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

[brotherdarkness]

.

[09042014]

7 hrs of anything. I don't use the firm wifi because summering has made me a paranoid person.

Lol you've gone full tinfoil hat.

Do you have to log in to use the wifi? If so, it's just as trackable as your work PC.

[brotherdarkness]

.

[Danger Zone]

It's traceable, but I accept the tinfoil hat label anyway

[brotherdarkness]

.

[txdude45]

Nothing says "everyone in the office is watching the world cup" like slow internet.

[Anonymous User]

I bring my personal Laptop to the office but have my own computer at my desk and put the world cup on the laptop while working on the desktop. Partner came in today as I was drafting a contract during the Spain game and watched it for about 30 min. Not too worried about it. It was on the tv's which usually play CNBC in the office as well.

[2014]

I also have to account for 7 hours a day, at least 2 of which is always "professional reading". I like to find different billing codes to dump it under for fun though.

I've been told by like 5 different people that they collect roughly 1% of summer billables (only insofar as they can bill for supervision) so I don't worry about it at all.

Re: Internet - I'm comfortable loading any website that isn't TLS/ATL/XO. I guarantee it would be fine from a firm perspective, they absolutely don't care, but my office mate and people who walk in the door can both see my computer pretty easily and I have dignity.

[09042014]

I also have to account for 7 hours a day, at least 2 of which is always "professional reading". I like to find different billing codes to dump it under for fun though.

I've been told by like 5 different people that they collect roughly 1% of summer billables (only insofar as they can bill for supervision) so I don't worry about it at all.

Re: Internet - I'm comfortable loading any website that isn't TLS/ATL/XO. I guarantee it would be fine from a firm perspective, they absolutely don't care, but my office mate and people who walk in the door can both see my computer pretty easily and I have dignity.

Above the law is totally fine. Literally everyone reads it.

[Anonymous User]

How can we gage offer v. no offer? If everyone is super nice to everyone, and says everyone is doing a great job is that 100%? I've gotten a lot of thanks, this is helpful, but no "this is great." I've also missed lots of phone calls. I've been socializing and having convos whenever possible, and admittedly haven't worked very hard. The work just isn't that hard so I've been multitasking, facebooking and have been making fitting in the first priority. It's really easy to do a good job with limited assignments and still be very sociable with the firm and outside of it. The deadlines are not that hard, and also figure that the work the summers do is not going to make or break anything.

I'm not by any means a social butterfly, but like a lot of the associates and all the summers. However, I'm certainly not the type who can charm their way to the top. Some people are definitely working harder for 4 hours longer than me per day. Should I start considering going 100%? Not gonna lie - it's hard to put in over 9 hours a day while keeping some kind of exercise regimen, and dating a lot. I can sacrifice the always having people sleep over component if need be and put in 12 hour+ days, but would rather not if it doesn't matter.

[Elston Gunn]

How can we gage offer v. no offer? If everyone is super nice to everyone, and says everyone is doing a great job is that 100%? I've gotten a lot of thanks, this is helpful, but no "this is great." I've also missed lots of phone calls. I've been socializing and having convos whenever possible, and admittedly haven't worked very hard. The work just isn't that hard so I've been multitasking, facebooking and have been making fitting in the first priority. It's really easy to do a good job with limited assignments and still be very sociable with the firm and outside of it. The deadlines are not that hard, and also figure that the work the summers do is not going to make or break anything.

I'm not by any means a social butterfly, but like a lot of the associates and all the summers. However, I'm certainly not the type who can charm their way to the top. Some people are definitely working harder for 4 hours longer than me per day. Should I start considering going 100%? Not gonna lie - it's hard to put in over 9 hours a day while keeping some kind of exercise regimen, and dating a lot. I can sacrifice the always having people sleep over component if need be and put in 12 hour+ days, but would rather not if it doesn't matter.

What's your firm's historic offer rate?

[jbagelboy]

How can we gage offer v. no offer? If everyone is super nice to everyone, and says everyone is doing a great job is that 100%? I've gotten a lot of thanks, this is helpful, but no "this is great." I've also missed lots of phone calls. I've been socializing and having convos whenever possible, and admittedly haven't worked very hard. The work just isn't that hard so I've been multitasking, facebooking and have been making fitting in the first priority. It's really easy to do a good job with limited assignments and still be very sociable with the firm and outside of it. The deadlines are not that hard, and also figure that the work the summers do is not going to make or break anything.

