Top Law Schools

3rdYrLitigator wrote:

Renzo wrote:Tips for being a successful SA?

Generic stuff, always make sure you understand your assignment, how long you're expected to take, when it's needed, and what format it should be in. You'd be surprised how often summers (and junior associates) don't do this and miss something.

Also, even if the requesting partner/attorney asks for something fairly informal, make sure you keep track of your research trail, all the cases you reviewed, and put it in a decent format.

Renzo wrote:

3rdYrLitigator wrote:

Renzo wrote:Tips for being a successful SA?

Generic stuff, always make sure you understand your assignment, how long you're expected to take, when it's needed, and what format it should be in. You'd be surprised how often summers (and junior associates) don't do this and miss something.

Also, even if the requesting partner/attorney asks for something fairly informal, make sure you keep track of your research trail, all the cases you reviewed, and put it in a decent format.

Is your firm an open-market type, or a more formal assignment system for noobs? Any advice on making contacts to get work as a SA/first year?

3rdYrLitigator wrote:

Renzo wrote:

3rdYrLitigator wrote:

Renzo wrote:Tips for being a successful SA?

Generic stuff, always make sure you understand your assignment, how long you're expected to take, when it's needed, and what format it should be in. You'd be surprised how often summers (and junior associates) don't do this and miss something.

Also, even if the requesting partner/attorney asks for something fairly informal, make sure you keep track of your research trail, all the cases you reviewed, and put it in a decent format.

Is your firm an open-market type, or a more formal assignment system for noobs? Any advice on making contacts to get work as a SA/first year?

Open market. As much as I thought that those meet and greets 1Ls get invited to were worthless when I was going through law school, it can help. Even if you don't get a 1L SA job, they keep track of everyone who comes through and partners do keep track of people they meet at those things.

Renzo wrote: Sorry, I should be clearer. I have a 2L gig coming up; I meant internal office connections of the sort that might lead to permanent offer, mentoring opportunities, getting hours, etc.

Anonymous User wrote:Any advice for a T3 student (top3%, LR) who landed a SA position at a V20 about shedding my school's reputation? I am concerned that I will be treated differently/have the deck stacked against me with respect to assignments, projects, etc.

Anonymous User wrote:Do you foresee the 2010 summer class, or now the 2011 summer class, still facing the possibility of deferrals or high no offer rates (for this summer's class)?

Anonymous User wrote:Any advice for a T3 student (top3%, LR) who landed a SA position at a V20 about shedding my school's reputation? I am concerned that I will be treated differently/have the deck stacked against me with respect to assignments, projects, etc.

Anonymous User wrote:Easier to smile when you dont have loans...

Curry wrote:Thanks for all the awesome info!

Anonymous User wrote:Should I be deterred from pursuing litigation if I don't have any courtroom experience and don't think I have the strongest public-speaking skills? I don't get nervous at all when I speak in front of people, but I don't think I come off as particularly eloquent.

I realize most biglaw litigation work is paperwork, but should I still be dissuaded?

LoyalRebel wrote:Just FYI...

OP, if you're posting this from work there's a good chance the IT people at your firm will read some of what you've written. I'd consider what you want your employer to know before you post it.

Just helping out.

Anonymous User wrote:So I accepted a summer job with a firm in my Secondary market. (1L) Now that I'm getting closer I realize I really, really, really don't want to work there long term.

What would you say the etiquette to telling this firm that I wanted to back out of the job?

I'd be taking a Research Assistant position in its place.

quakeroats wrote:On average, how many hours do you work per week? If you can, include in this all hours that can be described as work, i.e., from the office, at home, reading work related email, everything.

I apologize if this has already been asked, but I saw you answered a similar question and I wanted clarification.

3rdYrLitigator wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:So I accepted a summer job with a firm in my Secondary market. (1L) Now that I'm getting closer I realize I really, really, really don't want to work there long term.

What would you say the etiquette to telling this firm that I wanted to back out of the job?

I'd be taking a Research Assistant position in its place.

My advice would be to suck it up and just do it. You're a 1L, who cares if you want to work there long term? Working at a firm will look better than being an RA for OCI. If there's some other reason why you don't want to work there, well just be prepared for that to follow you around if you want to work at even another firm in that secondary market. The legal practice can be a small world in many ways and I wouldn't burn bridges like that without a really good reason, besides just not wanting to work there.