Lounge Lawyers Rate your Summer Associate Screw Ups Forum

[El Pollito]

A 5th year associate gave me a research assignment, after meeting me at a firm social event. She asked me to do a part of the research for a memo she has to write for an important new client, under heavy time pressure. I got the assignment on Wednesday, with a Friday deadline. I couldn't find much precedent, and the small amount I found was contrary to the conclusion the client wanted. Just found out today that the associate spent the weekend doing the research herself. She found amazing precedent, almost perfectly supporting the conclusion the client wanted, and she found quite a lot of it. The associate is highly respected, and in the group I want to work in.

A dude at my firm got no offered for this last summer. The associate the assignment was for was the managing partner's pet, and she told the managing partner that "she had no confidence in any work the summer associate did," so the managing partner lobbied hard for the no-offer. It's weird though, because I usually expect anything a summer does to be worthless make-work, and I just hope the summer can find some case that gets me on the right path.

That's messed up.

[Anonymous User]

Associate here - I give summers work regularly, I literally never rely on it, and I chuckle heartily any time they absolutely massively screw something up. Nobody was born knowing how to do this, and the practice of law - especially at a large firm - is all about starting with water wings until you develop skills, instincts, and knowledge to handle substantive things quickly and accurately.

So don't worry THAT much about a miss, even a substantive one - you want to avoid them, but you won't avoid them all, even as an (experienced) attorney.

[Anonymous User]

In the middle of telling a 10 minute story of how you met your SO, a mid-level associate interrupts you and says, "I feel like I'm playing Jeopardy trying to figure out what you're talking about." Also, responding to questions like "how's it going?" with unnecessary pontification.

[09042014]

In the middle of telling a 10 minute story of how you met your SO, a mid-level associate interrupts you and says, "I feel like I'm playing Jeopardy trying to figure out what you're talking about." Also, responding to questions like "how's it going?" with unnecessary pontification.

Offer IFF those are the only things. But those things lead me to believe you have assburgers and these are the tip of the iceburg.

[seespotrun]

In the middle of telling a 10 minute story of how you met your SO, a mid-level associate interrupts you and says, "I feel like I'm playing Jeopardy trying to figure out what you're talking about." Also, responding to questions like "how's it going?" with unnecessary pontification.

Dude, a ten minute story? That's absurd, but you're not going to get noffered for being long-winded.

[Anonymous User]

In the middle of telling a 10 minute story of how you met your SO, a mid-level associate interrupts you and says, "I feel like I'm playing Jeopardy trying to figure out what you're talking about." Also, responding to questions like "how's it going?" with unnecessary pontification.

Dude, a ten minute story? That's absurd, but you're not going to get noffered for being long-winded.

I can't make this up. I actually looked at my phone when the person started talking and when they stopped. It was awful

[Anonymous User]

Attempting to outsource your SA assignment through your law school's listserve

[Anonymous User]

/

[Holly Golightly]

Attempting to outsource your SA assignment through your law school's listserve

Would love to hear more details on this one.

[Anonymous User]

During midsummer review partner asks me where I see myself in the firm. I respond "partner." He responds by saying that he actually meant what practice group would I like to join.

[ymmv]

During midsummer review partner asks me where I see myself in the firm. I respond "partner." He responds by saying that he actually meant what practice group would I like to join.

That sounds adorably endearing.

[ditch digger]

Last summer, a partner asked whether I was interested in writing an appellate brief for one of his cases. I said that I was up for the task and asked for the deadline. The partner said that there is still some time because the appellant has not yet filed his brief, and that he will give me the details of the assignment later. About one week before the brief was due, the partner gave me the assignment and told me to not to spend more than 4 hours on the project.

The case was not too complex, but I spent the entire morning reviewing the file and becoming familiar with the applicable precedent and arguments made by both parties in the trial court. Noon rolls around, and the partner asked whether I was done. I explained that I needed more time and he gave me an additional hour. Basically, I was only able to complete the statement of facts and an outline of the argument that I was going to make if I had enough time to finish. I turned this into the partner, who seemed a bit pissed about my substandard work product.

In my opinion, I think that 4 hours is not nearly enough time to write a decent appellate brief. I'll leave that for you folks to decide.

[smaug_]

Cool story pls post more

[OutCold]

Last summer, a partner asked whether I was interested in writing an appellate brief for one of his cases. I said that I was up for the task and asked for the deadline. The partner said that there is still some time because the appellant has not yet filed his brief, and that he will give me the details of the assignment later. About one week before the brief was due, the partner gave me the assignment and told me to not to spend more than 4 hours on the project.

The case was not too complex, but I spent the entire morning reviewing the file and becoming familiar with the applicable precedent and arguments made by both parties in the trial court. Noon rolls around, and the partner asked whether I was done. I explained that I needed more time and he gave me an additional hour. Basically, I was only able to complete the statement of facts and an outline of the argument that I was going to make if I had enough time to finish. I turned this into the partner, who seemed a bit pissed about my substandard work product.

