First Day at a SA....
Posted: Thu Mar 26, 2015 2:09 pm
...what do you do?
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https://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=23&t=245616
I'm not sure the sarcasm is obvious enough here, and we both know there are people on these boards who would take this seriously.reasonable person wrote:Ask if you can meet some of the clients. Schedule dinner with named partners. (even if you are denied, it will show them you have confidence and initiative).
This is incredible. Someone do this and let me know what happens.reasonable person wrote:Ask if you can meet some of the clients. Schedule dinner with named partners. (even if you are denied, it will show them you have confidence and initiative).
Wear a suit, even though that's not the dress code because.. you know.. you gotta let everyone know you're a SADportIA wrote:Wear a suit.
Smile.
Make polite conversation and shut the fuck up at the same time.
Bring documents needed for employment paperwork.
/thread
Doesn't it make sense to start out with a suit, and then dress down once you get a feel for what others wear? I've been told your entire SA is an extended interview, don't you want to keep your guard up for the duration?TheDogWhisperer wrote:Wear a suit, even though that's not the dress code because.. you know.. you gotta let everyone know you're a SADportIA wrote:Wear a suit.
Smile.
Make polite conversation and shut the fuck up at the same time.
Bring documents needed for employment paperwork.
/thread
For maximum positive impressions, tux and bow tie is the way to go.rahulg91 wrote:Doesn't it make sense to start out with a suit, and then dress down once you get a feel for what others wear? I've been told your entire SA is an extended interview, don't you want to keep your guard up for the duration?TheDogWhisperer wrote:Wear a suit, even though that's not the dress code because.. you know.. you gotta let everyone know you're a SADportIA wrote:Wear a suit.
Smile.
Make polite conversation and shut the fuck up at the same time.
Bring documents needed for employment paperwork.
/thread
Yes, wear a suit. I was only suggesting that the practice is stupid.rahulg91 wrote:Doesn't it make sense to start out with a suit, and then dress down once you get a feel for what others wear? I've been told your entire SA is an extended interview, don't you want to keep your guard up for the duration?TheDogWhisperer wrote:Wear a suit, even though that's not the dress code because.. you know.. you gotta let everyone know you're a SADportIA wrote:Wear a suit.
Smile.
Make polite conversation and shut the fuck up at the same time.
Bring documents needed for employment paperwork.
/thread
Is it smart to wait for SA to start to bring in client matters? Or should we be shopping our portable books of business at OCI?kaiser wrote:You make it rain, bro.
reasonable person wrote:Ask if you can meet some of the clients.Schedule dinnerDo lines with named partners. (even if you are denied, it will show them you have confidence and initiative).
Ask this guy what he thinks...http://abovethelaw.com/2014/03/gunner-f ... questions/WHJTMG178 wrote:Is it smart to wait for SA to start to bring in client matters? Or should we be shopping our portable books of business at OCI?kaiser wrote:You make it rain, bro.
Stevoman wrote: Basically you won't do any substantive legal work yourfirst dayentire summer.
Be polite to everyone, not just attorneys. I wish this went without saying, but experience suggests it doesn't.DportIA wrote:Wear a suit.
Smile.
Make polite conversation and shut the fuck up at the same time.
Bring documents needed for employment paperwork.
/thread
smallfirmassociate wrote:Show up on time, be eager but professional. You're expected to be the young, hard-charging type, but you don't want to be brushed off as naive.
Get into your office, make sure your equipment works and that you'll be physically comfortable. Take care of any minor IT or ergonomic issues and get ready to work.
As a way to dip your toe into the waters, ask an associate attorney if you can see a file or some docs from a case, just to read and learn what kind of work the firm does. Read it carefully, noting any mistakes: grammar, legal strategy, whatever. Write a memo on what you would have done differently and why, and give it to a partner in that associate's division. Show that you have a knack for legal analysis and attention to detail, the two most important traits for an associate. Just don't be snarky and you'll be fine.
You will probably get asked to lunch, but you'll want to decline to start with. Just bring your own lunch. Something healthy, inexpensive, but don't go full peasant. I recommend a tuna fish sandwich with a tomato slice and dill relish on a ciabatta roll or some kind of decent bread. Eat it in your office. Egg salad is another good choice.
You'll probably want to head off about 4:00, 4:15 so you don't look like creepy, self-important gunner SA who thinks he needs to stay late and "work." Besides, you need to set parameters early in your career or you'll get walked all over. If anyone makes this an issue (they won't; summers don't work anyway), tell them that's why you stay through lunch, to get in your facetime. Ensure they have your cell number and tell them you can work from home if they just call you.
That should get you started on the right foot. Good luck!
Was thinking the same thing. Some of it is pretty solid advice, some of it is ciabatta rolls and tomato slices. Still not sure what to make of it.jd20132013 wrote:smallfirmassociate wrote:Show up on time, be eager but professional. You're expected to be the young, hard-charging type, but you don't want to be brushed off as naive.
