Protocol on asking for a split summer Forum

[annieq]

If I want to split my 1L summer, is it better to ask before accepting an offer or to accept and then ask (and if the answer is no, would it be awful to renege?)? I'd appreciate any thoughts on this! Thanks!

[Objection]

Dude, think this through.

If a no answer would cause you to renege...

And a yes answer would give you what you want (a split)...

Then asking before you accept is obvious. If they say you can't split, well then you didn't have to renege and no one got their feelings hurt. If they say you can, then hooray!

[bk1]

I'm pretty sure it's always better to ask prior to accepting.

[dixon02]

Ask before accepting. Are you trying to split with another firm, or with a judge/PI? Firms are unlikely to care about the latter, very likely to care about the former (especially for a 1L).

[annieq]

Thanks for the replies. I figured asking before accepting was the way to go, but I had heard of people accepting judge offers and later asking to split with a firm, so I wasn't sure if that was also a proper thing to do. Mine would be firm/in-house, but only a CB so far at the firm, no offer.