Summer Associates 2014: Thoughts, Anxieties, Experiences... Forum

[Jchance]

How big is everyone's summer class? Anyone with a smaller class / you're the only summer at that office?

I'm also the only summer. It's definitely intimidating because the spotlight is on you.

[2014]

taxi driver that took me into the city and I had a conversation about my summer employment etc. I spoke candidly. I think I might have said that many people working in big law firms will leave after 2-3 years because they are overworked - I probably told him this was my plan / that my gf didn't want to be in this city. I also said that many lawyers/law students suck as people. At some point in the conversation, I remember the driver saying "you know people in this town talk . . ."

did I fuck up? the guy would have know a) know which firm I am working for (I didn't say it but I probably gave enough information that one could connect the dots) and b) would have to know people there/tell them what the summer associate said in the taxi. IDK why the guy said "you know people in this town talk . . ." but I can't stop thinking about it. give me your thoughts.

You're being paranoid. You're fine.

How would this get back to you? Some taxi driver takes stabs in the dark at which firm you work for, starts cold calling various firms, and tells the receptionist that a summer associate told him that people flame out after a few years? C'mon now.

Don't worry.

Idk why I said what I said. That kind of talk is pervasive in law school/on TLS so I must have just gotten too comfortable openly discussing the shitty aspects of law firm life. I also told him how fortunate I felt to have the job/how i was excited for training and all that - so not all bad.

The thing that makes me paranoid about the whole thing is that the place I am staying (i.e., where he dropped me off) is in the FiDi. When he said bye, he said he'd see me around . . . "everyone around here hangs out at the same rooftop bars" is what he said.

lets assume the guy did know which firm I am at and that he is friends with people at my firm or works for them or has some connection with them, and that he tells them what I said (i plan to leave after two years, lawyers/law students suck) - how bad would this look for me?

There are what...like literally 300 SA spots in FiDi based firms alone? If you didn't name the firm (or implicitly name it by saying like "I'm working at a V4") then how is some random cab driver going to know the difference between SullCrom, Jones Day, Milbank, WilmerHale, etc?

Don't stress about it but yeah be careful. This time it was a cabbie which is probably harmless, next time it could be some bro at a bar who's GF is an associate at your firm or whatever.

[Old Gregg]

taxi driver that took me into the city and I had a conversation about my summer employment etc. I spoke candidly. I think I might have said that many people working in big law firms will leave after 2-3 years because they are overworked - I probably told him this was my plan / that my gf didn't want to be in this city. I also said that many lawyers/law students suck as people. At some point in the conversation, I remember the driver saying "you know people in this town talk . . ."

did I fuck up? the guy would have know a) know which firm I am working for (I didn't say it but I probably gave enough information that one could connect the dots) and b) would have to know people there/tell them what the summer associate said in the taxi. IDK why the guy said "you know people in this town talk . . ." but I can't stop thinking about it. give me your thoughts.

You're being paranoid. You're fine.

How would this get back to you? Some taxi driver takes stabs in the dark at which firm you work for, starts cold calling various firms, and tells the receptionist that a summer associate told him that people flame out after a few years? C'mon now.

Don't worry.

Idk why I said what I said. That kind of talk is pervasive in law school/on TLS so I must have just gotten too comfortable openly discussing the shitty aspects of law firm life. I also told him how fortunate I felt to have the job/how i was excited for training and all that - so not all bad.

The thing that makes me paranoid about the whole thing is that the place I am staying (i.e., where he dropped me off) is in the FiDi. When he said bye, he said he'd see me around . . . "everyone around here hangs out at the same rooftop bars" is what he said.

lets assume the guy did know which firm I am at and that he is friends with people at my firm or works for them or has some connection with them, and that he tells them what I said (i plan to leave after two years, lawyers/law students suck) - how bad would this look for me?

I hope you get no offered for the thought process that led to this post. Holy shit.

[banjo]

First week was fun (1L here). The only awkward part is trying to grab five minutes with an associate or partner to follow up on something. A couple times I just stopped by their office if their door was open. But I'm not sure this works as well as it did at my previous jobs. Plus, an associate might be in the middle of billing for something else. I might just try a quick email this week.

[arklaw13]

.

