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I somehow managed to trick a super desirable semi-boutique firm in my small market to hire me for a paid gig 1L summer. It also continues through 2L year and historically, through 2L summer and often ends up in an offer after graduation.

This is all great, but there is a problem. The two students ahead of me (this firm typically does 1 intern per year) have federal clerkships lined up. The 3L has a term position (and also other ridiculously stellar credentials) and the 2L for a summer position with an ultra-rare externship, but this means the 2L won't be around to offer advice for me this summer. I am likely in the top 10-15% of my class but certainly an underachiever compared to my predecessors at this firm. I am losing sleep. Need advice/encouragement/whiskey advice.

TL;DR: I am following two wicked smart kids and am terrified that I am undeserving of this opportunity. Has anyone experienced something like this? Other than giving it my best, any other advice?

Grab some confidence and don't be a pussy.

This is serious advice.

You frighten easily, and may need medication for pathological anxiety.

+1 to both responses above. Do your job, ask questions, meet deadlines, don't get smashed during working hours.

relax, the firm hired you because they feel that you're capable of doing the job, not because you TRICKED them. The firm will take you under their wing and mentor you throughout the summer. Take advantage of being paid and receiving the experience.

Maximize the factors you can control and don't worry about the ones you can't.

Applied to this situation -- you can control your performance working for the firm, and you can (to some extent) control the alternative options you have to this firm for post-grad employment. You cannot control your predecessors.

Recommendation -- work your butt off and do OCI to get another offer in your pocket. If they aren't willing to make any kind of assurances based on your 1L work, leverage your alternative offer to a firm where you are more likely to be hired following graduation.

OP: are you really so beta that you're questioning your ability to perform a job that you've not even started yet because the people you're working with have achieved something impressive? Sack up.

Srsly. Managing to trick the super-desirable semi-boutique firm into hiring you as a paid 1L already shows that you have half the skills necessary to succeed.

Thanks for the positive feedback on the four-beers-in post. I'm gonna crush this shit.

Anonymous User wrote:Thanks for the positive feedback on the four-beers-in post. I'm gonna crush this shit.

Not a bro, not a soristitute slayer, not a guido....

But yeah, FIST BUMP.

Anonymous User wrote:Not a bro, not a soristitute slayer, not a guido....

But yeah, FIST BUMP.

Eh, it was one of the first non-Obama fist bumps to come up that wasn't a cartoon or something.

patrickd139 wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:Thanks for the positive feedback on the four-beers-in post. I'm gonna crush this shit.

I always wondered what happened to Slater from Saved By The Bell.