Things to know pre-SA Forum
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Things to know pre-SA
Heading to a SA in NYC in a couple of weeks. Any tips/advice you wish you knew before going to yours? Anything from stuff that would be helpful to know pre-job start to essentials/clothes to pack for the 10-12 weeks etc. would be much appreciated, I've never been in the city for more than a handful of days. Thanks!
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Re: Things to know pre-SA
Read up a bit on the practice areas that you will likely be working on during the summer. You will always get training and you could always ask associates when you are working on assignments. But if you already have some background knowledge, it makes everything so much easier.
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Re: Things to know pre-SA
Probably transactional mostly. Look up the area generally or transactional cases the firm has done in the past?Anonymous User wrote:Read up a bit on the practice areas that you will likely be working on during the summer. You will always get training and you could always ask associates when you are working on assignments. But if you already have some background knowledge, it makes everything so much easier.
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Re: Things to know pre-SA
I knew beforehand that I would be focusing on capital markets. So what I did was reviewing my securities regulations class outline, reading the practice guides/client notes/legal updates in this area on my firm's website and picking up a couple prospectuses for IPOs my firm did in the past few years. It really helped. Training sessions at the firm became more like review sessions for me. When I was doing assignments, I was more prepared and had fewer stupid questions to bother associates with.ExtremeBaconnator wrote:Probably transactional mostly. Look up the area generally or transactional cases the firm has done in the past?Anonymous User wrote:Read up a bit on the practice areas that you will likely be working on during the summer. You will always get training and you could always ask associates when you are working on assignments. But if you already have some background knowledge, it makes everything so much easier.
- dood
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Re: Things to know pre-SA
bring gym clothes. boom. ur set dogg.
Last edited by dood on Thu May 02, 2013 5:00 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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- dood
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Re: Things to know pre-SA
j
Last edited by dood on Thu May 02, 2013 5:00 pm, edited 1 time in total.
- IAFG
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Re: Things to know pre-SA
Do you know anyone from your school who SA'd at the same firm last year?
- chem
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Re: Things to know pre-SA
Dood, that sale you had. Is it a good one?dood wrote:j
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Re: Things to know pre-SA
I saw what you wrote. I got that summer offer after sending 300 job applications because I had shit grades. I couldn't take any chance of being no-offered. Sorry it offends you that I tried my best to maximize the chance of success as a SA.dood wrote:j
- Old Gregg
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Re: Things to know pre-SA
1) people will have very low expectations of you
2) fulfill those expectations
3) don't be socially stupid
2) fulfill those expectations
3) don't be socially stupid
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Re: Things to know pre-SA
Ask questions. It beats getting it wrong.
- MarkRenton
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Re: Things to know pre-SA
Honestly, show reasonable enthusiasm for your assignments. Lawyers will give you a bunch of shit work to do, but they kind of enjoy it when you come back with "this is actually a pretty interesting question, let me tell ya what I came up with." Or after the assigning attorney explains what sort of mundane shit you'll be dedicating your next few days to, "Oh, that sounds like an interesting question. I have a few ideas... I'm looking forward to getting right on this." In my reviews, showing a positive attitude came up over and over, and it seemed to be really appreciated.
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Re: Things to know pre-SA
Does everyone know what practice groups they've been assigned? My 1st half firm still hasn't said anything (none of the summers in the office know).
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- dood
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Re: Things to know pre-SA
I erased my post b/c I thought it was too harsh and didn't want to offend you. Sorry, I'm sure you'll be fine, best of luck. If you need anything, feel free to PM me. My apologies again.Anonymous User wrote:I saw what you wrote. I got that summer offer after sending 300 job applications because I had shit grades. I couldn't take any chance of being no-offered. Sorry it offends you that I tried my best to maximize the chance of success as a SA.dood wrote:j
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Re: Things to know pre-SA
Do you have more specific questions?ExtremeBaconnator wrote:Heading to a SA in NYC in a couple of weeks. Any tips/advice you wish you knew before going to yours? Anything from stuff that would be helpful to know pre-job start to essentials/clothes to pack for the 10-12 weeks etc. would be much appreciated, I've never been in the city for more than a handful of days. Thanks!
There are threads about doing well as an SA .
Are you living near your office? What stuff do you like to do? What hobbies do you have?
- TTRansfer
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Re: Things to know pre-SA
This x 1000.ajax adonis wrote:Proof read everything you write and just don't make stupid mistakes. There's no such thing as a rough draft.
I wrote up one REALLY fucking shitty answer to a complaint my 1L SA. The associate I wrote it up for brought me in and was pretty pissed. Granted, he ended up liking my work after that and I made it up to him by doing a fuck ton of work for him over the summer. But you will almost never get 2nd chances. I was lucky enough to get one.
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Re: Things to know pre-SA
How is what we do different from what paralegals do? Research and memo.
- A. Nony Mouse
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Re: Things to know pre-SA
The paralegals were WAY more valuable than I was as an SA.Peyton wrote:How is what we do different from what paralegals do? Research and memo.
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Re: Things to know pre-SA
After nearly one week I can say with great confidence, it is only because we’re not nearly one-tenth as knowledgeable. Maybe that slightly changes after 8/9 weeks, or maybe not.A. Nony Mouse wrote:The paralegals were WAY more valuable than I was as an SA.Peyton wrote:How is what we do different from what paralegals do? Research and memo.
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Re: Things to know pre-SA
Are you drugged out? Maybe too much Molly in your system?ajax adonis wrote:Pride goes before destruction my man; keep a humble attitude and be open to learning from others. Plus, it'll show that you're a cocky SA know-it-all if you keep copping that mentality.Peyton wrote:After nearly one week I can say with great confidence, it is only because we’re not nearly one-tenth as knowledgeable. Maybe that slightly changes after 8/9 weeks, or maybe not.A. Nony Mouse wrote:The paralegals were WAY more valuable than I was as an SA.Peyton wrote:How is what we do different from what paralegals do? Research and memo.
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Re: Things to know pre-SA
Don't complain about anything, ever to anyone.
Don't get drunk at the firm.
Don't worry about westlaw/lexis billing. Whoever started the meme that firms will be mad as fuck about you overusing Westlaw/Lexis has GOT to be trolling.
Meet your deadlines.
Don't be afraid to ask questions.
Go to social events.
Don't get drunk at the firm.
Don't worry about westlaw/lexis billing. Whoever started the meme that firms will be mad as fuck about you overusing Westlaw/Lexis has GOT to be trolling.
Meet your deadlines.
Don't be afraid to ask questions.
Go to social events.
- A. Nony Mouse
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Re: Things to know pre-SA
Yeah, I've never worked anywhere that cared about how many searches I ran.ajax adonis wrote:Don't law firms have flat rates or super-reduced rates?Desert Fox wrote: Don't worry about westlaw/lexis billing. Whoever started the meme that firms will be mad as fuck about you overusing Westlaw/Lexis has GOT to be trolling.
Seriously? What are you waiting for?
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