Summer Associate Class of 2016 Forum

[barkschool]

Similarly, a partner I wanted to work for had some very harsh critiques of my painting at paint night. He said he was startled by the bold faced mix of shit-flinging atavism with faux-intellectual subversiveness. He asked how I could possibly expect to draft a UCC-1 with that attitude, and I didn't really have a good answer. When I suggested maybe going out for shots, tho, he seemed receptive, but I'm worried the damage is done. No offer?

I know this is a joke but I've actually gotten pulled into a partner's office and complimented on my grilling at a firm event, and the partner talked about how good cooks make good lawyers. No joke.

My least favorite poaster ITT

[PeanutsNJam]

that's nice honey

[Anonymous User]

When is the earliest firms will give out offers? I assumed a lot of firms do it the last day, some as late as weeks after the summer ends, but how early do some firms go?

[smaug]

When is the earliest firms will give out offers? I assumed a lot of firms do it the last day, some as late as weeks after the summer ends, but how early do some firms go?

If it's earlier it is normal as part of or before some big event on the last week.

[almondjoy]

New poll suggestion: How many Pokémon have you caught at your desk?

[SplitMyPants]

New poll suggestion: How many Pokémon have you caught at your desk?

I get spotty gps at my desk so my phone thinks I'm walking all around my block. I've hatched an egg sitting in my chair.

[Anonymous User]

Have y'all been getting much feedback since beginning of summer? My firm went ahead and skipped mid summer review and I don't think I've gotten any real feedback other than "good job" since mid June.

[El Pollito]

What do you do when you completely fucked up and bit off more than you can chew at work and have multiple deadlines in less than 24 hours and no way to complete everything in time and feel like you are going to cry

asking for a friend

ETA: this isn't a joke pls help

talk to your firm mentor

What? Talk to the people you owe work to and see if any of the deadlines are flexible. Not all deadlines are real.

[El Pollito]

Big partner at the firm is kinda known for being a hardass to summers and young associates (used to be famous for throwing shit at people, not allowed to do that anymore). He assigned all the summers this crazy assingment and most of them asked for an extension on the deadline (myself included). He gave us the extension, but then called us all into his office and yelled at us (this is unacceptable, when you have a deadline you get shit done, I'm not happy about giving you an extension, this is the quickest way to get no-offered etc etc). Whats the best course of action to mitigate this situation? I was thinking about pulling multiple all nighters and pushing all my other stuff back to make the deadline, does that seem like a good idea? My work products won't be as polished as it would be if I took the extension (which I think all the other summers are still planning to take), but I'd submit it on time and send the message that his talk really sinked in.

I'd probably do 3L OCI.

[lavarman84]

Big partner at the firm is kinda known for being a hardass to summers and young associates (used to be famous for throwing shit at people, not allowed to do that anymore). He assigned all the summers this crazy assingment and most of them asked for an extension on the deadline (myself included). He gave us the extension, but then called us all into his office and yelled at us (this is unacceptable, when you have a deadline you get shit done, I'm not happy about giving you an extension, this is the quickest way to get no-offered etc etc). Whats the best course of action to mitigate this situation? I was thinking about pulling multiple all nighters and pushing all my other stuff back to make the deadline, does that seem like a good idea? My work products won't be as polished as it would be if I took the extension (which I think all the other summers are still planning to take), but I'd submit it on time and send the message that his talk really sinked in.

Tell him to go fuck himself and then drop the mic and walk away.

Have y'all been getting much feedback since beginning of summer? My firm went ahead and skipped mid summer review and I don't think I've gotten any real feedback other than "good job" since mid June.

I've gotten some feedback but not a ton.

[Anonymous User]

Do we know any firms usually won't make offers on last day/exit interviews in NYC? Trying to figure out my summer firm coz apparently they have done both in the past years.

[Anonymous User]

Not in NYC, but also at a firm that doesn't make offers right at the end. They're a 100% firm and everyone has good feedback, but it's definitely some added stress. Is TCR just mass mail anyway?

[Anonymous User]

Not in NYC, but also at a firm that doesn't make offers right at the end. They're a 100% firm and everyone has good feedback, but it's definitely some added stress. Is TCR just mass mail anyway?

Similar here. At a firm that is close to 100%, but not there. Should I mass mail, or wait to find out on the offer? I'll find out in 2-3 weeks.

[El Pollito]

mass mail because you're a much better 3L candidate with an offer pending than with a no offer

[Anonymous User]

Presuming you have an offer, skipping OCI is a bad idea even if you like your firm. It's good to know what's out there, even if just to confirm that your firm is the right fit.

And if you don't have an offer yet, lol.

If you feel like your firm is the right fit, how are screeners and callbacks at different firms going to convince you otherwise? Spending two to three months at a firm is a lot better gauge of fit than spending a few hours with only some of a different firm's attorneys, and I would rather go with a known quantity than an unknown one. This, of course, assumes other aspects (type and quality of work, pay, location) are held constant/also desirable

It's dumb to forgo the opportunity to see what else is out there, no matter how good a fit you think your firm is (which you won't really know from being a 1L SA in any event).