I'm not by any means a social butterfly, but like a lot of the associates and all the summers. However, I'm certainly not the type who can charm their way to the top. Some people are definitely working harder for 4 hours longer than me per day. Should I start considering going 100%? Not gonna lie - it's hard to put in over 9 hours a day while keeping some kind of exercise regimen, and dating a lot. I can sacrifice the always having people sleep over component if need be and put in 12 hour+ days, but would rather not if it doesn't matter.

What's your firm's historic offer rate?

I do understand what you're saying and can relate, but this attitude doesn't bode particularly well for a future as an associate; if you're turning in assignments on time and you're sociable I'm guessing you'll get an offer, but you might be miserable on the job. Your dating life and exercise will definitely take a hit and you'll have to work way more than 9 hrs. I'd try to get into the work itself and find how it could be fulfilling as a more all-consuming exercise.. Not that it's easy when you don't have to.

[Anonymous User]

How can we gage offer v. no offer? If everyone is super nice to everyone, and says everyone is doing a great job is that 100%? I've gotten a lot of thanks, this is helpful, but no "this is great." I've also missed lots of phone calls. I've been socializing and having convos whenever possible, and admittedly haven't worked very hard. The work just isn't that hard so I've been multitasking, facebooking and have been making fitting in the first priority. It's really easy to do a good job with limited assignments and still be very sociable with the firm and outside of it. The deadlines are not that hard, and also figure that the work the summers do is not going to make or break anything.

I'm not by any means a social butterfly, but like a lot of the associates and all the summers. However, I'm certainly not the type who can charm their way to the top. Some people are definitely working harder for 4 hours longer than me per day. Should I start considering going 100%? Not gonna lie - it's hard to put in over 9 hours a day while keeping some kind of exercise regimen, and dating a lot. I can sacrifice the always having people sleep over component if need be and put in 12 hour+ days, but would rather not if it doesn't matter.

What's your firm's historic offer rate?

I do understand what you're saying and can relate, but this attitude doesn't bode particularly well for a future as an associate; if you're turning in assignments on time and you're sociable I'm guessing you'll get an offer, but you might be miserable on the job. Your dating life and exercise will definitely take a hit and you'll have to work way more than 9 hrs. I'd try to get into the work itself and find how it could be fulfilling as a more all-consuming exercise.. Not that it's easy when you don't have to.

Same anon. Offer rate = 80-95% depending on year. Nobody is weird.

I do get into the less monotonous work to the point I will be thinking critically about it outside of work, and love it far more than law school. I am definitely not miserable when at work.

It's more just being a human. I like not being sexually repulsive by exercising, like having sex and like falling in love. I am not stupid enough to bring these likes into work. If I pushed harder, I would probably have to forfeit dating and exercising as 12 hours, plus meals with 8 hours of sleep and 1.5 hours commute just about ='s 24 hours.

Again, I'm not lazy. There is not an endless amount of available work, and it's not that hard.

[Elston Gunn]

How can we gage offer v. no offer? If everyone is super nice to everyone, and says everyone is doing a great job is that 100%? I've gotten a lot of thanks, this is helpful, but no "this is great." I've also missed lots of phone calls. I've been socializing and having convos whenever possible, and admittedly haven't worked very hard. The work just isn't that hard so I've been multitasking, facebooking and have been making fitting in the first priority. It's really easy to do a good job with limited assignments and still be very sociable with the firm and outside of it. The deadlines are not that hard, and also figure that the work the summers do is not going to make or break anything.

I'm not by any means a social butterfly, but like a lot of the associates and all the summers. However, I'm certainly not the type who can charm their way to the top. Some people are definitely working harder for 4 hours longer than me per day. Should I start considering going 100%? Not gonna lie - it's hard to put in over 9 hours a day while keeping some kind of exercise regimen, and dating a lot. I can sacrifice the always having people sleep over component if need be and put in 12 hour+ days, but would rather not if it doesn't matter.

What's your firm's historic offer rate?

