feeling dumb at summer internship Forum

[Anonymous User]

I am working hard and asking questions but I just feel so dumb at my internship. I am so unsure of what I am doing. Anyone else feel that way?

[Renzo]

Oh, you Generation Y'ers and your need for constant, incessant, feedback and reassurance.

[fatduck]

Oh, you Generation Y'ers and your need for constant, incessant, feedback and reassurance.

get off my lawn

[poprox]

no. I'm getting to do everything (client interviews, drafting motions, writing letters, doing research, writing memos, etc), and I really like it. I definitely don't know the law extensively, and I'm (relatively) unfamiliar with legal practice, but what can employers expect? We are but law school students.

[Anonymous User]

I am working hard and asking questions but I just feel so dumb at my internship. I am so unsure of what I am doing. Anyone else feel that way?

Yup.

You're probably come across as less dumb than you think you are. At least this is what I keep telling myself. |:

Also, if it's not the kind of job that leads to an offer, try not to worry about it too much? You should always try and make a good impression but it's not like these people are going to get tons of calls asking how awesome you are.

[Anonymous User]

Don't worry. I feel super dumb/useless as well. I've completed the two projects assigned to me and am literally waiting for something else to do, as my boss flat out told me he doesn't have anything else for me to do and hasn't had time to read what I've done yet...

[NotMyRealName09]

You will feel incompetent. Welcome to the law.

[Bronte]

At first I felt like I was the man but then I got an assignment that whooped my ass. At one point I got so overwhelmed that I had to get up and just walk around in circles in my office. Eventually I pulled something together that at least looked like a memo at 75% zoom.

[thickfreakness]

I roped in a couple of big new clients and I'll be starting as an equity partner when I graduate in two years.

[warumnicht]

I vacillate between having what I like to think are moments of research brilliance and feeling completely stumped. I'm currently working on two assignments that have no applicable case law, and even secondary sources are limited to a couple of sentences.

In making their hiring decisions, do firms take stock of the fact that some of the assignments are pretty darn difficult and your best isn't necessarily enough? Partners have told me that they're asking me to look for a possibly non-existent needle in a haystack, so I shouldn't be too disappointed in myself if I don't find anything, but it's hard not to feel like you're sub par...

[traehekat]

I vacillate between having what I like to think are moments of research brilliance and feeling completely stumped.

this

[Borhas]

it's called learning, it's supposed to feel that way

[Br3v]

Has anyone mentioned anything to you? If not I would imagine its mostly in your head.

[TTH]

Currently feeling dumb because I can't find an answer to a question, but to be fair, I don't think the answer exists.

[goodolgil]

I vacillate between having what I like to think are moments of research brilliance and feeling completely stumped. I'm currently working on two assignments that have no applicable case law, and even secondary sources are limited to a couple of sentences.

In making their hiring decisions, do firms take stock of the fact that some of the assignments are pretty darn difficult and your best isn't necessarily enough? Partners have told me that they're asking me to look for a possibly non-existent needle in a haystack, so I shouldn't be too disappointed in myself if I don't find anything, but it's hard not to feel like you're sub par...

It doesn't help that a lot of the research assignments they throw at you are about shit they couldn't find anything on when they looked and them hoping you'll find a needle in the haystack.

Well, at least it's happened to me.

[Danteshek]

Call the westlaw research attorneys.

[TTH]

Call the westlaw research attorneys.

That shit's actually helpful? Hmm

[Doritos]

Call the westlaw research attorneys.

That shit's actually helpful? Hmm

They have been known to build a search for you and then email the terms to you.

[Borhas]

Call the westlaw research attorneys.

That shit's actually helpful? Hmm

they will literally do your work for you

(wtf else are they going to do all day long?)

[merc280]

Call the westlaw research attorneys.

That shit's actually helpful? Hmm

they will literally do your work for you

(wtf else are they going to do all day long?)

here's to outsourcing work.

[TTH]

But won't they bill the shit out of the firm for that?

[thickfreakness]

But won't they bill the shit out of the firm for that?

Nope. It's included as part of the service. You can do it in law school, too. Our ref librarians at the firm are pretty good and can help you build effective queries/strategies as well.

[Moxie]

I am working hard and asking questions but I just feel so dumb at my internship. I am so unsure of what I am doing. Anyone else feel that way?

This is what happens when you're doing something new or unfamiliar. It's fine, just ask questions when you need to and make sure you're following instructions.