Summer Associates 2014: Thoughts, Anxieties, Experiences... Forum

[brotherdarkness]

Hey all,

Summer is here and it's just about time to go to work. Many of us will be starting next week, and plenty more shortly thereafter. This thread is a place for people to post about all things related to their summer employment.

I'll be starting next week and I'm pretty excited (but also a bit nervous).

Here's to hoping we all get offers!

Last year's thread:
http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 3&t=209757

[Anonymous User]

Hey all,

Summer is here and it's just about time to go to work. Many of us will be starting next week, and plenty more shortly thereafter. This thread is a place for people to post about all things related to their summer employment.

I'll be starting next week and I'm pretty excited (but also a bit nervous).

Here's to hoping we all get offers!

Last year's thread:
http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 3&t=209757

I start next week also. Excited but nervous -- really, I'm worried about how much work we'll have and how to balance it with school-related work that I'll have over the summer (like grading writing competition packets and other journal work, fun fun). Do most places let you bill that kind of work?

[Tropical Jackal]

Hey all,

Summer is here and it's just about time to go to work. Many of us will be starting next week, and plenty more shortly thereafter. This thread is a place for people to post about all things related to their summer employment.

I'll be starting next week and I'm pretty excited (but also a bit nervous).

Here's to hoping we all get offers!

Last year's thread:
http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 3&t=209757

I start next week also. Excited but nervous -- really, I'm worried about how much work we'll have and how to balance it with school-related work that I'll have over the summer (like grading writing competition packets and other journal work, fun fun). Do most places let you bill that kind of work?

SA work comes first. They aren't going to let you slack off to do journal work, even if they let you "bill it."

[brotherdarkness]

.

[bk1]

Some current (former?) 3Ls told me that they would grade write-on packets at night, after getting home from work. I have a hard time believing that any firm would allow you to do school-related work at the firm.

Most people probably grade write on packets at home, but the work expectations of SAs at most firms is low. You're not going to be able to bill for grading write ons, but if you want to you can probably fit time in during the day to grade write ons and I know people who have done that considering nobody is looking over your shoulder.

I'm not saying I recommend doing it but people have definitely done it before.

[KidStuddi]

I start next week also. Excited but nervous -- really, I'm worried about how much work we'll have and how to balance it with school-related work that I'll have over the summer (like grading writing competition packets and other journal work, fun fun). Do most places let you bill that kind of work?

Some current (former?) 3Ls told me that they would grade write-on packets at night, after getting home from work. I have a hard time believing that any firm would allow you to do school-related work at the firm.

Faculty advisor of my school's law review told me that back when he summered in the late 90's at Sullivan and Cromwell they had a client number for "law review work" so that summers could bill their time to it the same way associates bill time to committees / firm events / CLEs. The good ol' days.

[Anonymous User]

I wearing a suit the first day and was instructed to keep one at the office. My firm has said some people even wear golf shirts but I think that's too casual for me.

I'll wear just button down shirts in various patterns that don't scream look at me and various pants colors like charcoal navy and black. Probably will keep a navy blazer just in case but that's over the top I think.

Reminder to use the IRS withholding calculator to limit your with holdings. http://apps.irs.gov/app/withholdingcalculator/

[Danger Zone]

Reminder to use the IRS withholding calculator to limit your with holdings. http://apps.irs.gov/app/withholdingcalculator/

I'm waiting for my HR department to ask me if I have twenty dependents.

[piccolittle]

I start next week also. Excited but nervous -- really, I'm worried about how much work we'll have and how to balance it with school-related work that I'll have over the summer (like grading writing competition packets and other journal work, fun fun). Do most places let you bill that kind of work?

Some current (former?) 3Ls told me that they would grade write-on packets at night, after getting home from work. I have a hard time believing that any firm would allow you to do school-related work at the firm.

Faculty advisor of my school's law review told me that back when he summered in the late 90's at Sullivan and Cromwell they had a client number for "law review work" so that summers could bill their time to it the same way associates bill time to committees / firm events / CLEs. The good ol' days.

