Things to know pre-SA Forum

[ExtremeBaconnator]

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!

[Anonymous User]

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.

[ExtremeBaconnator]

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.

Probably transactional mostly. Look up the area generally or transactional cases the firm has done in the past?

[Anonymous User]

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.

Probably transactional mostly. Look up the area generally or transactional cases the firm has done in the past?

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.

[dood]

bring gym clothes. boom. ur set dogg.

[dood]

j

[IAFG]

Do you know anyone from your school who SA'd at the same firm last year?

[chem]

j

Dood, that sale you had. Is it a good one?

[Anonymous User]

j

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.

[Old Gregg]

1) people will have very low expectations of you
2) fulfill those expectations
3) don't be socially stupid

[Stinson]

Ask questions. It beats getting it wrong.

[MarkRenton]

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.

[Anonymous User]

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).

[dood]

j

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.

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.

[NYstate]

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!

Do you have more specific questions?

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?

[Myself]

.

[TTRansfer]

Proof read everything you write and just don't make stupid mistakes. There's no such thing as a rough draft.

This x 1000.

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.

[Peyton]

How is what we do different from what paralegals do? Research and memo.

[A. Nony Mouse]

How is what we do different from what paralegals do? Research and memo.

The paralegals were WAY more valuable than I was as an SA.

[Peyton]

How is what we do different from what paralegals do? Research and memo.

The paralegals were WAY more valuable than I was as an 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.

[Myself]

.

[Peyton]

How is what we do different from what paralegals do? Research and memo.

The paralegals were WAY more valuable than I was as an 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.

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.

Are you drugged out? Maybe too much Molly in your system?

[09042014]

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.

[Myself]

.

[A. Nony Mouse]

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.

Don't law firms have flat rates or super-reduced rates?

Yeah, I've never worked anywhere that cared about how many searches I ran.