I do understand what you're saying and can relate, but this attitude doesn't bode particularly well for a future as an associate; if you're turning in assignments on time and you're sociable I'm guessing you'll get an offer, but you might be miserable on the job. Your dating life and exercise will definitely take a hit and you'll have to work way more than 9 hrs. I'd try to get into the work itself and find how it could be fulfilling as a more all-consuming exercise.. Not that it's easy when you don't have to.

Same anon. Offer rate = 80-95% depending on year. Nobody is weird.

I do get into the less monotonous work to the point I will be thinking critically about it outside of work, and love it far more than law school. I am definitely not miserable when at work.

It's more just being a human. I like not being sexually repulsive by exercising, like having sex and like falling in love. I am not stupid enough to bring these likes into work. If I pushed harder, I would probably have to forfeit dating and exercising as 12 hours, plus meals with 8 hours of sleep and 1.5 hours commute just about ='s 24 hours.

Again, I'm not lazy. There is not an endless amount of available work, and it's not that hard.

I don't think what you're saying is *that* unreasonable, and except for the way you present it, pretty typical at my 97-100% offer rate firm, but if there's a plausible 80% offer rate, I think I'd be doing amore to make sure I wasn't one of the ones without an offer at the end. It's just a few months.

[NYSprague]

What do you mean that you've missed a lot of phone calls? Is anyone else working the same hours as you?

My guess is that your attitude of work not being the highest priority is apparent. No idea if it means a no offer. Hard to tell without knowing the quality of your work product.

[fishfry111]

[

[Jency]

SAs you will enjoy your summer once you calm your anxiety. Everyone at my firm was offered, all of my friends were offered, and the friends of my friends were all offered. Actually, I do not know of anyone who was not offered and this includes friends of SAs. I have yet to hear anyone say that they knew of, or heard about, someone that was not offered.

I know of at least 3 people here who were no offered. Don't forget that southern markets don't give 100% offers generally.

Also happens up north. Remember the guys who were cold-cocked In Winston Strawn's Chi office only couple years ago. 1/3 wer no-offered. Came out of the blue.....poor bastards never knew what hit'em.

It is awful when a firm takes a dive and a lot of people are hurt. What I am referring to are healthy firms where SAs are judged on their work. The stat probably doesn’t exist (or not easily net accessible), so if one had to guess about the overall "we do not think you can cut it" no-offer %. Perhaps, 1-3%?

(I know a couple 3Ls who did not gain any meaningful summer work…that is heartbreakingly unfortunate not to be able to secure a chance.)

[lgleye]

.

[2014]

Okay, this may be a useful measure: does anyone know a website where we can chec k the financial health of our firm? (the "writing on the wall', good/bad vibes" that sort of thing?

Pretty sure there's nothing better than whatever ATL gets ahold of. If you looked at multi-year Revenue/Head Count/PPP trends, particular compared to peer firms that might be useful but I'm pretty sure that data is self reported and/or often several percentage points off.

[09042014]

Okay, this may be a useful measure: does anyone know a website where we can chec k the financial health of our firm? (the "writing on the wall', good/bad vibes" that sort of thing?

Nah, and even the "vibes" shit you see posted on ATL and TLS aren't really good information.

TBH, if the financial health of the firm is publicly known as bad when you OCI, they are probably already cut their class size. Howry and Dewey weren't known as bad a year in advance. And plenty of firms were declared dead in the water, who have gone on for years with 100% offers.

IMO other than maybe some V20's (and only some), you aren't totally secure.

[fl0w]

http://www.law.yale.edu/studentlife/cdo ... lehour.htm

Saw that in another thread. Thought y'all might enjoy it.

[fruitlobber]

Does anyone else here rely a lot on law review articles for legal research? Or am I doing it wrong

[Danger Zone]

Does anyone else here rely a lot on law review articles for legal research? Or am I doing it wrong

They're definitely useful, but I always run my own searches as a sanity check

[09042014]

Does anyone else here rely a lot on law review articles for legal research? Or am I doing it wrong

It's sort of rare when one hits your topics, but when it does, it's a goldmine. Though I'd only really mine the stuff for citations. They are often written by people who haven't practiced a day in their life.

[brotherdarkness]

.