In my opinion, I think that 4 hours is not nearly enough time to write a decent appellate brief. I'll leave that for you folks to decide.

He didn't even give you the case beforehand? If you knew, you probably should have done the familiarizing ahead of time since you knew the assignment was in the pipeline. At the very least, you probably should have asked so you could take a look at it. Highly doubt it's a deal-breaker, though.

[rpupkin]

Last summer, a partner asked whether I was interested in writing an appellate brief for one of his cases. I said that I was up for the task and asked for the deadline. The partner said that there is still some time because the appellant has not yet filed his brief, and that he will give me the details of the assignment later. About one week before the brief was due, the partner gave me the assignment and told me to not to spend more than 4 hours on the project.

The case was not too complex, but I spent the entire morning reviewing the file and becoming familiar with the applicable precedent and arguments made by both parties in the trial court. Noon rolls around, and the partner asked whether I was done. I explained that I needed more time and he gave me an additional hour. Basically, I was only able to complete the statement of facts and an outline of the argument that I was going to make if I had enough time to finish. I turned this into the partner, who seemed a bit pissed about my substandard work product.

In my opinion, I think that 4 hours is not nearly enough time to write a decent appellate brief. I'll leave that for you folks to decide.

Weird. No one can draft an appellate brief in four hours. There must have been some miscommunication about the scope of the assignment.

[Anonymous User]

Given a research assignment and sent to write up an informal memo. Thought I made a great little memo with decent analogies to cases. Associate calls me into the office, says none of the cases are on point, they're all bad, and gives me six cases that are much better and says "This is not exhaustive." The cases are better. He also wants a full, formal memo. There is a soft deadline. I miss it by five days but find other cases that are directly on point. The deadline was given with the caveat that the memo would not be looked at for months.

On the flip side, I give candy out to everyone frequently when they come by my office. Does the goodwill of sweets outweigh the lack of expediency and detail?

[09042014]

Given a research assignment and sent to write up an informal memo. Thought I made a great little memo with decent analogies to cases. Associate calls me into the office, says none of the cases are on point, they're all bad, and gives me six cases that are much better and says "This is not exhaustive." The cases are better. He also wants a full, formal memo. There is a soft deadline. I miss it by five days but find other cases that are directly on point. The deadline was given with the caveat that the memo would not be looked at for months.

On the flip side, I give candy out to everyone frequently when they come by my office. Does the goodwill of sweets outweigh the lack of expediency and detail?

What does a soft deadline mean? Blowing a deadline by 5 days is PEPPER THIGH ANUS territory.

[NYSprague]

^^^^
The associate was helping you out. He's giving you a chance to redo bad work and handing you the cases.
I'm not calling this one but it looks like you passed up an opportunity here.

[Anonymous User]

Is it generally frowned upon to send things in at the last minute? I.e. someone assigned me something to do "by Thursday." I email it to them Thursday at 5:30. Bad?

Same question, but emailing it to them at like 8am the following morning? I know it is not good, but is this terrible? I did it twice. But once I emailed them the day before and gave them a good amount of material (for informal lit. memo,) and then my full memo at like 7:30-8 in the morning after working til about 6am or so.

[rpupkin]

Is it generally frowned upon to send things in at the last minute? I.e. someone assigned me something to do "by Thursday." I email it to them Thursday at 5:30. Bad?

No. It's generally fine to assume end of the business day.

Same question, but emailing it to them at like 8am the following morning? I know it is not good, but is this terrible? I did it twice. But once I emailed them the day before and gave them a good amount of material (for informal lit. memo,) and then my full memo at like 7:30-8 in the morning after working til about 6am or so.

Eh. You're not in "no offer" territory, but it's a bad habit to get into.

[scholarlyprance]

Confusing the name of one female minority partner with another (same ethnicity) in conversation with mentor.

(didn't actually happen)

[09042014]

Confusing the name of one female minority partner with another (same ethnicity) in conversation with mentor.

(didn't actually happen)

If mentor is white male. Offer.

[Danger Zone]

Confusing the name of one female minority partner with another (same ethnicity) in conversation with mentor.

(didn't actually happen)

If mentor is white male. Offer.

Don't you mean "if mentor isn't an asshole"

[Anonymous User]

Associate walked in on me drafting a cover letter to another firm (I'm a 1L). Don't know if she saw the firm name or even that it was a cover letter. She said I did an excellent job on my memo and left. The firm knows I'm applying to split next summer, but it was so embarrassing.

[Anonymous User]

Associate walked in on me drafting a cover letter to another firm (I'm a 1L). Don't know if she saw the firm name or even that it was a cover letter. She said I did an excellent job on my memo and left. The firm knows I'm applying to split next summer, but it was so embarrassing.

Fellow 1L here. This is why I do all my cover letter/applying out of the office.