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

Posted: Thu May 08, 2014 8:26 pm
by 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

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

Posted: Thu May 08, 2014 9:02 pm
by Anonymous User
brotherdarkness wrote: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?

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

Posted: Thu May 08, 2014 9:03 pm
by Tropical Jackal
Anonymous User wrote:
brotherdarkness wrote: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."

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

Posted: Thu May 08, 2014 9:16 pm
by brotherdarkness
.

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

Posted: Thu May 08, 2014 10:34 pm
by bk1
brotherdarkness wrote: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.

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

Posted: Fri May 09, 2014 1:05 am
by KidStuddi
brotherdarkness wrote:
Anonymous User wrote:
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.

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

Posted: Fri May 09, 2014 1:44 am
by 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/

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

Posted: Fri May 09, 2014 1:52 am
by Danger Zone
Anonymous User wrote: 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.

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

Posted: Fri May 09, 2014 7:24 am
by piccolittle
KidStuddi wrote:
brotherdarkness wrote:
Anonymous User wrote:
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.

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

Posted: Fri May 09, 2014 8:38 am
by chem
Should be fun! SA's in the bay area should hit me up.

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

Posted: Fri May 09, 2014 8:44 am
by 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.

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

Posted: Fri May 09, 2014 9:04 am
by brotherdarkness
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Re: Summer Associates 2014: Thoughts, Anxieties, Experiences...

Posted: Fri May 09, 2014 9:27 am
by JusticeHarlan
brotherdarkness wrote:
Anonymous User wrote:
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.

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

Posted: Fri May 09, 2014 9:33 am
by Anonymous User
JusticeHarlan wrote:
brotherdarkness wrote:
Anonymous User wrote:
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)

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

Posted: Fri May 09, 2014 9:39 am
by Danger Zone
Megapoasting.

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

Posted: Fri May 09, 2014 5:38 pm
by 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?

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

Posted: Fri May 09, 2014 7:44 pm
by chem
gnuwheels wrote: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

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

Posted: Sat May 10, 2014 2:17 am
by POTUS2044
9 days

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

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

Posted: Sat May 10, 2014 5:43 am
by brotherdarkness
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Re: Summer Associates 2014: Thoughts, Anxieties, Experiences...

Posted: Sat May 10, 2014 9:04 am
by 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).

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

Posted: Sat May 10, 2014 9:19 am
by brotherdarkness
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Re: Summer Associates 2014: Thoughts, Anxieties, Experiences...

Posted: Sat May 10, 2014 12:57 pm
by Anonymous User
Starting my SA soon at a NYC V10, nervous but excited

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

Posted: Sat May 10, 2014 1:06 pm
by 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

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

Posted: Sat May 10, 2014 1:07 pm
by mephistopheles
Anonymous User wrote: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.

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

Posted: Sat May 10, 2014 2:13 pm
by goldeneye
sap wrote: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?