ITT: Summer Associates Post About Their Anxiety (2012) Forum

[ruski]

Question:

I've been told by several attorneys that you should never apologize when you're unavailable (like missing a call, or taking a while to return an email) and even if you've made a mistake. Instead, you should briefly explain why you were unavailable, or if you made a mistake to just say, "I'll fix it" and then go right ahead and do it. My assignment director even went out of his way to call me and tell me to that effect.

My natural disposition is rather apologetic so I find it a little bizarre. I'm sure some of you think the contrary, but in what circumstances? Genuinely just trying to gauge what is proper communicative etiquette in big law.

it has nothing to do with law. being over apologetic just makes you look like you have really low self esteem. its one thing if you make a huge mistake, but if a partner just corrects you here and there just take it and go, no need to over dramatize about it begging for forgiveness. this applies in all cases. look at any PUA book and they will tell you the same thing when you're out with women. being over apologetic makes you look weak and is just an inattractive quality in general

[20121109]

Question:

I've been told by several attorneys that you should never apologize when you're unavailable (like missing a call, or taking a while to return an email) and even if you've made a mistake. Instead, you should briefly explain why you were unavailable, or if you made a mistake to just say, "I'll fix it" and then go right ahead and do it. My assignment director even went out of his way to call me and tell me to that effect.

My natural disposition is rather apologetic so I find it a little bizarre. I'm sure some of you think the contrary, but in what circumstances? Genuinely just trying to gauge what is proper communicative etiquette in big law.

it has nothing to do with law. being over apologetic just makes you look like you have really low self esteem. its one thing if you make a huge mistake, but if a partner just corrects you here and there just take it and go, no need to over dramatize about it begging for forgiveness. this applies in all cases. look at any PUA book and they will tell you the same thing when you're out with women. being over apologetic makes you look weak and is just an inattractive quality in general

Definitely wasn't begging for forgiveness but your point is well taken. Everyone makes mistakes; it's how you handle them that makes the difference. I appreciate your advice <3

[de5igual]

no word on offers until August from my first half firm. the anticipation/anxiety is KILLING me. (almost, but not quite, like http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 3&t=164767)

[20121109]

no word on offers until August from my first half firm. the anticipation/anxiety is KILLING me. (almost, but not quite, like http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 3&t=164767)

Hahaha...you should probably make a new thread for those who have actually secured and experienced life as an SA! I'm sure people will freak out with you! I still have five weeks left!

[los blancos]

no word on offers until August from my first half firm. the anticipation/anxiety is KILLING me. (almost, but not quite, like http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 3&t=164767)

You should be thankful; I probably won't know until October.

[Old Gregg]

no word on offers until August from my first half firm. the anticipation/anxiety is KILLING me. (almost, but not quite, like http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 3&t=164767)

You should be thankful; I probably won't know until October.

lol your firm must suck

Payback is nice.

[ben4847]

Post if you're in the office today. We'll all make fun.

[fatduck]

Post if you're in the office today. We'll all make fun.

um i'm sorry if you think you should get the 4th of july off you're RIDICULOUS

they're paying you $3,000 a week i'm sorry if your bitch nature can't handle it but you don't need a break.

the associates doing REAL WORK need the holiday much more than you do. you should be staying late on the 4th of july reorganizing their offices you ungrateful fuck. the juniors are the ones making america worth living in so i don't see why you think you deserve to celebrate yet since you haven't done SHIT.

/freshprince'd

[Old Gregg]

Post if you're in the office today. We'll all make fun.

um i'm sorry if you think you should get the 4th of july off you're RIDICULOUS

they're paying you $3,000 a week i'm sorry if your bitch nature can't handle it but you don't need a break.

the associates doing REAL WORK need the holiday much more than you do. you should be staying late on the 4th of july reorganizing their offices you ungrateful fuck. the juniors are the ones making america worth living in so i don't see why you think you deserve to celebrate yet since you haven't done SHIT.

/freshprince'd

LOL Nah. I'm taking this day off too. Obviously you missed the point of my posts, but it's fine. I don't really take you seriously anyways.

[fatduck]

Post if you're in the office today. We'll all make fun.

um i'm sorry if you think you should get the 4th of july off you're RIDICULOUS

they're paying you $3,000 a week i'm sorry if your bitch nature can't handle it but you don't need a break.

the associates doing REAL WORK need the holiday much more than you do. you should be staying late on the 4th of july reorganizing their offices you ungrateful fuck. the juniors are the ones making america worth living in so i don't see why you think you deserve to celebrate yet since you haven't done SHIT.

/freshprince'd

LOL Nah. I'm taking this day off too. Obviously you missed the point of my posts, but it's fine. I don't really take you seriously anyways.

interesting that you can take a holiday but not a joke

[Old Gregg]

Post if you're in the office today. We'll all make fun.

um i'm sorry if you think you should get the 4th of july off you're RIDICULOUS

they're paying you $3,000 a week i'm sorry if your bitch nature can't handle it but you don't need a break.

the associates doing REAL WORK need the holiday much more than you do. you should be staying late on the 4th of july reorganizing their offices you ungrateful fuck. the juniors are the ones making america worth living in so i don't see why you think you deserve to celebrate yet since you haven't done SHIT.