My firm did this last summer, so that part of the good ol' days isn't over, at least.

[chem]

Should be fun! SA's in the bay area should hit me up.

[Anonymous User]

Anyone else already looking to attempt fate and switch firms after the summer?

I'm having doubts about the firm I chose and hoping I might find something else.

[brotherdarkness]

.

[JusticeHarlan]

I start next week also. Excited but nervous -- really, I'm worried about how much work we'll have and how to balance it with school-related work that I'll have over the summer (like grading writing competition packets and other journal work, fun fun). Do most places let you bill that kind of work?

Some current (former?) 3Ls told me that they would grade write-on packets at night, after getting home from work. I have a hard time believing that any firm would allow you to do school-related work at the firm.

You can do personal work from the office. You can't bill for it or anything, but one perk of biglaw is that you get an office and get treated like an adult in it. Bring your writing competition stuff to work and do it during downtime all you want.

[Anonymous User]

I start next week also. Excited but nervous -- really, I'm worried about how much work we'll have and how to balance it with school-related work that I'll have over the summer (like grading writing competition packets and other journal work, fun fun). Do most places let you bill that kind of work?

Some current (former?) 3Ls told me that they would grade write-on packets at night, after getting home from work. I have a hard time believing that any firm would allow you to do school-related work at the firm.

You can do personal work from the office. You can't bill for it or anything, but one perk of biglaw is that you get an office and get treated like an adult in it. Bring your writing competition stuff to work and do it during downtime all you want.

On that note, what should we be doing in our down time this summer. From what I understand there is a lot of down time as a summer. (Obvs k-jd)

[Danger Zone]

Megapoasting.

[gnuwheels]

what is the consensus on dealing with weekend trips. i have a college reunion and a couple weddings that i'm scheduled to go to, all during my SA and all out of state. do i need to give a heads up about these? I had a 1L SA and never did this, and actually got called in one weekend luckily when I had no plans, but this summer i'll be at a much bigger/busier firm.

do i need to give a heads up about these plans? if so, to who, and how far in advance? or, alternatively, should i not be going out of town during any weekends during the SA?

[chem]

what is the consensus on dealing with weekend trips. i have a college reunion and a couple weddings that i'm scheduled to go to, all during my SA and all out of state. do i need to give a heads up about these? I had a 1L SA and never did this, and actually got called in one weekend luckily when I had no plans, but this summer i'll be at a much bigger/busier firm.

do i need to give a heads up about these plans? if so, to who, and how far in advance? or, alternatively, should i not be going out of town during any weekends during the SA?

You can definitely go to the weddings, but reunion sounds a little less important just let them know now! And if your open to not going, just phrase it as a request to look like the eager to please SA you want to be

[POTUS2044]

9 days

owned 1 suit i wore to interviews, don't see any reason I would need more...

[brotherdarkness]

.

[sap]

I'm probably going to leave two suits at the office for court observation and not worry about them beyond that (except for maybe switching them out to my skinny suits once I lose my FINALS STRESS EATING weight).

[brotherdarkness]

.

[Anonymous User]

Starting my SA soon at a NYC V10, nervous but excited

[Anonymous User]

My firm has sent nothing other than a note telling us to stay tuned, and a pack of resumes of the other SAs. I didn't feel particularly compelled to reach out to anyone in the resume book or anything, should I have?
But anyone else not receive much at all about anything? Not even sure what time to get in the morning next Monday

[mephistopheles]

My firm has sent nothing other than a note telling us to stay tuned, and a pack of resumes of the other SAs. I didn't feel particularly compelled to reach out to anyone in the resume book or anything, should I have?
But anyone else not receive much at all about anything? Not even sure what time to get in the morning next Monday

you should be cold calling future NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES

take your life seriously.

[goldeneye]

I'm probably going to leave two suits at the office for court observation and not worry about them beyond that (except for maybe switching them out to my skinny suits once I lose my FINALS STRESS EATING weight).

Two suits seems excessive unless there is a real reason. What did your firm advise?