3 Months Before SA Forum

[Anonymous User]

2L at CCN with a V50 SA this summer in NYC.

TLS conventional wisdom is that one should leave their law firm alone after accepting a SA and not badger them throughout the year about wanting to attend events and meet partners in hopes of getting an "early start" to securing a post-SA offer. However, does anyone recommend simply reaching out to individual partners in practice areas of interest for lunch or an informal discussion? Or, alternatively, attending law firm recruiting events for the upcoming 2Ls? I feel the need to make the best impression possible prior to the beginning of my SA but am wary about shooting myself in the foot; I understand that there is a very fine line between Eager Summer Associate and Annoying Summer Associate. Can someone clarify the line for me? Thanks in advance.

[didntretake]

I will wait for other responses but as a fellow 2L with an SA coming up it sounds pretty gunnerish to me.

[Anonymous User]

Are u in NYC? If you are in the same city, it is OK since it probably will be convenient for both parties. Otherwise I will wait.

[Avian]

It will almost certainly come off as gunner-ish. I suppose you could probably ask if someone wanted to get lunch, although I would probably wonder why the person didn't just wait till they were working at the firm over the summer. Attending events meant for 1Ls sounds like a truly bizarre thing to do. Does your firm not give 100% offers?

[mvp99]

well if you were going to a v5 of even a v10 i think this would be fine.. but a v50? I don't think so

[Lawyerrr]

Don't do that.

[unlicensedpotato]

Just ask whoever you're thinking of over the summer.

[BarbellDreams]

Don't do this, seriously.

[mvp99]

On a serious note, only attend a recruiting event if they specifically invite you to join

[Anonymous User]

2L at CCN with a V50 SA this summer in NYC.

TLS conventional wisdom is that one should leave their law firm alone after accepting a SA and not badger them throughout the year about wanting to attend events and meet partners in hopes of getting an "early start" to securing a post-SA offer. However, does anyone recommend simply reaching out to individual partners in practice areas of interest for lunch or an informal discussion? Or, alternatively, attending law firm recruiting events for the upcoming 2Ls? I feel the need to make the best impression possible prior to the beginning of my SA but am wary about shooting myself in the foot; I understand that there is a very fine line between Eager Summer Associate and Annoying Summer Associate. Can someone clarify the line for me? Thanks in advance.

I tried doing this a few months before I started as a 1st year associate, but was told it was a bit too early, even though it was only about 6 weeks before I was supposed to start. I definitely don't see the need for a summer to do it, and most certainly not 3 months out.

[Actus Reus]

I'm worried about you solely because you thought this might be a good idea. Don't do this, don't ever do this.

[dixiecupdrinking]

I feel the need to make the best impression possible prior to the beginning of my SA

The only impression you will make by doing this is a negative impression.

What you need to do is this: (1) work hard (but not so hard it's weird) over the summer; (2) show up to events that you are invited to over the summer and be reasonably sociable. That's it. There is no extra credit.

[Actus Reus]

Being normal gets you a job offer. Don't do anything you think would make you more or less normal.

[mr.hands]

While there are differences between an eager summer associate and an annoying summer associate, there's at least one similarly: neither get jobs.

Cool your jets don't don't do this. Just be normal. There's nothing really to say to people at the firm.

[DELG]

While there are differences between an eager summer associate and an annoying summer associate, there's at least one similarly: neither get jobs.

Cool your jets don't don't do this. Just be normal. There's nothing really to say to people at the firm.

This and also this is not a competition, it's a minimum competency test. No one remembering who you are is a great outcome for your summer

[rpupkin]

However, does anyone recommend simply reaching out to individual partners in practice areas of interest for lunch or an informal discussion?

Just to pile on, lunches and informal discussion are what the summer is for. Talk to partners about their practice areas then, not now.

[Anonymous User]

Your idea is not appreciably worse than taking your pants off at a summer event.

[elterrible78]

Your idea is not appreciably worse than taking your pants off at a summer event.

But only very marginally better.

[Anonymous User]

well if you were going to a v5 of even a v10 i think this would be fine.. but a v50? I don't think so

Weird. I never thought vault prestige would make a difference when it comes to something like this, but I guess it might?

