1L summer work Forum

[lawiscold]

Long time reader, first time poster. I have a question about summer employment.

I go to a school in the lower half of the T14 (discount Berkely, Duke, UVA to limit the geographic region). I currently have the option to take jobs with 2 different AG offices. One is on the east coast. The other is out west (friend works for them). Can get funding for both of them. A professor from my school has offered me an RA position for the summer. He wrote the book for the course, which is also used in several other schools. The RA positions is not for the whole summer. I may be able to swing a split summer with the west coast AG office but not sure about the east coast office. Lastly, I have an interview with a NYC firm in a few weeks.

So I am unsure what to do. If the firm pans out, the money is too good to pass up. But the RA position is with a top scholar in the field and would be a great relationship builder. Plus it was an area that I loved and the professor was great. IF the firm works out, I would ask about a split which CSO says shouldn't be a problem as a 1L. But if the firm does not, that is where I am stuck.

I want to work in NYC or DC. So if I take the RA position, I would try to work it out so I could split with the east coast AG. But if I can't, the west coast AG is an option. But not sure it is worth heading out west when I prefer to work east.

Thoughts on what to do if the firm doesn't work out? Do I take the RA and convince the east coast AG to split summer? Take the RA and look for another east coast position? Take the RA and then head out west after?

[target]

any chance the AG job on the east coast is near NY or DC?

[NoleinNY]

Long time reader, first time poster. I have a question about summer employment.

I go to a school in the lower half of the T14 (discount Berkely, Duke, UVA to limit the geographic region). I currently have the option to take jobs with 2 different AG offices. One is on the east coast. The other is out west (friend works for them). Can get funding for both of them. A professor from my school has offered me an RA position for the summer. He wrote the book for the course, which is also used in several other schools. The RA positions is not for the whole summer. I may be able to swing a split summer with the west coast AG office but not sure about the east coast office. Lastly, I have an interview with a NYC firm in a few weeks.

So I am unsure what to do. If the firm pans out, the money is too good to pass up. But the RA position is with a top scholar in the field and would be a great relationship builder. Plus it was an area that I loved and the professor was great. IF the firm works out, I would ask about a split which CSO says shouldn't be a problem as a 1L. But if the firm does not, that is where I am stuck.

I want to work in NYC or DC. So if I take the RA position, I would try to work it out so I could split with the east coast AG. But if I can't, the west coast AG is an option. But not sure it is worth heading out west when I prefer to work east.

Thoughts on what to do if the firm doesn't work out? Do I take the RA and convince the east coast AG to split summer? Take the RA and look for another east coast position? Take the RA and then head out west after?

Split the summer between the RA position and AG. RAing is can be very valuable and quite the experience. That, plus an AG line on your resume will make you golden.

EDIT: What kind of firm is it?

[lawiscold]

The AG office is in New Jersey or Pennsylvania. The firm is a Big Law firm at the bottom of the Vault 100.

Thanks for the advice. I guess I should add that Big Law litigation is what I want to do in the NYC or DC area.

[lawiscold]

Just checked my email. Another professor (considered a rising scholar in area) sent me an email offering a research assistant position. Now that is added to the mix. Would it be possible to do 2 RA positions and then head to the AG office? Should I see if the 2 RA positions equal a full summer's worth of work. And am I even allowed to RA for 2 professors?

Note school is basically shut down for the next week so can't contact them.

[NoleinNY]

Just checked my email. Another professor (considered a rising scholar in area) sent me an email offering a research assistant position. Now that is added to the mix. Would it be possible to do 2 RA positions and then head to the AG office? Should I see if the 2 RA positions equal a full summer's worth of work. And am I even allowed to RA for 2 professors?

Note school is basically shut down for the next week so can't contact them.

As cool as that sounds, I'd just choose the top scholar professor. He is going to have more name recognition and may have more connections. Plus, like all investments, diversify your funds.

If it were me in your shoes, the perfect situation would be RA + Firm. What are the deadlines for responding to the AGs? If the deadlines are far off, wait until you hear back from the firm. If you get an offer, ask if they'll let you split. If you don't get the firm, RA + AG would be my vote.

If you get the firm, but they don't allow split summers... Well, you'll have to cross that bridge when you get to it.

[c3pO4]

Take the V100 if you can get it. Otherwise, it won't matter, but an RA position will give you more time to chill.