/freshprince'd

LOL Nah. I'm taking this day off too. Obviously you missed the point of my posts, but it's fine. I don't really take you seriously anyways.

interesting that you can take a holiday but not a joke

Whoa, I'm sorry if my post came across as rude. I don't take your posts seriously, but do you want me to? I'm pretty sure they're comic value, and for what they are, they're 100% hilarious. I laugh my balls off every time I read them.

[fatduck]

it's my bad, man. shitboomers like r6_philly got me on edge.

[r6_philly]

it's my bad, man. shitboomers like r6_philly got me on edge.

Dude how are you ever going to hold a job down?

[somewhatwayward]

what happened to this thread?

i am working on july 4th, albeit at home. i have way too many assignments while my officemate sits around without work and refuses to volunteer for any assignments unless they're in the area he wants to practice.

[r6_philly]

what happened to this thread?

i am working on july 4th, albeit at home. i have way too many assignments while my officemate sits around without work and refuses to volunteer for any assignments unless they're in the area he wants to practice.

I feel like you both are not quite managing it well. We were told to not take on too much work because it's not realistic for juniors to take on too much work. You end up rushing and not do a great job, and you will not get work again from that same partner/senior. On the other hand your office mate may have a tough time filling hours. We were told finding a balance is very hard, and most people fail which brings undue stress (about messing up, or about not having enough hours).

[ben4847]

what happened to this thread?

i am working on july 4th, albeit at home. i have way too many assignments while my officemate sits around without work and refuses to volunteer for any assignments unless they're in the area he wants to practice.

And the kicker is that you'll probably both get an offer. (Now imagine if he gets one and you don't. That would make you good and mad.)

I actually was in that situation a bit back, where my officemate was swamped and I had nothing. So I took one of his projects and did it for him. I thought he would get the credit, but it turns out I did.

[IAFG]

what happened to this thread?

i am working on july 4th, albeit at home. i have way too many assignments while my officemate sits around without work and refuses to volunteer for any assignments unless they're in the area he wants to practice.

I feel like you both are not quite managing it well. We were told to not take on too much work because it's not realistic for juniors to take on too much work. You end up rushing and not do a great job, and you will not get work again from that same partner/senior. On the other hand your office mate may have a tough time filling hours. We were told finding a balance is very hard, and most people fail which brings undue stress (about messing up, or about not having enough hours).

Does your firm care about billables for summers?

Also, lol @ having officemates

[somewhatwayward]

what happened to this thread?

i am working on july 4th, albeit at home. i have way too many assignments while my officemate sits around without work and refuses to volunteer for any assignments unless they're in the area he wants to practice.

And the kicker is that you'll probably both get an offer. (Now imagine if he gets one and you don't. That would make you good and mad.)

I actually was in that situation a bit back, where my officemate was swamped and I had nothing. So I took one of his projects and did it for him. I thought he would get the credit, but it turns out I did.

i'm sure we'll both get offers. the question will be whether we get them in the practice area we want.

what happened with my assignments is that the first five or seven i got were dead, so i kept getting more and suddenly a bunch of the old ones came back from the dead. our firm does not care about our hours at all.

however, i am learning a lot doing so much work.

[r6_philly]

Does your firm care about billables for summers?

Also, lol @ having officemates

Not really, they said we are there to learn, experience, and build relationships, not to generate fees. They evaluate us on how we work (on real issues) and how we fit in, not how much work we do during the summer. I guess that's why the summer program is ranked so high.

[IAFG]

Does your firm care about billables for summers?

Also, lol @ having officemates

Not really, they said we are there to learn, experience, and build relationships, not to generate fees. They evaluate us on how we work (on real issues) and how we fit in, not how much work we do during the summer. I guess that's why the summer program is ranked so high.

Where are these "summer program rankings" you keep alluding to?

[r6_philly]

however, i am learning a lot doing so much work.

That's a plus. I actually took the time (after finishing my part) to read all the brief/motions that I get to work on (including the opposing side's) so I can learn more. But that's so much better when you are not under pressure to bill and to turn it in.

[r6_philly]

Where are these "summer program rankings" you keep alluding to?

The Vault and AM Law ones. Didn't you get links to fill out the surveys?

[IAFG]

Where are these "summer program rankings" you keep alluding to?

The Vault and AM Law ones. Didn't you get links to fill out the surveys?

I dunno, maybe, I don't fill out surveys.

[Anonymous User]

Where are these "summer program rankings" you keep alluding to?

The Vault and AM Law ones. Didn't you get links to fill out the surveys?

Maybe that's why my firm's summer program isn't ranked high (or whatever the fuck that even means) .
No one sent us a survey.

[ben4847]

I filled out the survey already. Now, if I get no-offered the only way to get them back will be by posting about it here. (and insider trading on their deals)