1L Summer acceptance regret Forum

[Anonymous User]

Beyond the moral component, if I found out about this, I would be a bit skeptical of your judgment. If you really needed that summer associate job, why were you doing US attorney office interviews? If you didn't need it, why did you risk people pissing people off just to get a slight (or no) advantage?

OP here. I applied to all the firms on December 1 and applied to a ton of other jobs over winter break b/c I know getting a 1L SA is pretty unlikely. I interviewed with USAO over break and just heard back from firm today. Hope that clears it up.

[Anonymous User]

OP here. Just thought of something else that I think could be important. If I do want to do a fed. clerkship down the line, wouldn't it be a bad idea to burn bridges at my school over this? If my school found out that I reneged on an offer might they not be as willing to go to bat for me in the future?

[enibs]

There really is no concept of the "right thing" here. Peoples circumstances change. It happens, employers are used to it.
We are talking about the USAO here, not some Mom and Pop operation that is going to fold if OP doesn't show up to intern for them for free.
I just hope people understand that employers are going to expect you to watch out for your own career. No one else will be.
OP should probably stay with the USAO because it might be the best move for his career, though if he was commited I'm not sure why he applied to firm jobs in the first place? But that is the reason OP should stay. If the USAO was worse for his career than I would say go to the other job if you can get it.

I know people have a tremendous ability to rationalize when it's in their self-interest, but there really is a concept of the "right thing" here. No one forced the OP to accept an offer at the USAO. But he/she did so and now wants to be ratified in reneging if he/she gets a better offer. And many on this thread are obliging.

As I said, personally I'd stick with the USAO. But if OP wants to explore the possible SA offer, he/she should be honest with everyone involved. First, tell the firm that he/she has accepted an offer with the USAO, but is very interested in the firm and wants to interview. And that if the firm were to give him/her an offer, he/she would then ask the USAO for permission to withdraw from their summer program. If the firm is willing to interview him/her on this basis, and if he/she gets an offer, and if the USAO says they're okay with him/her withdrawing from their program, then I think it would be fine to take the SA offer. But not being up front with the firm about it and/or just reneging on the offer that OP accepted with the USAO is not right.

[Anonymous User]

I know people have a tremendous ability to rationalize when it's in their self-interest, but there really is a concept of the "right thing" here. No one forced the OP to accept an offer at the USAO. But he/she did so and now wants to be ratified in reneging if he/she gets a better offer. And many on this thread are obliging.

OP here. I think you have made some really good points. I agree that I may be attempting to rationalize something which I feel like I know I shouldn't do. At this point I am leaning towards just going with USAO after thinking it through some more/talking with people/reading this thread. I think the USAO job would be great experience and it might not be worth it to burn bridges for the SA.

[Hikikomorist]

I'd be really scandalized by this (1L, though). They've already gone through the background check. They've invested in you working there. "I can get a better offer" is not a good reason to break your word, unless it's truly necessary.

Practically, if you're competitive for a 1L SA you'll be competitive for 2L. So it's not some kind of career move that you can't say no to.

People saying the offices they reneged on "didn't mind" don't have a lot of weight. No one is going to send you a nasty email even if they are pissed.

How much them being pissed matters, I don't know. Some legal communities are much smaller than you think. But I don't have much information on how this is perceived, except the person in this thread who works in BigLaw who says he thinks it's really shabby.

Beyond the moral component, if I found out about this, I would be a bit skeptical of your judgment. If you really needed that summer associate job, why were you doing US attorney office interviews? If you didn't need it, why did you risk people pissing people off just to get a slight (or no) advantage?

Seriously?

[landshoes]

Beyond the moral component, if I found out about this, I would be a bit skeptical of your judgment. If you really needed that summer associate job, why were you doing US attorney office interviews? If you didn't need it, why did you risk people pissing people off just to get a slight (or no) advantage?

OP here. I applied to all the firms on December 1 and applied to a ton of other jobs over winter break b/c I know getting a 1L SA is pretty unlikely. I interviewed with USAO over break and just heard back from firm today. Hope that clears it up.

Yeah, but these are the questions people are going to consider when they hear about this, and you might not get a chance to answer. For at least some people, this would be an auto-ding. Especially since it's such a small benefit. You don't even have the excuse of a genuinely difficult dilemma. It's just "this is slightly better for my career." The message it sends is that a minor, speculative benefit is all it takes for you to go back on a commitment.

Think about your entire career. You're building your network right now. You want it to be a network that thinks highly of you and that is willing to wholeheartedly recommend you for jobs. Knowing that you'll keep your word, and that you won't embarrass them by flaking on a commitment, is a huge part of them being willing to recommend you.

