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

[Danger Zone]

Zweit's advice makes sense in the city I guess, since you can easily get public transportation, but when you're in the burbs, zero drinks at SA events because you have to drive home afterwards is absurd.

Not that I would ever drive after a single drink, obviously.

[jbagelboy]

Buzzed driving is drunk driving, but 0 drinks is extreme.

again, if you get buzzed on two beers, god help you.

[jbagelboy]

Zweit's advice makes sense in the city I guess, since you can easily get public transportation, but when you're in the burbs, zero drinks at SA events because you have to drive home afterwards is absurd.

Not that I would ever drive after a single drink, obviously.

I don't even keep a car in NY so it's a non issue unless i'm somewhere with shitty public transport

[bruinfan10]

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[Bildungsroman]

Some people in this thread are coming off as major weirdos. This is a summer job, not a frat initiation where you'll be lined up to do beer bongs or butt chug while partners yell "pledge pledge pledge." If you don't drink then don't drink. No one will think you're weird or try to force booze on you. Don't think up some excuse (although if you're driving you shouldn't drink anyway and nobody will scoff at you if you tell them you're driving) or pretend you're drinking hard liquor or feel like you have to nurse a drink. I know a lot of teetotalers who successfully got offers.

[Anonymous User]

when u go to the bars, what do u drink then? like soda or something like that?

When I need to pace myself, I'll get a diet coke or a seltzer and, if asked, say it's rum and coke or a G&T. No harm in doing that.

I mean, no harm except it's totally unnecessary. why would you lie for no reason?

People think it's weird. I'm not of that opinion, but some do. Also people will ask questions and often the answer isn't that great. Do you wanna tell the old racist partner you are muslim? Do you wanna tell teh functioning alcholic senior associate, that you are in AA.

You don't have to hide it, but I can see why some do.

i understand that at a firm sponsored event, i should be moderate in my alcohol consumption. should the same principle apply if it's just the SAs going out? i don't mean drink so much that you black out and wake up on the street somewhere but enough to just relax and have a good time.

[Old Gregg]

i understand that at a firm sponsored event, i should be moderate in my alcohol consumption. should the same principle apply if it's just the SAs going out? i don't mean drink so much that you black out and wake up on the street somewhere but enough to just relax and have a good time.

You're already way over thinking this.

[punkyg0608]

Is it appropriate to email lawyers you don't know and ask them to lunch? We're supposed to set up our own lunches so I'm not really sure what the protocol is.

[echooo23]

I'm curious, who decides at the end of the summer whether to give an SA an offer? Is it just the hiring committee armed with reviews from the summer? Every partner with whom an SA has worked? How much input does recruiting get into the decision?

[Bildungsroman]

I'm curious, who decides at the end of the summer whether to give an SA an offer? Is it just the hiring committee armed with reviews from the summer? Every partner with whom an SA has worked? How much input does recruiting get into the decision?

Depends 100% on the firm.

[dixiecupdrinking]

Some people in this thread are coming off as major weirdos. This is a summer job, not a frat initiation where you'll be lined up to do beer bongs or butt chug while partners yell "pledge pledge pledge." If you don't drink then don't drink. No one will think you're weird or try to force booze on you. Don't think up some excuse (although if you're driving you shouldn't drink anyway and nobody will scoff at you if you tell them you're driving) or pretend you're drinking hard liquor or feel like you have to nurse a drink. I know a lot of teetotalers who successfully got offers.

yeah this
I find the advice to drink even if you don't want to really weird.

[20141023]

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[Valley of the Deer]

lol man... This thread is delivering.

To be honest, though, I have been surprised by how much alcohol there is in law school. Wine Mess on Fridays, Bar Review on Thursdays, law firm receptions spread throughout the semester where all you do is go and get drunk. Instead of feeling like I am at a "professional" school, I often feel like I am at a constant frat party.

Maybe schools / firms feel like law students are so awkward that they have to be drunk in order to be sociable.

lol goes to chicago

[20141023]

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[Yeshia90]

lol man... This thread is delivering.

To be honest, though, I have been surprised by how much alcohol there is in law school. Wine Mess on Fridays, Bar Review on Thursdays, law firm receptions spread throughout the semester where all you do is go and get drunk. Instead of feeling like I am at a "professional" school, I often feel like I am at a constant frat party.

Maybe schools / firms feel like law students are so awkward that they have to be drunk in order to be sociable.

If this thread is any indication, that may be truer than we'd like to admit.

[sap]

Buzzed driving is drunk driving, but 0 drinks is extreme.

again, if you get buzzed on two beers, god help you.

Kinda sounds like you're from the midwest (where I lived for a while), so after this comment I have to ask: have you never met a short, nonfat woman?

[jbagelboy]

Buzzed driving is drunk driving, but 0 drinks is extreme.

again, if you get buzzed on two beers, god help you.

Kinda sounds like you're from the midwest (where I lived for a while), so after this comment I have to ask: have you never met a short, nonfat woman?

Im not from the midwest. I'm insulted. Besides, I think most people on this board know where I'm from (and it's about as coastal as you can get).

