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I would like to split my summer between NYC and my regional, hometown market.

My NYC firm requires minimum of 8 weeks. Don't know about the hometown one.

In Texas, most firms require 6. The only common exception occurs where you worked for one of the firms that you are trying to split with as a 1L. In this case, some firms are more flexible and will allow permit fewer weeks (on a case-by-case basis).

The conventional wisdom these days is that spitting your summer between two firms is the best way to get an offer from neither. Your experience may vary, but its something worth thinking about.

Anonymous User wrote:I would like to split my summer between NYC and my regional, hometown market.

My NYC firm requires minimum of 8 weeks. Don't know about the hometown one.

bad idea.

Outside of TX, very few markets actually allow splitting (particularly NYC and small markets).

chadwick218 wrote:In Texas, most firms require 6. The only common exception occurs where you worked for one of the firms that you are trying to split with as a 1L. In this case, some firms are more flexible and will allow permit fewer weeks (on a case-by-case basis).

Thanks for you on-point advice, chadwick.

Anonymous User wrote:

chadwick218 wrote:In Texas, most firms require 6. The only common exception occurs where you worked for one of the firms that you are trying to split with as a 1L. In this case, some firms are more flexible and will allow permit fewer weeks (on a case-by-case basis).

Thanks for you on-point advice, chadwick.

I take it that this was an attempt at sarcasm. Alas, given that Texas is really the only market that allows split summers, I feel that it serves as a fair proxy.

Does the notion that splitting hurts your chances of getting an offer apply to firms that have only 8 week (as opposed to 10) summer programs too?

chadwick218 wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:

chadwick218 wrote:In Texas, most firms require 6. The only common exception occurs where you worked for one of the firms that you are trying to split with as a 1L. In this case, some firms are more flexible and will allow permit fewer weeks (on a case-by-case basis).

Thanks for you on-point advice, chadwick.

I take it that this was an attempt at sarcasm. Alas, given that Texas is really the only market that allows split summers, I feel that it serves as a fair proxy.

No sarcasm. It was a jab at the other posters who comment that splitting will lead to two no-offers without bothering to help me answer the question.

Anonymous User wrote:Does the notion that splitting hurts your chances of getting an offer apply to firms that have only 8 week (as opposed to 10) summer programs too?

So long as you are able to honor the 8 week requirement, probably not. However, in a market where splits are not common the recruiting/management committee will nevertheless question your committment to the firm (especially when the firm is not in a position to give 100% offers).

chadwick218 wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:Does the notion that splitting hurts your chances of getting an offer apply to firms that have only 8 week (as opposed to 10) summer programs too?

So long as you are able to honor the 8 week requirement, probably not. However, in a market where splits are not common the recruiting/management committee will nevertheless question your committment to the firm (especially when the firm is not in a position to give 100% offers).

I was thinking of doing 6 out of the 8 weeks at each firm. Bad idea? I would like the money from the four additional weeks.

Anonymous User wrote:

chadwick218 wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:Does the notion that splitting hurts your chances of getting an offer apply to firms that have only 8 week (as opposed to 10) summer programs too?

So long as you are able to honor the 8 week requirement, probably not. However, in a market where splits are not common the recruiting/management committee will nevertheless question your committment to the firm (especially when the firm is not in a position to give 100% offers).

I was thinking of doing 6 out of the 8 weeks at each firm. Bad idea? I would like the money from the four additional weeks.

Of course it's a bad idea.

disco_barred wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:

chadwick218 wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:Does the notion that splitting hurts your chances of getting an offer apply to firms that have only 8 week (as opposed to 10) summer programs too?

So long as you are able to honor the 8 week requirement, probably not. However, in a market where splits are not common the recruiting/management committee will nevertheless question your committment to the firm (especially when the firm is not in a position to give 100% offers).

I was thinking of doing 6 out of the 8 weeks at each firm. Bad idea? I would like the money from the four additional weeks.

Of course it's a bad idea.

OP here: yes, I agree this is a bad idea. I'm thinking of doing 10 and 6. Classes end in early May and start in September, so it's possible.

Anonymous User wrote:OP here: yes, I agree this is a bad idea. I'm thinking of doing 10 and 6. Classes end in early May and start in September, so it's possible.

It seems to be a bad idea here. The NYC firm is unlikely to budge. With resecpt to the local firm, be careful not to push your summer past their preset summer dates.

A firm like Cravath requires you work a minimum of the first 10 weeks when splitting. And it would not permit you to split with another NYC firm.

Anonymous User wrote:A firm like Cravath requires you work a minimum of the first 10 weeks when splitting. And it would not permit you to split with another NYC firm.

Yes, that's very nice of Cravath to be so flexible.

