Seyfarth Shaw Summer Fellowship Forum

[Anonymous User]

Does anyone have any information on their program-specifically New York? What the summer is like, what pay is like, how does this translate into post-graduate position, etc? Any info would be great.

[Anonymous User]

I have a friend who recently left syfarth at another office (and had not pleasant things to say, but this wasn't in NYC) who seemed to think that the summer fellow program is less involved than other biglaw SAs, more doc review type things, and not a guaranteed position.

still, seemed like a decent option for someone who didn't get biglaw. pay is below market (for associates at least) but around secondary market level.

[Anonymous User]

according to NALP, salary is 145k. not sure what it is for the fellowship, though.

i also wonder what the chances are for those in the fellowship to full time offers? i assume it's not nearly as good as getting an SA at most firms, but i doubt a firm would dump a summer's worth of resources into someone if they weren't at least giving a lot of real consideration for full time offers.

[Anonymous User]

Does anyone have any more info on their program? Sounds intriguing (Vault #1 in L&E)

[Anonymous User]

Does anyone have any more info on their program? Sounds intriguing (Vault #1 in L&E)

Seems like a very small program; plus, it's only for people that have at least some Labor & Employment background. Are they even hiring still?

[Anonymous User]

Has anyone heard anything from them? Looking for info on the summer program, offer rate, etc--NALP is pretty vague regarding summer-->associate

[Anonymous User]

Does anyone have any more info on their program? Sounds intriguing (Vault #1 in L&E)

Seems like a very small program; plus, it's only for people that have at least some Labor & Employment background. Are they even hiring still?

As I understand, they've only just started scheduling interviews and haven't extended any offers yet.

Here's more information:

Seyfarth Shaw addresses associate training through two fellowship programs designed for those who want to practice labor and employment law.

Bill Schurgin, the Chicago chairman of the firm's labor and employment practice group, said the firm runs one for summer associates and another for senior fellows offered positions at the firm.

"Our summer program is independent," said Schurgin, who runs the summer and senior fellow programs. "We do require students to have a demonstrated interest in labor and employment in order to be accepted, but I don't expect that everyone who goes through it will want to practice in a large firm.

"During our summer program, we try and get all the fellows together from different offices twice a week. We do presentations on subject matter areas, teach them how to write for a large firm and explain how we operate. We have been using Lean Six Sigma principles in our SeyfarthLean initiative to deliver better value to clients, which is important for them to understand."

A faculty advisory board helps determine the curriculum for both programs.

The firm encourages summer fellows to observe depositions, court motions, labor negotiations and other matters. They get a chance to do work for clients, but they do not bill for the hours.

Summer fellows who receive offers get placed in the four-month senior fellowship program in September following graduation.

"It is very similar to our summer fellowship, but more emphasis is placed on obtaining practical experience so that when these associates join other attorneys in January, nothing is new," Schurgin said.

The summer fellowship program began in 2011 and eight of the 10 associates now work as senior fellows. Schurgin said the firm plans to expand both programs to other practice areas.

Source (LinkRemoved) (bolded added)

[Anonymous User]

Hmm. So anyone get interviewed yet? Or hear of people getting interviewed?

[Anonymous User]

This program perplexed me. I emailed them in early september about this program. Told me to e-mail the recruting coordinator. They got back to me last week that they were starting to accept applications. I would have been interested if I didn't get an earlier offer. It makes no sense that they don't even try and compete for students getting jobs through OCI.

[Lasers]

This program perplexed me. I emailed them in early september about this program. Told me to e-mail the recruting coordinator. They got back to me last week that they were starting to accept applications. I would have been interested if I didn't get an earlier offer. It makes no sense that they don't even try and compete for students getting jobs through OCI.

hmm yeah, it is odd.

i contacted them in early september and then had to e-mail them again 2 weeks ago when i saw they just started accepting apps.

i think the LOR from an employment professor makes it tough to apply.

[Anonymous User]

i haven't applied yet but do you think it'd be a waste of time to apply w/o a LOR? I'm taking an employment law class right now but have never spoken to the prof.. eeeesh

[Anonymous User]

i haven't applied yet but do you think it'd be a waste of time to apply w/o a LOR? I'm taking an employment law class right now but have never spoken to the prof.. eeeesh

I don't think it will be complete without a letter. Could your 1L summer employer or one of your 1L professors speak to your interest in employment law? Or maybe you should start speaking to your employment law prof...

[Lasers]

i haven't applied yet but do you think it'd be a waste of time to apply w/o a LOR? I'm taking an employment law class right now but have never spoken to the prof.. eeeesh

I don't think it will be complete without a letter. Could your 1L summer employer or one of your 1L professors speak to your interest in employment law? Or maybe you should start speaking to your employment law prof...

yeah, the letter is necessary. try and find other professors/employers who write one; i don't think it necessarily has to be an employment prof, though it is obviously preferred.

[Anonymous User]

i haven't applied yet but do you think it'd be a waste of time to apply w/o a LOR? I'm taking an employment law class right now but have never spoken to the prof.. eeeesh

I don't think it will be complete without a letter. Could your 1L summer employer or one of your 1L professors speak to your interest in employment law? Or maybe you should start speaking to your employment law prof...

yeah, the letter is necessary. try and find other professors/employers who write one; i don't think it necessarily has to be an employment prof, though it is obviously preferred.

Where are you guys seeing that a LOR is needed? There is nothing on their website about what they want in a fellowship application.

I am very interested in applying for this, but my Labor Law professor doesn't even know my name and I have no one to vouch that I am interested in Labor Law. I am assume waiting until January when I get my Labor Law grade back is too late?

[Anonymous User]

I don't think it says you need a LOR. I've read the website pretty carefully but maybe I'm missing something.

[Lasers]

there was a pdf posting for the century city office that said you needed an LOR (preferably from a employment professor). also, i was specifically asked to submit a LOR. however, i can't speak for the chicago/ny offices, so maybe they don't require one.

and i would definitely NOT wait until january if you want to apply...they are starting to interview next week.

[Anonymous User]

NY office definitely requires a LOR from employment professor, or so said their PDF brochure and Recruiting Coordinator

[Lasers]

NY office definitely requires a LOR from employment professor, or so said their PDF brochure and Recruiting Coordinator

i kinda thought so. it wouldn't make sense for only some offices to require it.

[Anonymous User]

LOR [from L&E prof.] is def required. All offices.

I heard that they offered just about everyone last yr (1-2 exceptions for the usual reason...quality of work)

And their NY office pays market salary: 160k.

[Lasers]

LOR [from L&E prof.] is def required. All offices.

I heard that they offered just about everyone last yr (1-2 exceptions for the usual reason...quality of work)

And their NY office pays market salary: 160k.

dang, all their other offices including even chicago , la, and sf pays 145k according to nalp.

do you know how large their fellowship class was last year?

[Anonymous User]

Has anyone heard back from them yet after applying?

[Anonymous User]

Has anyone heard back from them yet after applying?

which office?

i'm fairly certain interviews have started at all offices. i think they are going to interview for 2 weeks before extending offers, starting this week.

[Anonymous User]

I was referring to NY sorry-but thanks

[Anonymous User]

I was referring to NY sorry-but thanks

i would assume they just started interviewing in NY.

i believe they have 2 spots.

[Anonymous User]

Is it too late to apply? I don't even know what materials they require. I can't figure it out on the site.