Start dates- class of 2013 Forum

[Anonymous User]

Was notified by my V50 firm that we'd be starting late October (which is later than I thought it would be). Just wanted to see what other people have been hearing.

[Anonymous User]

V15, NYC. Choice of sept/oct/nov

[Anonymous User]

Just wondering, is there any incentive to pick an earlier date if your not starved for the pay check? Its not like time in your stub year counts towards your hours for your first year bonus right?

In that sense wouldn't you be incentivized to pick the latest possible start date?

Edit:

Assume no debt and substantial savings (IE longer bar trip if starting later).

[wildhaggis]

Interested in this as well.

[imchuckbass58]

Just wondering, is there any incentive to pick an earlier date if your not starved for the pay check? Its not like time in your stub year counts towards your hours for your first year bonus right?

In that sense wouldn't you be incentivized to pick the latest possible start date?

Well, if you don't consider $13k / month an incentive, then no, not really. Personally, after already having 1.5 months off, I'd rather take the money than have another month to twiddle my thumbs / travel.

The one situation I can think of is if your practice group is both slow and absorbing multiple new associates. In that case, the ones that get in first my get staffed on the available matters, and you will be stuck doing short-term assignments until something else comes along. Pretty unlikely scenario though.

Also keep in mind that if your practice area is busy, they might want you to start earlier. Several NYC firms this past year asked litigation associates to start earlier. Not sure what the consequences would be to saying "no" (if any), but something to consider.

[Anonymous User]

V15, NYC. Choice of sept/oct/nov

this. each date was later in the respective month. they said we might not get our first choice, though.

[Anonymous User]

Just wondering, is there any incentive to pick an earlier date if your not starved for the pay check? Its not like time in your stub year counts towards your hours for your first year bonus right?

In that sense wouldn't you be incentivized to pick the latest possible start date?

Well, if you don't consider $13k / month an incentive, then no, not really. Personally, after already having 1.5 months off, I'd rather take the money than have another month to twiddle my thumbs / travel.

The one situation I can think of is if your practice group is both slow and absorbing multiple new associates. In that case, the ones that get in first my get staffed on the available matters, and you will be stuck doing short-term assignments until something else comes along. Pretty unlikely scenario though.

Also keep in mind that if your practice area is busy, they might want you to start earlier. Several NYC firms this past year asked litigation associates to start earlier. Not sure what the consequences would be to saying "no" (if any), but something to consider.

Ah I guess I was thinking I wouldn't mind having some time to spend with wife/kids visit extended family, stay a month on an exotic island etc... I mean for purposes of earnings I can always keep my current job past the bar for a while longer and take the same time off, the difference in monthly pay would be pretty negligible and the hours would be better...

I was just thinking that if it wasn't going to affect my performance review at the end of the year, why grind more months than I have to.

[Anonymous User]

Yet to hear. How common is that?

[imchuckbass58]

Ah I guess I was thinking I wouldn't mind having some time to spend with wife/kids visit extended family, stay a month on an exotic island etc... I mean for purposes of earnings I can always keep my current job past the bar for a while longer and take the same time off, the difference in monthly pay would be pretty negligible and the hours would be better...

I was just thinking that if it wasn't going to affect my performance review at the end of the year, why grind more months than I have to.

Sorry - did not mean to be snarky. I think it's a personal decision based on preferences / family situation / financial situation. It's the last time you're going to have off in a while.

But yes, I think generally it will have pretty much no impact on performance reviews / career advancement, absent special circumstances.

[Anonymous User]

K&E Chicago: October 15th for everybody.

[Anonymous User]

Still waiting, but since October would be ideal for me, the general "October" sentiment make me hopeful.

[Anonymous User]

V15. Mid-Sept.

[Anonymous User]

~V50 and mid-January here (firm-wide start date). I'm guessing that will probably be one of the later dates for any firm.

[Anonymous User]

Starting August 26 with firm-wide orientation after Labor Day. Was hoping for a longer break to travel after the bar!

[Anonymous User]

V30 NYC starting Oct 28

[Anonymous User]

DC office, 300+ attorneys, 9/3/13

[Anonymous User]

V30 Texas - 10/20 start

[SocorroChildress]

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[Anonymous User]

~V50 and mid-January here (firm-wide start date). I'm guessing that will probably be one of the later dates for any firm.

Is this Bingham again? I'm summering there and am concerned that they will never go back to pre-crash start dates....

[Anonymous User]

Yet to hear. How common is that?

Also still waiting here, STB. I am starting to feel like we're the only people who haven't heard. Pipeline says its usually a choice of late September/mid October/late November.

[Anonymous User]

Last year I did not hear until mid-May, after finals were over. By that point I was fearing a deferral, but I was given an early September start date. Some firms just move slowly...

[Anonymous User]

~V50 and mid-January here (firm-wide start date). I'm guessing that will probably be one of the later dates for any firm.

Is this Bingham again? I'm summering there and am concerned that they will never go back to pre-crash start dates....

K&L Gates. I think sometime in January has been the typical start date for the past couple of years (since the downturn), so it sounds like the same rationale as Bingham. Last year, even after getting the January start date, some people were called in during September due to the workload, so there's always that chance.

[Anonymous User]

DC office, 300+ attorneys, 9/3/13

This must be either Hogan or Covington, correct? Any other dates for DC firms?

[Anonymous User]

DC office, 300+ attorneys, 9/3/13

This must be either Hogan or Covington, correct? Any other dates for DC firms?

Incorrect. And I will not respond to additional guesses. Sorry.

[Anonymous User]

Does V rank correspond with this at all? At least in NYC?