[landshoes]

I'd be really scandalized by this (1L, though). They've already gone through the background check. They've invested in you working there. "I can get a better offer" is not a good reason to break your word, unless it's truly necessary.

Practically, if you're competitive for a 1L SA you'll be competitive for 2L. So it's not some kind of career move that you can't say no to.

People saying the offices they reneged on "didn't mind" don't have a lot of weight. No one is going to send you a nasty email even if they are pissed.

How much them being pissed matters, I don't know. Some legal communities are much smaller than you think. But I don't have much information on how this is perceived, except the person in this thread who works in BigLaw who says he thinks it's really shabby.

Beyond the moral component, if I found out about this, I would be a bit skeptical of your judgment. If you really needed that summer associate job, why were you doing US attorney office interviews? If you didn't need it, why did you risk people pissing people off just to get a slight (or no) advantage?

Seriously?

pretend like I said "accept a USAO position before firms even really started hiring"

[Anonymous User]

Yeah, but these are the questions people are going to consider when they hear about this, and you might not get a chance to answer. For at least some people, this would be an auto-ding. Especially since it's such a small benefit. You don't even have the excuse of a genuinely difficult dilemma. It's just "this is slightly better for my career." The message it sends is that a minor, speculative benefit is all it takes for you to go back on a commitment.

Think about your entire career. You're building your network right now. You want it to be a network that thinks highly of you and that is willing to wholeheartedly recommend you for jobs. Knowing that you'll keep your word, and that you won't embarrass them by flaking on a commitment, is a huge part of them being willing to recommend you.

OP here. Good points. Thanks for your input!

[jrass]

Definitely do the interview. It's like if you're married, and somebody really hot comes along. Your spouse would understand, and support you. USAO will back you 100% on this, and you shouldn't worry for a minute.

[landshoes]

I understand the regret -- I accepted something before I got grades and knew how competitive I might be for an SA or for other jobs. The way we have to do the 1L job search really sucks. Good luck to you this summer and in the future.

[Tiago Splitter]

Take the USAO job if you'd prefer the USAO job. Otherwise, renege.

[Tls2016]

Definitely do the interview. It's like if you're married, and somebody really hot comes along. Your spouse would understand, and support you. USAO will back you 100% on this, and you shouldn't worry for a minute.

Yes, a job offer to work as a free volunteer for a few summer weeks is identical to being married.

[jrass]

Definitely do the interview. It's like if you're married, and somebody really hot comes along. Your spouse would understand, and support you. USAO will back you 100% on this, and you shouldn't worry for a minute.

Yes, a job offer to work as a free volunteer for a few summer weeks is identical to being married.

They might throw in a bus fare, but not with that quitter's attitude they won't. In seriousness, you shouldn't even think about it. For USAO, it's an inconvenience. For you a 1L SA would be a career steppingstone. It isn't selfish to prioritize a career steppingstone for you over an inconvenience for someone else. From an economic standpoint, someone is going to have that 1L SA and someone is going to have the USAO thing so nobody is worse off, and you're better off.

[BigZuck]

I understand the regret -- I accepted something before I got grades and knew how competitive I might be for an SA or for other jobs. The way we have to do the 1L job search really sucks. Good luck to you this summer and in the future.

Genuinely not trying to kick dead horses but there shouldn't really be any regret. As people who have been through the 1L "job" search before tried to convey in the 1L job search thread, you just apply to 1L SAs in December, wait a couple months and then once it looks like you're out of the running in, like, March then you can start applying to other stuff. You'll get something unpaid, everyone does. People apply to a bunch of stuff way early like judges and PI because they don't want to miss out on "prestigious" 1L jobs but there is no such thing as a prestigious 1L job and it really doesn't matter what you do 1L summer. An exception might be if you want to do PI but the people who actually want to really and truly do PI aren't the same people as those who would be disappointed about missing out on a 1L SA. There's really nothing wrong with the way the 1L summer job search is set up, it's just that people aren't patient and don't believe people who have been through the process before for some reason. Or, they really want to do an internship with a judge which means they are simply beyond saving.

Anyway this:

Take the USAO job if you'd prefer the USAO job. Otherwise, renege.

feels like the right answer

[dixiecupdrinking]

Take the USAO job if you'd prefer the USAO job. Otherwise, renege.

I think this is right.

I think, also, you would be surprised how little employers care about 1L summer interns. They won't miss you. You're not useful. You're probably more of a burden than anything, really. It's not going to impact the USAO in any meaningful way.