First, you aren't describing DF. Second, obviously you have to know your own tolerance, and I don't mean to cast overly broad aspersions. But moreover, my SO is <115lbs with notoriously low tolerance, esp these days, and it takes at least 3 drinks for her to feel a buzz. I have a friend who's 5'0/95 lbs and 2 drinks would do nothing. I'm not saying there aren't people for whom that has an impact, but it's rare for anyone our age (mid 20's) and a shitty generalization.

[jbagelboy]

Not even sure how this thread got on the topic of booze. Just act like a normal chill person and everyone will be fine.

[Old Gregg]

Hmmm, maybe this question...

zweitbeister- what would you say to associates who do not drink? is it really necessary to go happy hours? would the people who do not go to happy hours be considered a bit weird.

and your post shortly thereafter..

That's pretty fucking weird IMO unless you're pregnant or something

[fl0w]

I was out of town this weekend and just checked in on this thread.
When things heated up I literally went and made popcorn for the read.

I met our summers last week and it brought back memories. They are asking me all these questions because they are just like you guys and they want an associate's advice.

I accidentally let it slip just how busy I was because I was chatting with another associate when a summer came in on the convo. Her jaw dropped and I could see the panic in her soul. Oops.

If you feel like you're "killin it" on the weekend, good for you. I know this mess is firm dependent but I don't expect a summer to be present in the office past 5.30 or 6. And honestly if they aren't there I don't give a crap because I have shit to do. All I want is for my deadline to be met with something that satisfies the task. Do that and I can say you do "good work" and you meet deadlines. I put that in quotes because your work isn't going to be that good since you have no idea what you're doing.

Go to the events and stop asking these weird effing questions about how to act. Be you. Make an effort to interact. You don't drink? Lucky for you it's not required for entry into a bar. But having a beverage is a social activity and when at a bar you actually do look strange to other humans if you're not partaking. Sorry, it's how it is. Have some soda water with a lime. You're welcome, I just saved you calories.

And re: these events make sure you remember that associates and partners are giving up some of their very valuable (and potentially billable) time to hang out with you, get to know you, and welcome you.

Overall, I know ya'll are freaking out. I was reflecting on my experience and remember a lot of people in my hire class having freak outs. But you're supposed to enjoy your summer. So do that.

[UMich11]

Psa: don't be the person to post a blurred photo of your first check on instagram, Facebook, twitter, myspace, Friendster.

Can't find the article now but I remember reading that someone did this on fbook or something and a person took a high res screenshot, digitally enhanced the image to change the name on the check, then cashed it themselves via their bank's mobile phone app. It was at least a year or two ago I read that.

Kid had it coming to him though. I don't think he was a law student/lawyer. Maybe it was in consulting/IB.

[2014]

I hope this thread goes to shit more often, it has been really entertaining

[TTRansfer]

As far as drinking, the rule of thumb to follow should be a drink an hour if you want to stay completely sober. A typical body will burn off that much alcohol.

According to Clemson, a single drink will raise your BAC by .02. http://www.clemson.edu/campus-life/camp ... l/bac.html

So you should be safe to have a few drinks over the night. Just know your limits.

[Anonymous User]

Just thought I'd chime in re: the questions about drinking

I don't drink b/c I'm in recovery, so I can't just nurse a beer or something (complete abstinence). I summered at a V10 in NY and basically every social event was centered around alcohol. Not gonna lie, it was a bit awkward sometimes. Especially b/c a good portion of the summers liked to get kinda tanked. I was asked a few times why I didn't want a beer or something, and I just responded simply "I don't drink"

Most people who have a brain don't pursue further questions. No one ever asked "why?" I think they assume if you don't drink it's either for religious or health or psychiatric (addiction) reasons, none of which is really fun party conversation. So, if any of you dont drink at all, I wouldn't worry about faking it by just holding a beer or whatever. Just do your thing and give a short answer if anyone asks why you don't drink. Most won't give it a second thought and, in my experience, the only ones who actually care are ppl who have drinking problems b/c they want to feel like everyone else gets as wasted as them (at least I know that's how I was when I drank).

Just my $.02. YMMV

[TTRansfer]

Just thought I'd chime in re: the questions about drinking

I don't drink b/c I'm in recovery, so I can't just nurse a beer or something (complete abstinence). I summered at a V10 in NY and basically every social event was centered around alcohol. Not gonna lie, it was a bit awkward sometimes. Especially b/c a good portion of the summers liked to get kinda tanked. I was asked a few times why I didn't want a beer or something, and I just responded simply "I don't drink"

Most people who have a brain don't pursue further questions. No one ever asked "why?" I think they assume if you don't drink it's either for religious or health or psychiatric (addiction) reasons, none of which is really fun party conversation. So, if any of you dont drink at all, I wouldn't worry about faking it by just holding a beer or whatever. Just do your thing and give a short answer if anyone asks why you don't drink. Most won't give it a second thought and, in my experience, the only ones who actually care are ppl who have drinking problems b/c they want to feel like everyone else gets as wasted as them (at least I know that's how I was when I drank).

Just my $.02. YMMV

I mean, you gotta do what you gotta do. If you legitimately CANNOT or WILL NOT drink, then don't drink. Would be silly to do something you are against.

But if you don't have anything against it and can drink, I think the better route is to have a couple of drinks.