[Detrox]

Just checked my email. Another professor (considered a rising scholar in area) sent me an email offering a research assistant position. Now that is added to the mix. Would it be possible to do 2 RA positions and then head to the AG office? Should I see if the 2 RA positions equal a full summer's worth of work. And am I even allowed to RA for 2 professors?

Note school is basically shut down for the next week so can't contact them.

RAed for two profs my 1L summer. Very nice gig which left me a lot to talk about in my firm interviews as a 2L and I had a lot more schedule flexibility and summer enjoyment then a fair amount of my peers. It's less work, so less money, but very rewarding in my opinion. I recommend it if the firm job doesn't pan out. Check with your school employment office on whether and how you can set it up. Professors' secretaries also tend to know a great deal about this and usually quite helpful.

[lawschoolgrapedme]

I'd have to disagree with RAing being a major plus from a hiring perspective. Work experience trumps all, and you don't get that RAing. Law firms want lawyers, not researchers.

Go to the firm.

[c3pO4]

I'd have to disagree with RAing being a major plus from a hiring perspective. Work experience trumps all, and you don't get that RAing. Law firms want lawyers, not researchers.

Go to the firm.

It doesn't matter. Either one is good enough to make you eligible for a 2L OCI win. Your distinctions are without a meaningful difference.

[lawiscold]

Thank you for all of your help.

So I will wait until after the new year to make any decisions. Once everything with the firm plays out and I can talk with the first professor personally. But it seems likely that the first RA is something I will take.

And does the fact I interned at a law firm for almost a year alter the process at all? I was nothing more than a glorified paper copier and proofreader, but it is still on my resume. Not sure if that is the type of experience firms look for.

[Anonymous User]

I RA'ed for my school's "top" professor. I have to say that I was a bit let down. First, whoever said that firms want lawyers, not researchers is precisely right. In interviews, I had tons of questions about "why a big firm?" considering that I chose the academic path for my first summer. Firms were almost suspicious that I didn't go after real law firm work. Second, my prof is a big deal at my school and in academia, but guess how much currency that carried to big law? None. They don't know him from Joe Schmoe.

It was an awesome job because I enjoyed the work, I worked reasonable hours, got to work from home in sweat pants, enjoyed the summer, and really enjoyed my time with the prof. Basically, it was all in the moment stuff. But the position also did not help me in the slightest way during job interviews.

[lawiscold]

I RA'ed for my school's "top" professor. I have to say that I was a bit let down. First, whoever said that firms want lawyers, not researchers is precisely right. In interviews, I had tons of questions about "why a big firm?" considering that I chose the academic path for my first summer. Firms were almost suspicious that I didn't go after real law firm work. Second, my prof is a big deal at my school and in academia, but guess how much currency that carried to big law? None. They don't know him from Joe Schmoe.

It was an awesome job because I enjoyed the work, I worked reasonable hours, got to work from home in sweat pants, enjoyed the summer, and really enjoyed my time with the prof. Basically, it was all in the moment stuff. But the position also did not help me in the slightest way during job interviews.

Thanks for your input. Did you professor work in an area that also involved consulting on cases? The area my professor works in often involves consulting, sometimes with Big Law (at least based on anecdotes in class).

[NoleinNY]

I RA'ed for my school's "top" professor. I have to say that I was a bit let down. First, whoever said that firms want lawyers, not researchers is precisely right. In interviews, I had tons of questions about "why a big firm?" considering that I chose the academic path for my first summer. Firms were almost suspicious that I didn't go after real law firm work. Second, my prof is a big deal at my school and in academia, but guess how much currency that carried to big law? None. They don't know him from Joe Schmoe.

It was an awesome job because I enjoyed the work, I worked reasonable hours, got to work from home in sweat pants, enjoyed the summer, and really enjoyed my time with the prof. Basically, it was all in the moment stuff. But the position also did not help me in the slightest way during job interviews.

That is the first time I've ever heard a RA say that. All the RA's I know (including one with a Vault offer this summer) ever had this kind of issue because they had an RA gig 1L summer.

Most firms know that finding a 1L firm gig is rare.

[lawiscold]

Bringing this back up for an update and some more advice.

Interview with firm went well, but no 1L SA. Good news is that I was informed to not be concerned with bidding on the firm for OCI. I was told to email a partner I met with and they would arrange a call-back interview along with other candidates. Consider that good news.

On the RA front, I spoke with the professor about how long the position was. He wanted me full-time, all summer. Thoughts on taking the position?