Drug Testing for Summer Employment? Forum

[Anonymous User]

Do ANY employers drug test before 1L/2L summer employment? Consensus seems to be that law firms never do, but what about something like the PD? DA? Corporate in-house (I'm thinking a very large company may just have uniform policies that apply to Joe blow stock room guy as well as their in-house counsel..?) Working in a Court/judicial intern/externship? Anything else?

And if you have ever been tested, was it around the time you interviewed, or not until you showed up to work in the summer?

Please spare the "just don't do drugs" spiel, just asking for information

TYIA

edit: also, if you were tested, were you told in advance you would be?

[hephaestus]

1. While I will spare you the "don't do drugs" spiel, I will not spare you the "use the search function" spiel. This has been discussed many, many times.

2. My friends that had F500 legal internships were tested.

[YankeesFan]

My mid-size firm had the law clerks tested...I think I got tested in early January.

[Anonymous User]

1. While I will spare you the "don't do drugs" spiel, I will not spare you the "use the search function" spiel. This has been discussed many, many times.

2. My friends that had F500 legal internships were tested.

sorry if it is redundant, but I really only found one useful thread (which was very old, not sure how much things like this might change over a couple years) that wasn't just a shitfest between anti/pro drug use people. Also [personally] only really concerned about summer offers whereas many of those threads seem to focus on post-grad. But thank you for the data point.

also added a further question, do you know if your friends were told in advance, or is it like where they just tell you "hey piss in this cup now thanks"

My mid-size firm had the law clerks tested...I think I got tested in early January.

thank you, same question as above though?

[Void]

I'll spare the "don't do drugs" act, but why no just conduct yourself as if you are sure to be tested? That way you don't have to worry.

[YankeesFan]

We were told in advance we would have to take a drug test, but we weren't told when. In January we got an email from HR with a "universal pass" which u take to a local urgent care place or doctors office that participates. We got 7 days from when we got the email to take the test and I got the distinct impression that you could not ask for an extension.

[Anonymous User]

I'll spare the "don't do drugs" act, but why no just conduct yourself as if you are sure to be tested? That way you don't have to worry.

If there is any possibility, I certainly will abstain... Just trying to figure out whether there is a possibility, and when it would be. Personally, job>illegal substances, but my personal enjoyment also has a non-zero value that I would rather not give up if there is a zero chance that it would matter. i.e. if only the DA tested, I wouldn't give a shit because I would never work there anyways

We were told in advance we would have to take a drug test, but we weren't told when. In January we got an email from HR with a "universal pass" which u take to a local urgent care place or doctors office that participates. We got 7 days from when we got the email to take the test and I got the distinct impression that you could not ask for an extension.

Thanks, very much appreciate this

[bwv812]

.

[Anonymous User]

Testing is common for large corporations--they have policies that apply to all employees. I have never heard of a test for BIGLAW. It's hit and miss for government and smaller private companies.

[Void]

If there is any possibility, I certainly will abstain... Just trying to figure out whether there is a possibility, and when it would be. Personally, job>illegal substances, but my personal enjoyment also has a non-zero value that I would rather not give up if there is a zero chance that it would matter. i.e. if only the DA tested, I wouldn't give a shit because I would never work there anyways

There is a possibility. I get that drugs are fun but is it that hard to just lay off for like a month, just in case it might, you know, jeopardize your entire career?

[estopped]

My in-house gig did, my firm gig did not. Funny story - my coworker at the in-house job overdiluted his urine by drinking tons of water, hoping it would help him pass, then they let him take it again.

[Anonymous User]

If there is any possibility, I certainly will abstain... Just trying to figure out whether there is a possibility, and when it would be. Personally, job>illegal substances, but my personal enjoyment also has a non-zero value that I would rather not give up if there is a zero chance that it would matter. i.e. if only the DA tested, I wouldn't give a shit because I would never work there anyways

There is a possibility. I get that drugs are fun but is it that hard to just lay off for like a month, just in case it might, you know, jeopardize your entire career?

A month, sure thing. But as a 1L with no clue how the process works, if there could be a test right after first interview in December, or after accepting an offer in like March/Spring, or starting employment in May... adding in the time to make sure you piss clean and suddenly it's not 1 month but 6 months or more..

But thank you for all responses

[Anonymous User]

I know students who weren't tested by AUSA or ICE.

Locally, state prosecutors division peeps get tested but public defenders don't (lol who knows why)

[rickgrimes69]

I've never heard of Biglaw testing. CW is that BigFed and In-House typically do and Clerkships depend on the judge.

[Void]

If there is any possibility, I certainly will abstain... Just trying to figure out whether there is a possibility, and when it would be. Personally, job>illegal substances, but my personal enjoyment also has a non-zero value that I would rather not give up if there is a zero chance that it would matter. i.e. if only the DA tested, I wouldn't give a shit because I would never work there anyways

There is a possibility. I get that drugs are fun but is it that hard to just lay off for like a month, just in case it might, you know, jeopardize your entire career?

A month, sure thing. But as a 1L with no clue how the process works, if there could be a test right after first interview in December, or after accepting an offer in like March/Spring, or starting employment in May... adding in the time to make sure you piss clean and suddenly it's not 1 month but 6 months or more..

But thank you for all responses

You wouldn't get tested until like a week before your actual start date, at the earliest.

[Anonymous User]

have a drug test and background check in March. in-house gig from OCI.

[jarak01]

I got tested my 1L summer doing in-house work. Got tested right after the offered me the job-- it was March or so. (Didn't get tested 2L for biglaw)

[DClaw2014]

I was tested for my 2L summer at DOJ this year. Timing-wise, it was right after I accepted the offer.

[Void]

If there is any possibility, I certainly will abstain... Just trying to figure out whether there is a possibility, and when it would be. Personally, job>illegal substances, but my personal enjoyment also has a non-zero value that I would rather not give up if there is a zero chance that it would matter. i.e. if only the DA tested, I wouldn't give a shit because I would never work there anyways

There is a possibility. I get that drugs are fun but is it that hard to just lay off for like a month, just in case it might, you know, jeopardize your entire career?

A month, sure thing. But as a 1L with no clue how the process works, if there could be a test right after first interview in December, or after accepting an offer in like March/Spring, or starting employment in May... adding in the time to make sure you piss clean and suddenly it's not 1 month but 6 months or more..

But thank you for all responses

You wouldn't get tested until like a week before your actual start date, at the earliest.

I am apparently incorrect about this.

[20160810]

In fairness this isn't a good topic for the search function because the threads always devolve way too quickly and nobody has good answers.

FWIW I don't know a single person in the legal field who has been drug tested, but obviously use your head. Anything govt ups the odds considerably.