouldn’t be surprised if you are that same poster going anonymous.

Please do not come back and claim you “really are” an associate at a firm. It would be way too laughable.

Smart kids at shitty schools? MADNESS.

[Anonymous User]

Have you ever had SAs older than you? How was that? Different in any way?.

I have one who won't shut the fuck up about what a baby I am/everyone else and how old and experienced she is. She's fucking 28, mind you.

[ragelion]

Have you ever had SAs older than you? How was that? Different in any way?.

I have one who won't shut the fuck up about what a baby I am/everyone else and how old and experienced she is. She's fucking 28, mind you.

Meant to not post this anon.

[ragelion]

The crappier the school, the more uniformly high quality. I work at a firm on the "prestigious" end of the scale...

That post was absolutely ridiculous.

Unfortunately, posters pretending to be “V-whatever Associates” are not a rarity. Yesterday Dailygrind banned a bogus poster for pulling everyone’s chain. Given your idiotic post, I wouldn’t be surprised if you are that same poster going anonymous.

Please do not come back and claim you “really are” an associate at a firm. It would be way too laughable.

LOL at this.

[Peyton]

I am on the Supreme Court and I remember my days of supervising SAs. There was this one who always turned my head.

Ohhhh no, I meant to post as anonymous.

[Danger Zone]

I am on the Supreme Court and I remember my days of supervising SAs. There was this one who always turned my head.

Ohhhh no, I meant to post as anonymous.

Please explain what was so unbelievable about kids at TTs being in the fights of their lives to cling to a job.

[Peyton]

Please explain what was so unbelievable about kids at TTs being in the fights of their lives to cling to a job.

First, that is not what was said. So you do not have to figure out how to scroll up, here is what was written.

The crappier the school, the more uniformly high quality.

If this is true then TTT/Cooley will all have a terrific new advertising slogan.

[Danger Zone]

Please explain what was so unbelievable about kids at TTs being in the fights of their lives to cling to a job.

First, that is not what was said. So you do not have to figure out how to scroll up, here is what was written.

The crappier the school, the more uniformly high quality.

If this is true then TTT/Cooley will all have a terrific new advertising slogan.

Except he meant students at his firm, which only hires the very top of the class from the "TTT/Cooley."

[A. Nony Mouse]

Please explain what was so unbelievable about kids at TTs being in the fights of their lives to cling to a job.

First, that is not what was said. So you do not have to figure out how to scroll up, here is what was written.

The crappier the school, the more uniformly high quality.

If this is true then TTT/Cooley will all have a terrific new advertising slogan.

Dude, there's nothing remotely unbelievable about this statement (whether the OP is real or not, I have no idea). The point was that the crappier the school, the more uniformly high quality the work of the SAs at his/her firm, not the students from that school overall. The firm doubtless hires a tiny percentage of students from such schools, and there's nothing especially controversial in the idea that the top 1-5% of students at a crappy school can excel anywhere. Plus, given the firm is at the "prestigious" end of the scale, I highly doubt "crappy" in this context really means Cooley. It probably means Fordham.

ETA: And yes, yes, yes, someone will probably point out that it's the non-T14 people making these arguments. Doesn't make them wrong.

[Peyton]

There's nothing remotely unbelievable about this statement (whether the OP is real or not, I have no idea).... I highly doubt "crappy" in this context really means Cooley. It probably means Fordham.

I suppose their advertising campaign will now have to read. The crappier the school, the more uniformly high quality. If you are at the top of your class, unless you attend Fordham.

Seriously, I am not doubting any SA/student that attends whatever school, but the poster (IMO) is as bogus as the one Dailygrind booted yesterday.

[Danger Zone]

There's nothing remotely unbelievable about this statement (whether the OP is real or not, I have no idea).... I highly doubt "crappy" in this context really means Cooley. It probably means Fordham.

I suppose their advertising campaign will now have to read. The crappier the school, the more uniformly high quality. If you are at the top of your class, unless you attend Fordham.

Seriously, I am not doubting any SA/student that attends whatever school, but the poster (IMO) is as bogus as the one Dailygrind booted yesterday.

But your reason for believing the poster is bogus is asinine, which is why we are all laughing at you.

[nucky thompson]

There's nothing remotely unbelievable about this statement (whether the OP is real or not, I have no idea).... I highly doubt "crappy" in this context really means Cooley. It probably means Fordham.

I suppose their advertising campaign will now have to read. The crappier the school, the more uniformly high quality. If you are at the top of your class, unless you attend Fordham.

Seriously, I am not doubting any SA/student that attends whatever school, but the poster (IMO) is as bogus as the one Dailygrind booted yesterday.

hey sherlock, how about you just GTFO of this thread? the guy may be fake, but other posters dont need you vetting any source they use to gather information