Is it not normal for incoming SAs to attend firm events for V50 firms? I know a number of the V10s that go to my law school school specifically request 2L SAs go to the 1L events to meet more attorneys and talk to 1Ls about the firm. We also had lunches/dinners with partners during the school year for the incoming SAs. Maybe my firm is just atypical in inviting their incoming SAs to receptions and lunches.

I recently met a small practice group during a lunch they hosted for us. It was really nice because I hadn't really considered working with them this summer but got along with everyone so well that I'm now planning on asking for assignments with them.

Granted, we were invited by recruiting, but I also went to the 1L spring reception (along with the majority of the incoming SAs from my school) and had a great time.

OP, I guess I'm alone in that I don't think it's that weird to want to meet more people at your firm. Frankly, I'm surprised at how much hostility that idea received in this thread.

[Avian]

Is it not normal for incoming SAs to attend firm events? A number of the V10s that go to my law school school specifically request 2L SAs go to the 1L events to meet more attorneys and talk to 1Ls about the firm. We also had lunches/dinners with partners during the school year for the incoming SAs. Maybe my firm is just atypical in inviting their incoming SAs to receptions and lunches.

I recently met a small practice group during a lunch they hosted for us. It was really nice because I hadn't really considered working with them this summer but got along with everyone so well that I'm now planning on asking for assignments with them.

Granted, we were invited by recruiting, but I also went to the 1L spring reception (along with the majority of the incoming SAs from my school) and had a great time.

OP, I guess I'm alone in that I don't think it's that weird to want to meet more people at your firm. Frankly, I'm surprised at how much hostility that idea received in this thread.

I think the key is that you were invited. It's very different if recruiting is putting together programs for you and connecting you with people at the firm versus just starting to randomly show up at 1L receptions.

[Anonymous User]

I think the key is that you were invited. It's very different if recruiting is putting together programs for you and connecting you with people at the firm versus just starting to randomly show up at 1L receptions.

Totally. I'm just surprised that it's not normal for firms to utilize incoming SAs--people who recently (likely) chose their firm over other firms--to advertise to 1Ls and meet other lawyers at their firm.

[nygrrrl]

While there are differences between an eager summer associate and an annoying summer associate, there's at least one similarly: neither get jobs.

Cool your jets don't don't do this. Just be normal. There's nothing really to say to people at the firm.

This and also this is not a competition, it's a minimum competency test. No one remembering who you are is a great outcome for your summer

Really, this. Just be normal. Enjoy your summer.

[A. Nony Mouse]

I think the key is that you were invited. It's very different if recruiting is putting together programs for you and connecting you with people at the firm versus just starting to randomly show up at 1L receptions.

Totally. I'm just surprised that it's not normal for firms to utilize incoming SAs--people who recently (likely) chose their firm over other firms--to advertise to 1Ls and meet other lawyers at their firm.

People who haven't yet worked a day a firm probably aren't the best informed to advertise a firm to anyone, and they've already hired you - they'll get to meet you over the summer, they don't need you getting in the way of them meeting 1Ls/1Ls talking to their actual lawyers.

[cdelgado]

I think the key is that you were invited. It's very different if recruiting is putting together programs for you and connecting you with people at the firm versus just starting to randomly show up at 1L receptions.

Totally. I'm just surprised that it's not normal for firms to utilize incoming SAs--people who recently (likely) chose their firm over other firms--to advertise to 1Ls and meet other lawyers at their firm.

People who haven't yet worked a day a firm probably aren't the best informed to advertise a firm to anyone, and they've already hired you - they'll get to meet you over the summer, they don't need you getting in the way of them meeting 1Ls/1Ls talking to their actual lawyers.

This. What value is there in an incoming SA, who hasn't spent one day at a firm, talking to 1Ls? In some instances I can see 3Ls who were previous SAs, but I think even that value is limited.

To me that just makes it more awkward for everybody involved.

[Anonymous User]

Plenty of firms invite incoming summer associates to participate in 1L recruiting events. It's not like being an actual attorney at the firm is relevant to ability to recruit. The firms are selling the idea of their firm more than the actual experience of their firm. 2Ls, who were in the 1Ls' shoes 12 months earlier, are pretty good salespeople for this idea. These 2Ls just bought into that idea 6 months earlier. In addition, the firm to an extent is still selling itself to the incoming summer associates.