[El Pollito]

taxi driver that took me into the city and I had a conversation about my summer employment etc. I spoke candidly. I think I might have said that many people working in big law firms will leave after 2-3 years because they are overworked - I probably told him this was my plan / that my gf didn't want to be in this city. I also said that many lawyers/law students suck as people. At some point in the conversation, I remember the driver saying "you know people in this town talk . . ."

did I fuck up? the guy would have know a) know which firm I am working for (I didn't say it but I probably gave enough information that one could connect the dots) and b) would have to know people there/tell them what the summer associate said in the taxi. IDK why the guy said "you know people in this town talk . . ." but I can't stop thinking about it. give me your thoughts.

You're being paranoid. You're fine.

How would this get back to you? Some taxi driver takes stabs in the dark at which firm you work for, starts cold calling various firms, and tells the receptionist that a summer associate told him that people flame out after a few years? C'mon now.

Don't worry.

Idk why I said what I said. That kind of talk is pervasive in law school/on TLS so I must have just gotten too comfortable openly discussing the shitty aspects of law firm life. I also told him how fortunate I felt to have the job/how i was excited for training and all that - so not all bad.

The thing that makes me paranoid about the whole thing is that the place I am staying (i.e., where he dropped me off) is in the FiDi. When he said bye, he said he'd see me around . . . "everyone around here hangs out at the same rooftop bars" is what he said.

lets assume the guy did know which firm I am at and that he is friends with people at my firm or works for them or has some connection with them, and that he tells them what I said (i plan to leave after two years, lawyers/law students suck) - how bad would this look for me?

You are fucking insane.

[09042014]

taxi driver that took me into the city and I had a conversation about my summer employment etc. I spoke candidly. I think I might have said that many people working in big law firms will leave after 2-3 years because they are overworked - I probably told him this was my plan / that my gf didn't want to be in this city. I also said that many lawyers/law students suck as people. At some point in the conversation, I remember the driver saying "you know people in this town talk . . ."

did I fuck up? the guy would have know a) know which firm I am working for (I didn't say it but I probably gave enough information that one could connect the dots) and b) would have to know people there/tell them what the summer associate said in the taxi. IDK why the guy said "you know people in this town talk . . ." but I can't stop thinking about it. give me your thoughts.

You're being paranoid. You're fine.

How would this get back to you? Some taxi driver takes stabs in the dark at which firm you work for, starts cold calling various firms, and tells the receptionist that a summer associate told him that people flame out after a few years? C'mon now.

Don't worry.

Idk why I said what I said. That kind of talk is pervasive in law school/on TLS so I must have just gotten too comfortable openly discussing the shitty aspects of law firm life. I also told him how fortunate I felt to have the job/how i was excited for training and all that - so not all bad.

The thing that makes me paranoid about the whole thing is that the place I am staying (i.e., where he dropped me off) is in the FiDi. When he said bye, he said he'd see me around . . . "everyone around here hangs out at the same rooftop bars" is what he said.

lets assume the guy did know which firm I am at and that he is friends with people at my firm or works for them or has some connection with them, and that he tells them what I said (i plan to leave after two years, lawyers/law students suck) - how bad would this look for me?

You are fucking insane.

r u going 2 tell his firm?

[BuckinghamB]

Oh man, starting tomorrow and I'm super nervous.

[NYSprague]

http://ehmunnell.com/posts/best-practic ... le-charts/

Those charts should be stickied.

Edit: mostly the first two. Don't try to add value.

[Old Gregg]

I don't like her.

[Danger Zone]

I don't like the part about standing out and "adding value" (lol trep speak), but otherwise it seems like obvious stuff.

[Old Gregg]

I don't like the part about standing out and "adding value" (lol trep speak), but otherwise it seems like obvious stuff.

I don't like the part about paying her for law firm career advice. Sounds like something that everyone pays $50,000 a year for to their law shoals in the form of career services (and, of course, career services never delivers).

[NYSprague]

I don't like the part about standing out and "adding value" (lol trep speak), but otherwise it seems like obvious stuff.

Yet there is a post my someone who bitched to their cab driver about their summer job and law all the way from the airport.
Not everyone understands obvious.
Agree about not standing out. Edited my post.

[Old Gregg]

I don't like the part about standing out and "adding value" (lol trep speak), but otherwise it seems like obvious stuff.

Yet there is a post my someone who bitched to their cab driver about their summer job and law all the way from the airport.
Not everyone understands obvious.
Agree about not standing out. Edited my post.

That person is the exact outlier that should be shitcanned.

[NYSprague]

I don't like the part about standing out and "adding value" (lol trep speak), but otherwise it seems like obvious stuff.

