How bad is 1L RA? Forum

[jessemllr]

I'm at a T50 southern school, top ten percent.

I really want to RA for this prof., who is well known in his field, and a reporter for a restatement. I have heard conflicting reports about firm's perceptions of RA for 1L summer.

How poorly is an RA position viewed at 2L OCI?

[stillwater]

I'm at a T50 southern school, top ten percent.

I really want to RA for this prof., who is well known in his field, and a reporter for a restatement. I have heard conflicting reports about firm's perceptions of RA for 1L summer.

How poorly is an RA position viewed at 2L OCI?

you might as well get a cushion for the iron seat youll be sitting on at doc review. RA position leaves you dead in the water. Why would you do such a thing???????








this is a totally fine summer job. 1L summer just means do something legal. upshot is youll get paid while most won't.

[OneMoreLawHopeful]

Stillwater is correct, I'm a 2L with similar stats (top 10%, UC Hastings), and I worked as an RA for a prof my 1L summer.

I had no problems at OCI, no one ever asked "Why were you an RA?", and most interviewers were happy to take the prof as a reference. I landed one of my top choices for this summer as a biglaw SA.

So don't worry, you'll be fine.

[lgcylwyr]

I plan on being an RA this summer (should be hearing back from a professor soon). Some of my friends who are 3Ls said it doesn't matter in the slightest for OCI. I hope they're right!

*Edit. Found a PI job that I liked better and took it. Still think the RA is good idea tho, might try to do it after the PI stuff is over or overlap the two.

[hds2388]

The one thing I would say is that RA positions are usually pretty flexible and can allow you to work another job. While it's not for everyone, the fact that I had RA'ed and worked for a federal judge gave me lots to talk about at OCI. So if you can manage the workload and it's alright with both employers, this is a nice option.

[lgcylwyr]

The one thing I would say is that RA positions are usually pretty flexible and can allow you to work another job. While it's not for everyone, the fact that I had RA'ed and worked for a federal judge gave me lots to talk about at OCI. So if you can manage the workload and it's alright with both employers, this is a nice option.

How did you manage the workload? Was it 9-5 with the judge and then evenings/weekends on RA stuff? Did you find this stressful/overwhelming?

[hds2388]

The one thing I would say is that RA positions are usually pretty flexible and can allow you to work another job. While it's not for everyone, the fact that I had RA'ed and worked for a federal judge gave me lots to talk about at OCI. So if you can manage the workload and it's alright with both employers, this is a nice option.

How did you manage the workload? Was it 9-5 with the judge and then evenings/weekends on RA stuff? Did you find this stressful/overwhelming?

I worked for my judge from 9 to 6 and then put in a few hours each night and a few on the weekend (totally, probably 10/wk). I worked for the judge for 7 weeks and then worked the rest of the summer (or about 4 more weeks) full time. Professors are pretty flexible with their RA time/schedule in my experience. So, in the end: it was a busy, but rewarding summer. I'm glad I did both. I seldom felt overwhelmed. I would do it again.