The only other considerations are whether someone at your school went to bat to get you this USAO internship; or if you want to work at this USAO at some later point.

[PeanutsNJam]

You're going to reneg over a screener interview invite? Even that dude who got 2 V20 SA offers probably got no-CB'd by at least a dozen or so firms. You wanna roll the dice that you can turn ONE screener into an offer?

[Dafaq]

When I signed up for the bar test there was a form question that could have been of concern. Have you ever reneged on an offer? I remember that question because I had come very close to reneging on an offer. Not sure of the ramification (if any) if I would have had to check the “yes” box.

[nick417]

Maybe this has been answered but what are your goals for 1 L summer.

I kind of second what a lot of people say that 1 L summer is kind of irrelevant as long as you do something (but acknowledging that 1 L SA typically lead to 2 L SA positions). But if you want to think about it as a career development, what did you want to get out of 1 L summer. For me, I wanted to be a litigator so a judicial internship with a federal judge was great for me and set me up nicely for OCIs, while also having the opportunity to improve my writing skills. If your career goals are big law, then 1 L SA position is a great opportunity. If your career goals are public service as a prosecutor, public defender, or even a US attorney some day, then a USAO position is great. If all you care about is $$$, then 1 L SA position is good.

I think turning down the USAO after accepting the position is a shady move and could hurt your credibility. But this is a cut throat business and sometimes looking out for yourself is the best option. Only you know what is best for your career and where you want to go. I would personally stay with the USAO position because I don't agree with turning down a position you accepted since they are both temporary. But if your personal goals line up with the 1 L SA position and you have no interest in ever working for the USAO . . . ; I guess you can make that decision.

[Tls2016]

You're going to reneg over a screener interview invite? Even that dude who got 2 V20 SA offers probably got no-CB'd by at least a dozen or so firms. You wanna roll the dice that you can turn ONE screener into an offer?

OP clearly gets anxious, worries about things in advance,jumps the gun, whatever cliche you want to apply.

Maybe OP needs to relax a little.

[PeanutsNJam]

People apply to a bunch of stuff way early like judges and PI because they don't want to miss out on "prestigious" 1L jobs but there is no such thing as a prestigious 1L job and it really doesn't matter what you do 1L summer.

As someone holding out hope for a 1L SA, there are 30,000 reasons, before tax, to do so. I don't personally know anybody who honestly thinks it's prestigious.

[BigZuck]

People apply to a bunch of stuff way early like judges and PI because they don't want to miss out on "prestigious" 1L jobs but there is no such thing as a prestigious 1L job and it really doesn't matter what you do 1L summer.

As someone holding out hope for a 1L SA, there are 30,000 reasons, before tax, to do so. I don't personally know anybody who honestly thinks it's prestigious.

I wasn't talking about the prestige of a 1L SA, I was talking about "prestigious" unpaid 1L "jobs"

[Glasseyes]

I'm curious which USAO market this is. Here in DC there's no way they give a shit. USAO hires like 100 faceless, interchangeable intern monkeys to work in a big room full of other interns, like a giant hamster cage with computers instead of exercise wheels. Then they dump soul grinding research and drafting projects on you all summer. Woo. Not even kidding, they don't even interview for these positions because no one cares about 1L interns; kids submit resumes, and they make offers without interviews or callbacks or anything. tl;dr this isn't like reneging on a judge where pride comes into play.

[2014]

This is stupid until you have a 1L SA offer in hand, evaluate at that point. In any event the experience of doing a callback is valuable.

Assuming you get the offer, I would ask the USAO if you can push your internship to the fall - they all hire students for fall, spring and summer. That way you get the experience, you aren't a total waste of time for them and you get paid.

[westcoastbestcoastt]

Take the USAO offer 100%.
Don't burn bridges with your school.
Don't burn bridges between your school and the USAO office. There are offices that aren't interested in working with students from my school because past students reneged.
And if your hometown is where you hope to practice, don't let your first impression in that market be a negative one. Some markets might not blink an eye at reneging, but in my hometown and my school's city where the legal communities are close knit, anything that could negatively affect your reputation, even as a 1L, isn't worth the risk.

[Tls2016]

When I signed up for the bar test there was a form question that could have been of concern. Have you ever reneged on an offer? I remember that question because I had come very close to reneging on an offer. Not sure of the ramification (if any) if I would have had to check the “yes” box.

My old firm got stiffed in the past by people who had accepted offers but then got jobs overseas, decided they didn't want to live in NYC, or went for other practice areas.
I can't recall anyone caring much one way or the other.

I really can't see it hurting a bar application, it may just be a disclosure issue. No one expects you to take a job you no longer want.