I don't like the part about paying her for law firm career advice. Sounds like something that everyone pays $50,000 a year for to their law shoals in the form of career services (and, of course, career services never delivers).

Yeah, I know nothing about her, just skimmed the charts.

[Danger Zone]

I don't like the part about standing out and "adding value" (lol trep speak), but otherwise it seems like obvious stuff.

I don't like the part about paying her for law firm career advice. Sounds like something that everyone pays $50,000 a year for to their law shoals in the form of career services (and, of course, career services never delivers).

Yeah, I know nothing about her, just skimmed the charts.

Same, didn't realize, but that's shitty.

[brotherdarkness]

.

[Danger Zone]

Trep is short for entrepreneur. They have their own subculture and language. It's a massive circle jerk.

[Yeshia90]

Oh man, starting tomorrow and I'm super nervous.

I've read this whole thread and the only advice I've taken to heart is "buy boat shoes."

[TooOld4This]

Oh man, starting tomorrow and I'm super nervous.

Don't worry. The orientation meetings and trainings may bore you to death, but you will settle into a groove faster than you would think. Firms want you to succeed. They may be inept at setting you up for success sometimes, but they aren't trying to set summer associates up to fail. Being a normal person will take you further than you would imagine.

[brotherdarkness]

.

[royilae]

taxi driver that took me into the city and I had a conversation about my summer employment etc. I spoke candidly. I think I might have said that many people working in big law firms will leave after 2-3 years because they are overworked - I probably told him this was my plan / that my gf didn't want to be in this city. I also said that many lawyers/law students suck as people. At some point in the conversation, I remember the driver saying "you know people in this town talk . . ."

did I fuck up? the guy would have know a) know which firm I am working for (I didn't say it but I probably gave enough information that one could connect the dots) and b) would have to know people there/tell them what the summer associate said in the taxi. IDK why the guy said "you know people in this town talk . . ." but I can't stop thinking about it. give me your thoughts.

You're being paranoid. You're fine.

How would this get back to you? Some taxi driver takes stabs in the dark at which firm you work for, starts cold calling various firms, and tells the receptionist that a summer associate told him that people flame out after a few years? C'mon now.

Don't worry.

Idk why I said what I said. That kind of talk is pervasive in law school/on TLS so I must have just gotten too comfortable openly discussing the shitty aspects of law firm life. I also told him how fortunate I felt to have the job/how i was excited for training and all that - so not all bad.

The thing that makes me paranoid about the whole thing is that the place I am staying (i.e., where he dropped me off) is in the FiDi. When he said bye, he said he'd see me around . . . "everyone around here hangs out at the same rooftop bars" is what he said.

lets assume the guy did know which firm I am at and that he is friends with people at my firm or works for them or has some connection with them, and that he tells them what I said (i plan to leave after two years, lawyers/law students suck) - how bad would this look for me?

Assuming you took a normal nyc yellow taxi (although if it was a car service paid by the firm it would only matter a little more), the cab driver has a) forgotten about you by now b) hears ALOT of things as a cab driver during the course of one day, let alone a week and c) does not have the time/patience/drive/desire to report you to your firm. No one pays kickbacks if taxi drivers tell them NYC gossip.

It's OK! I think you're certainly aware of what you did which means next time you'll be careful about who you vent or complain to. Out of all the conversations the taxi driver heard or took part in that day, yours was probably the least interesting (no offense at all but its ny). Side note: if a cab driver strikes up small talk just keep it to how are you/the weather/etc. they usually want to hop back on their headset to talk to friends/family anyway (i think it's illegal but many still do this).

[NYSprague]

Cab drivers can talk on headsets. It isn't illegal as long as it is hands free.
I thought OP was joking about the concern of the driver reporting him. But OP needs to learn how to behave and learn quickly. I think a few of us have doubts about OP and common sense.

[Old Gregg]

I'm not sure if it's worse that people ITT are debating the odds the taxi driver knows where this person works and can actually track him down to mess his summer up, instead of contemplating how the taxi driver would broach this topic with someone at the firm in the first place. What exactly is he going to say? Who would take him seriously? Who would care?????

[sap]

Oh man, starting tomorrow and I'm super nervous.

I've read this whole thread and the only advice I've taken to heart is "buy boat shoes."

I actually did buy boat shoes today (though because they were super cute, not for TLS-related paranoia). after I got them home, I laughed for a good while.