Incoming Associates Getting Deferred Forum

[Anonymous User]

Debevoise is definitely gonna be very popular next year during OCI

[Anonymous User]

Debevoise is definitely gonna be very popular next year during OCI

Really hoping it’s a sign that other firms will do the same.

[Anonymous User]

Debevoise is starting remotely on a date close to the original start date.

Thanks for sharing!

[Anonymous User]

For those who have been deferred until early 2021 (like me), what are you planning to do with the extra time? Besides bar studying, I am hoping to find some productive way to spend the additional few months. My firm has been less than helpful in recommending interim alternatives and they seem ignorant to the possibility that some of us may have expenses (e.g., a mortgage, child care) that would preclude us from merely vacationing with the extra time. I'm hoping to find some way to put my law license to work and earn a little coin, but temporary opportunities seem sparse.

Separately, is anyone concerned that firms will defer a second time? My firm offered a very ambiguous rationale for the deferral that seems to leave the door open for a second deferral if firm operations have not returned to "normal" by early 2021. Not sure what I will do if I'm forced to weather a second deferral, but I will probably be forced to look elsewhere for permanent work. The whole situation has me feeling very insecure in my future v50–100 firm.

[JusticeSquee]

For those who have been deferred until early 2021 (like me), what are you planning to do with the extra time? Besides bar studying, I am hoping to find some productive way to spend the additional few months. My firm has been less than helpful in recommending interim alternatives and they seem ignorant to the possibility that some of us may have expenses (e.g., a mortgage, child care) that would preclude us from merely vacationing with the extra time. I'm hoping to find some way to put my law license to work and earn a little coin, but temporary opportunities seem sparse.

Separately, is anyone concerned that firms will defer a second time? My firm offered a very ambiguous rationale for the deferral that seems to leave the door open for a second deferral if firm operations have not returned to "normal" by early 2021. Not sure what I will do if I'm forced to weather a second deferral, but I will probably be forced to look elsewhere for permanent work. The whole situation has me feeling very insecure in my future v50–100 firm.

May want to look around for some interim contract work. It'll be mostly document review, and it'll be boring, but it does may more than nothing. Also, might want to brush up your resume and reach out to a few firms that have not deferred (or are not planning to defer). There's no harm in applying, especially if you are willing to do bankruptcy work.

[Anonymous User]

For those who have been deferred until early 2021 (like me), what are you planning to do with the extra time? Besides bar studying, I am hoping to find some productive way to spend the additional few months. My firm has been less than helpful in recommending interim alternatives and they seem ignorant to the possibility that some of us may have expenses (e.g., a mortgage, child care) that would preclude us from merely vacationing with the extra time. I'm hoping to find some way to put my law license to work and earn a little coin, but temporary opportunities seem sparse.

Separately, is anyone concerned that firms will defer a second time? My firm offered a very ambiguous rationale for the deferral that seems to leave the door open for a second deferral if firm operations have not returned to "normal" by early 2021. Not sure what I will do if I'm forced to weather a second deferral, but I will probably be forced to look elsewhere for permanent work. The whole situation has me feeling very insecure in my future v50–100 firm.

As to your first question, I'm really fortunate that with parental/SO support, I can live until January despite the measly salary advance my firm offered, so I'm not desperate for work. I'm going to learn to code this fall and do some online tutoring. Also, I used to be a freelance writer, so I'm going to apply for any and all positions that I see this fall. I'd obviously prefer to be independent, but I'm fortunate that if I can't find anything remote, I don't have to work at a grocery store or something and expose myself to coronavirus.

As to your second question.. I am VERY concerned about a second deferral. My firm did the same thing, and I'm very worried they won't want to onboard us remotely. This is obviously concerning, because I don't see firms forcing everyone into the office by January. It's a huge liability to force people to come into the office and expose themselves to the coronavirus for a job that can be done remotely.

I do not like the way that my firm has handled the deferral situation so far, and I want to switch cities in the near future anyway, so I'm honestly contemplating firing off some applications to firms in that city after I take the bar. There are obvious downsides to this, but I am just not confident that I will start in January at this point.

[Anonymous User]

Simpson deferred to mid-January. Surprising given the last two firms to announce Jones Day and Debevoise are sticking to the fall.

[AdieuCali]

Simpson deferred to mid-January. Surprising given the last two firms to announce Jones Day and Debevoise are sticking to the fall.

Any info re: stipends/advances, benefits?

[addie1412]

Simpson deferred to mid-January. Surprising given the last two firms to announce Jones Day and Debevoise are sticking to the fall.

Wow. Only V10 so far to defer to 2021, right?

[Anonymous User]

Don't quite understand why they are still deferring since NY BOLE just announced that everyone will get a seat for the September bar exam.

[Anonymous User]

No stipend, just an advance.