Get into your office, make sure your equipment works and that you'll be physically comfortable. Take care of any minor IT or ergonomic issues and get ready to work.
As a way to dip your toe into the waters, ask an associate attorney if you can see a file or some docs from a case, just to read and learn what kind of work the firm does. Read it carefully, noting any mistakes: grammar, legal strategy, whatever. Write a memo on what you would have done differently and why, and give it to a partner in that associate's division. Show that you have a knack for legal analysis and attention to detail, the two most important traits for an associate. Just don't be snarky and you'll be fine.
You will probably get asked to lunch, but you'll want to decline to start with. Just bring your own lunch. Something healthy, inexpensive, but don't go full peasant. I recommend a tuna fish sandwich with a tomato slice and dill relish on a ciabatta roll or some kind of decent bread. Eat it in your office. Egg salad is another good choice.
You'll probably want to head off about 4:00, 4:15 so you don't look like creepy, self-important gunner SA who thinks he needs to stay late and "work." Besides, you need to set parameters early in your career or you'll get walked all over. If anyone makes this an issue (they won't; summers don't work anyway), tell them that's why you stay through lunch, to get in your facetime. Ensure they have your cell number and tell them you can work from home if they just call you.
That should get you started on the right foot. Good luck!
The best part of this is how it went both ways
Wut? Outside of the part about making sure your computer works, this is all (intentionally) horrible advice. That some of you can't see that is mind boggling.elterrible78 wrote:Was thinking the same thing. Some of it is pretty solid advice, some of it is ciabatta rolls and tomato slices. Still not sure what to make of it.jd20132013 wrote:smallfirmassociate wrote:Show up on time, be eager but professional. You're expected to be the young, hard-charging type, but you don't want to be brushed off as naive.
Get into your office, make sure your equipment works and that you'll be physically comfortable. Take care of any minor IT or ergonomic issues and get ready to work.
As a way to dip your toe into the waters, ask an associate attorney if you can see a file or some docs from a case, just to read and learn what kind of work the firm does. Read it carefully, noting any mistakes: grammar, legal strategy, whatever. Write a memo on what you would have done differently and why, and give it to a partner in that associate's division. Show that you have a knack for legal analysis and attention to detail, the two most important traits for an associate. Just don't be snarky and you'll be fine.
You will probably get asked to lunch, but you'll want to decline to start with. Just bring your own lunch. Something healthy, inexpensive, but don't go full peasant. I recommend a tuna fish sandwich with a tomato slice and dill relish on a ciabatta roll or some kind of decent bread. Eat it in your office. Egg salad is another good choice.
You'll probably want to head off about 4:00, 4:15 so you don't look like creepy, self-important gunner SA who thinks he needs to stay late and "work." Besides, you need to set parameters early in your career or you'll get walked all over. If anyone makes this an issue (they won't; summers don't work anyway), tell them that's why you stay through lunch, to get in your facetime. Ensure they have your cell number and tell them you can work from home if they just call you.
That should get you started on the right foot. Good luck!
The best part of this is how it went both ways
True. Showing up on time and being eager but professional are great ways to ensure a no-offer.rpupkin wrote: Wut? Outside of the part about making sure your computer works, this is all (intentionally) horrible advice. That some of you can't see that is mind boggling.
This is some pretty rancid anti-tuna sandwhich trolling even for yourpupkin wrote:Wut? Outside of the part about making sure your computer works, this is all (intentionally) horrible advice. That some of you can't see that is mind boggling.elterrible78 wrote:Was thinking the same thing. Some of it is pretty solid advice, some of it is ciabatta rolls and tomato slices. Still not sure what to make of it.jd20132013 wrote:smallfirmassociate wrote:Show up on time, be eager but professional. You're expected to be the young, hard-charging type, but you don't want to be brushed off as naive.
Get into your office, make sure your equipment works and that you'll be physically comfortable. Take care of any minor IT or ergonomic issues and get ready to work.
As a way to dip your toe into the waters, ask an associate attorney if you can see a file or some docs from a case, just to read and learn what kind of work the firm does. Read it carefully, noting any mistakes: grammar, legal strategy, whatever. Write a memo on what you would have done differently and why, and give it to a partner in that associate's division. Show that you have a knack for legal analysis and attention to detail, the two most important traits for an associate. Just don't be snarky and you'll be fine.
You will probably get asked to lunch, but you'll want to decline to start with. Just bring your own lunch. Something healthy, inexpensive, but don't go full peasant. I recommend a tuna fish sandwich with a tomato slice and dill relish on a ciabatta roll or some kind of decent bread. Eat it in your office. Egg salad is another good choice.
You'll probably want to head off about 4:00, 4:15 so you don't look like creepy, self-important gunner SA who thinks he needs to stay late and "work." Besides, you need to set parameters early in your career or you'll get walked all over. If anyone makes this an issue (they won't; summers don't work anyway), tell them that's why you stay through lunch, to get in your facetime. Ensure they have your cell number and tell them you can work from home if they just call you.
That should get you started on the right foot. Good luck!
The best part of this is how it went both ways