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I have an offer for next summer from a firm that I like, but I'm also into a certain sphere of PI work that I'd like to spend some time on. I've been thinking lately that I could do the 8-10 weeks at the firm and still have about 6 at the end of the summer to do PI work before school starts (and possibly build up my bona fides in case I want to look for a PI job after biglaw).

Is this something that people do?
Is there a way to know what PI places are willing to do this short of emailing everyone?
Procedural things I should know?

Any help or advice would be great!!

You might as well write "DONT OFFER ME" on your forehead before showing up to work. Terrible idea.

Anonymous User wrote:You might as well write "DONT OFFER ME" on your forehead before showing up to work. Terrible idea.

I've known people who've done this. The reaction depends on the firm. I think my current firm would prefer a split with a PI org over a split with another law firm. I mean, you should be cautious about it, but I disagree that it's categorically a terrible idea. If there's someone at the firm you can talk to in confidence about it (such as an alumnus of your school who is currently an associate), I would do that.

rpupkin wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:You might as well write "DONT OFFER ME" on your forehead before showing up to work. Terrible idea.

I've known people who've done this. The reaction depends on the firm. I think my current firm would prefer a split with a PI org over a split with another law firm. I mean, you should be cautious about it, but I disagree that's it's categorically a terrible idea. If there's someone at the firm you can talk to in confidence about it (such as an alumnus of your school who is currently an associate), I would do that.

Curious how your firm even finds out that a SA is doing this? Isn't the summer just there for 10-12 weeks and then they just disappear into the void until they show up again a year and a half later or not?

If the OP's plan is 10 weeks at a firm followed by 6 weeks at a PI org I would think he wouldn't even have to tell the firm. I might be missing something here though.

BigZuck wrote:

rpupkin wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:You might as well write "DONT OFFER ME" on your forehead before showing up to work. Terrible idea.

I've known people who've done this. The reaction depends on the firm. I think my current firm would prefer a split with a PI org over a split with another law firm. I mean, you should be cautious about it, but I disagree that's it's categorically a terrible idea. If there's someone at the firm you can talk to in confidence about it (such as an alumnus of your school who is currently an associate), I would do that.

Curious how your firm even finds out that a SA is doing this? Isn't the summer just there for 10-12 weeks and then they just disappear into the void until they show up again a year and a half later or not?

If the OP's plan is 10 weeks at a firm followed by 6 weeks at a PI org I would think he wouldn't even have to tell the firm. I might be missing something here though.

That's what I was thinking... I wouldn't even bring it up with the firm. The hurdle - in my mind, at least - is finding a PI org willing to do it? Perhaps I wasn't clear in the OP.

BigZuck wrote:

rpupkin wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:You might as well write "DONT OFFER ME" on your forehead before showing up to work. Terrible idea.

I've known people who've done this. The reaction depends on the firm. I think my current firm would prefer a split with a PI org over a split with another law firm. I mean, you should be cautious about it, but I disagree that's it's categorically a terrible idea. If there's someone at the firm you can talk to in confidence about it (such as an alumnus of your school who is currently an associate), I would do that.

Curious how your firm even finds out that a SA is doing this? Isn't the summer just there for 10-12 weeks and then they just disappear into the void until they show up again a year and a half later or not?

Just this summer, a SA left a couple of weeks early (so eight weeks instead of the usual ten) in order to do a 5-week PI stint. We didn't have a problem with it--if anything, it probably made the SA seem more appealing. Then again, my firm values pro bono work (and involvement in community orgs) more than the typical firm. That's why it's worth asking someone at the firm about the firm's likely attitude about this kind of thing.

BigZuck wrote:

rpupkin wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:You might as well write "DONT OFFER ME" on your forehead before showing up to work. Terrible idea.

I've known people who've done this. The reaction depends on the firm. I think my current firm would prefer a split with a PI org over a split with another law firm. I mean, you should be cautious about it, but I disagree that's it's categorically a terrible idea. If there's someone at the firm you can talk to in confidence about it (such as an alumnus of your school who is currently an associate), I would do that.

Curious how your firm even finds out that a SA is doing this? Isn't the summer just there for 10-12 weeks and then they just disappear into the void until they show up again a year and a half later or not?

If the OP's plan is 10 weeks at a firm followed by 6 weeks at a PI org I would think he wouldn't even have to tell the firm. I might be missing something here though.

Wouldn't you have to tell the firm for conflicts purposes? Either way, why would the firm react negatively? You aren't really splitting your summer. It seems more like you're trying to beef up your resume.

That being said, I think an externship would be better.

robotrick wrote: That's what I was thinking... I wouldn't even bring it up with the firm. The hurdle - in my mind, at least - is finding a PI org willing to do it? Perhaps I wasn't clear in the OP.

That's a little risky. If you want to play it like that, make sure your firm doesn't represent clients that are adverse to the PI org in litigation.

rpupkin wrote:

robotrick wrote: That's what I was thinking... I wouldn't even bring it up with the firm. The hurdle - in my mind, at least - is finding a PI org willing to do it? Perhaps I wasn't clear in the OP.

That's a little risky. If you want to play it like that, make sure your firm doesn't represent clients that are adverse to the PI org in litigation.

Good point (made by instride91 as well). I hadn't thought of that. They're very different areas of the law, but I will be on the lookout for conflicts.

I think the conflicts thing is what I was missing. Makes sense.