[Anonymous User]

Don't quite understand why they are still deferring since NY BOLE just announced that everyone will get a seat for the September bar exam.

Pretty sure firms are using bar exam and COVID-19 uncertainty as a front to save money during an uncertain economic time.

[Anonymous User]

Simpson deferred to mid-January. Surprising given the last two firms to announce Jones Day and Debevoise are sticking to the fall.

Not only did they defer, they also stated that incoming associates who don't take the bar by the January start date can't start then. Given how much of a shitshow the bar is right now across all jurisdictions, I don't know what they plan on doing if NY cancels their September bar last minute, or if their non-NY associates who went UBE jurisdiction shopping get stranded when the states they sign up for go online or do diploma privilege.

Also as someone going to a firm that only did advances as well, I don't know how much I should read into that as a sign of my firm's financial health vs. the partners' greed. Do these firms really not have enough money to throw us a bone to get us through the fall while we're effectively unemployed?

[Anonymous User]

Simpson deferred to mid-January. Surprising given the last two firms to announce Jones Day and Debevoise are sticking to the fall.

Not only did they defer, they also stated that incoming associates who don't take the bar by the January start date can't start then. Given how much of a shitshow the bar is right now across all jurisdictions, I don't know what they plan on doing if NY cancels their September bar last minute, or if their non-NY associates who went UBE jurisdiction shopping get stranded when the states they sign up for go online or do diploma privilege.

Also as someone going to a firm that only did advances as well, I don't know how much I should read into that as a sign of my firm's financial health vs. the partners' greed. Do these firms really not have enough money to throw us a bone to get us through the fall while we're effectively unemployed?

I would think that the firm’s biggest concern at the moment is current cash flow, and a stipend and an advance have the same effect there, so an advance just seems cheap and greedy.

[woopig2017]

Does anyone have any predictions as to when the rest of the V100 who haven't yet made any decisions will have to go one way or the other? It's wild to me that my initial start date was supposed to be less than 3 months from now, and I still have no idea what's going to happen.

[curry1]

Does anyone have any predictions as to when the rest of the V100 who haven't yet made any decisions will have to go one way or the other? It's wild to me that my initial start date was supposed to be less than 3 months from now, and I still have no idea what's going to happen.

I think a lot of firms are waiting on a firm resolution of the CA bar/NY bar situation. Could take a while given how state bars are dragging their feet.

[woopig2017]

I think a lot of firms are waiting on a firm resolution of the CA bar/NY bar situation. Could take a while given how state bars are dragging their feet.

I think that's right, and that most firms who haven't yet decided are trying to wait it out until they are pretty sure they won't have to later change their decision. Guess I'm just getting frustrated that I can't plan my life now.

[Anonymous User]

I think a lot of firms are waiting on a firm resolution of the CA bar/NY bar situation. Could take a while given how state bars are dragging their feet.

I think that's right, and that most firms who haven't yet decided are trying to wait it out until they are pretty sure they won't have to later change their decision. Guess I'm just getting frustrated that I can't plan my life now.

Barring firms that only have an office in one city (i.e. Cravath), I see no significant chance of people starting before January given the lack of coordinated response between different jurisdictions. Mass/DC have already pushed to October and California seems poised to do so.

[woopig2017]

Barring firms that only have an office in one city (i.e. Cravath), I see no significant chance of people starting before January given the lack of coordinated response between different jurisdictions. Mass/DC have already pushed to October and California seems poised to do so.

I'm thinking that's right. Which is why it's so frustrating that many firms (including mine) haven't yet just decided to defer. While I appreciate that they seem to be holding out to try to get us to start earlier (which would definitely be my preference), I could use some certainty in my life especially with how much of a cluster the bar exam has become.

[Anonymous User]

Not true - Milbank told New York, DC, and California associate’s that they can start in October (Remotely if needed)

[Anonymous User]

Not true - Milbank told New York, DC, and California associate’s that they can start in October (Remotely if needed)

I am a Milbank associate in NY and can confirm the above.

[woopig2017]

Not true - Milbank told New York, DC, and California associate’s that they can start in October (Remotely if needed)

I am a Milbank associate in NY and can confirm the above.

Do you know how this is going to work? Like is the firm just planning for the incoming class to take whatever online bar is available and then start? I would be so happy if my firm adopted this.

[stevengnehs]

I sincerely found STB repulsive after their latest announcement

[Spectator]

I sincerely found STB repulsive after their latest announcement

Why post the exact same thing here and on reddit? There are so many people doing this lately, and I'm curious why.

I checked the associates thread to see if they made a new announcement since weeks ago. They didn't. Only "new" content there is you posting the same thing you did here. And the responses are always the same, here or on reddit, except TLS is usually just slightly funnier due to honesty and anonymity/lack of karma farmers.

[bbsexclusively]

I sincerely found STB repulsive after their latest announcement

What did they say other than deferring?