Right but my question is how screeners and callbacks at other firms are the same as "seeing what's out there"? Just from my experiences interviewing for 1L SA jobs (which was admittedly limited), screeners and callbacks seem to give you little actual insight into what those firms are like. I think your point is valid if you are curious about practice areas not offered at your current firm, or if you like the idea of another firm's free market system, assignment system, etc., better than your own, but if these sorts of considerations aren't applicable, OCI seems like a huge waste of time and effort

Correct. Unless you had a serious problem with your 1L firm, skip OCI and take a vacation. I know plenty of people who slightly traded up from their 1L firm and most ended up leaving within 2 years. Don't do OCI, take a break and enjoy yourself. You should go back to your 1L firm though and try to negotiate something out of the situation. Ask to try a different office even if it's just for a vacation, ask or at least make your preference for a certain practice group known, etc.

Being a 1L and having an extra summer to meet people, figure out who the crazy partners are, figure out the best/worst groups etc is invaluable experience and SHOULD give you a bit of a leg up. Doing OCI is a waste of time unless you are serious about switching, and if you do switch, you give up the advantage of having an extra summer. Unless you didn't like your firm I would recommend against it actually. Law students have no clue what they are doing and more often than not they play themselves and end up switching to a firm that is worse for them.

[SplitMyPants]

^^^hides behind anon to give shitty advice

1L anon, definitely do OCI

[Anonymous User]

^^^hides behind anon to give shitty advice

1L anon, definitely do OCI

Same anon. I was a 1L, didn't do OCI, went back as a 2L and I am now an associate. Great decision for me, and I know 2 poeple in my 1L class who did OCI and switched firms. One has already left their new firm, and the other is less than thrilled with their new firm.

Like I said, if you don't like your firm, of course do OCI. But if there is nothing wrong with your firm... why do OCI and then switch to a firm you have not spent a summer at? If someone is even asking the question then it's clear they don't have a strong desire to do OCI. Take your offer, keep in touch with the people you liked at your firm, and then go on vacation. It worked out very very well for me so just offering at input from someone who has actually been through the whole process.

[pancakes3]

Like I said, if you don't like your firm, of course do OCI. But if there is nothing wrong with your firm... why do OCI and then switch to a firm you have not spent a summer at?

Better city
Better pay (base pay and bonuses)
Better practice group

This seems obvious.

[gk101]

^^^hides behind anon to give shitty advice

1L anon, definitely do OCI

[PeanutsNJam]

Yeah, since 1L hiring is much more competitive than 2L hiring, it stands to reason that you can get a much more desirable firm for your 2L summer than you could for your 1L summer (unless your spring grades dropped off a cliff). Obviously there are exceptions. If you're Miami or bust and have a 1L SA at Greenberg and are sure of an offer...... no, there are no exceptions. Still do OCI.

[Anonymous User]

Like I said, if you don't like your firm, of course do OCI. But if there is nothing wrong with your firm... why do OCI and then switch to a firm you have not spent a summer at?

Better city
Better pay (base pay and bonuses)
Better practice group

This seems obvious.

The first two are obviously big issues and if you want to change city or move to a market paying firm obviously do OCI. The third one you will likely have a better chance at your preferred practice group by just sticking at your firm making your preference known. If your current firm doesn't have the practice group at all, then again, of course do OCI. My point is that it's not always necessary and if there is nothing wrong with your firm then there is really no reason to "see whats out there". At best you will end up making a decision based on a few dinners and maybe 3-5 weeks of one summer, and from my experience, this is just as likely to end up hurting you as it will be to help you.

If you have a specific reason to do OCI then do it. If you do not, there is no point in just doing it because you can and to see what's out there.

[Anonymous User]

Is anyone else done this Friday? This summer has flown by

[Anonymous User]

Finished next week. I wont lie, im pretty stocked. Now im nervous about the offer stuff.

[Anonymous User]

Finished next week. I wont lie, im pretty stocked. Now im nervous about the offer stuff.

Oh same. My firm is mostly 100% offer, but has no offered a couple people in the past few years.

[xxLawSchoolIsHardxx]

Similarly, a partner I wanted to work for had some very harsh critiques of my painting at paint night. He said he was startled by the bold faced mix of shit-flinging atavism with faux-intellectual subversiveness. He asked how I could possibly expect to draft a UCC-1 with that attitude, and I didn't really have a good answer. When I suggested maybe going out for shots, tho, he seemed receptive, but I'm worried the damage is done. No offer?

I know this is a joke but I've actually gotten pulled into a partner's office and complimented on my grilling at a firm event, and the partner talked about how good cooks make good lawyers. No joke.

No one gives a shit about your grilling.