Now, NYC 10 weeks. Secondary market 6 weeks. I feel I can land an offer from NYC with 10 weeks of work. In a sec mkt, 6 weeks should do the trick, too. Not too worried about that.

Anonymous User wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:A firm like Cravath requires you work a minimum of the first 10 weeks when splitting. And it would not permit you to split with another NYC firm.

Yes, that's very nice of Cravath to be so flexible.

Now, NYC 10 weeks. Secondary market 6 weeks. I feel I can land an offer from NYC with 10 weeks of work. In a sec mkt, 6 weeks should do the trick, too. Not too worried about that.

It's not just how long you're there; it's also the fact that if a firm is forced to no-offer because of the economy (again), you'll be on the bottom of the offer list.

Anonymous User wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:A firm like Cravath requires you work a minimum of the first 10 weeks when splitting. And it would not permit you to split with another NYC firm.

Yes, that's very nice of Cravath to be so flexible.

Now, NYC 10 weeks. Secondary market 6 weeks. I feel I can land an offer from NYC with 10 weeks of work. In a sec mkt, 6 weeks should do the trick, too. Not too worried about that.

It's not just how long you're there; it's also the fact that if a firm is forced to no-offer because of the economy (again), you'll be on the bottom of the offer list.

Exactly. It's a matter of appearing committed, not a matter of the firm having time to evaluate your work (no matter what they say).

Anonymous User wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:A firm like Cravath requires you work a minimum of the first 10 weeks when splitting. And it would not permit you to split with another NYC firm.

Yes, that's very nice of Cravath to be so flexible.

Now, NYC 10 weeks. Secondary market 6 weeks. I feel I can land an offer from NYC with 10 weeks of work. In a sec mkt, 6 weeks should do the trick, too. Not too worried about that.

It's not just how long you're there; it's also the fact that if a firm is forced to no-offer because of the economy (again), you'll be on the bottom of the offer list.

Not necessarily. If your work is good, you interact and get along well with people, and you demonstrate an enthusiasm for the firm and a commitment to working there after you graduate, I think you'd be able to get away with 2 fewer weeks.

Anonymous User wrote:I would like to split my summer between NYC and my regional, hometown market.

My NYC firm requires minimum of 8 weeks. Don't know about the hometown one.

In my hometown market you can do as little as 2 weeks if you worked at the firm 1L summer. And, contrary to some posts above, Texas is not the only market that allows splitting.

Anonymous User wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:A firm like Cravath requires you work a minimum of the first 10 weeks when splitting. And it would not permit you to split with another NYC firm.

Yes, that's very nice of Cravath to be so flexible.

Now, NYC 10 weeks. Secondary market 6 weeks. I feel I can land an offer from NYC with 10 weeks of work. In a sec mkt, 6 weeks should do the trick, too. Not too worried about that.

It's not just how long you're there; it's also the fact that if a firm is forced to no-offer because of the economy (again), you'll be on the bottom of the offer list.

Not necessarily. If your work is good, you interact and get along well with people, and you demonstrate an enthusiasm for the firm and a commitment to working there after you graduate, I think you'd be able to get away with 2 fewer weeks.

There's only so much commitment you can show when you proceed to leave and go work somewhere else.

That being said, if the firm is in the position to take all summers, you're fine.

Is it idiotic to ask an NYC firm to allow me to spend the second half of the summer there?

Anonymous User wrote:Is it idiotic to ask an NYC firm to allow me to spend the second half of the summer there?

Assuming v100, they're going to say no...

Anonymous User wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:
Yes, that's very nice of Cravath to be so flexible.

Now, NYC 10 weeks. Secondary market 6 weeks. I feel I can land an offer from NYC with 10 weeks of work. In a sec mkt, 6 weeks should do the trick, too. Not too worried about that.

It's not just how long you're there; it's also the fact that if a firm is forced to no-offer because of the economy (again), you'll be on the bottom of the offer list.

Not necessarily. If your work is good, you interact and get along well with people, and you demonstrate an enthusiasm for the firm and a commitment to working there after you graduate, I think you'd be able to get away with 2 fewer weeks.

There's only so much commitment you can show when you proceed to leave and go work somewhere else.

That being said, if the firm is in the position to take all summers, you're fine.

And there's only so much damage leaving 2 weeks early can do.

I did a very similar split this past summer (10 weeks and 6 weeks). I now have an offer from the big firm and am waiting to hear back from the small firm (I was warned that they usually make decisions in early oct!). It was a good move for me--I am really glad I was able to experience the feeling of working in a smaller firm. But I would only recommend splitting to someone who has a strong primary firm that had a near 100% offer rate in 2009. I would not pull this with a Weil or a Shearman.