Accepting Position then Dropping 1 month later Forum

[clshopeful]

Short:

I accepted an unpaid summer position about 3 weeks ago. Just got offered a paid position (kind of out of nowhere, a firm called me that I contacted months ago, and offered me a spot). Is it reasonably accepted to dump my first job? I know the people will hate me b/c they will have to start the process again (interview, callback, etc. But is it all good? Input?

[duck]

it's fine

[zot1]

Take the paid job.

[jdmonkey]

Your unpaid employer will understand. You are paying a lot of money to go to law school. It would be foolish to turn down $, and they know it

[WillitBlend]

you are feeling bad about an employer that wasn't going to pay you having to spend money interviewing more candidates? wth?

[A. Nony Mouse]

Your unpaid employer will understand. You are paying a lot of money to go to law school. It would be foolish to turn down $, and they know it

I don't agree when people say this. The unpaid employers are usually people not making a ton of money themselves (compared to biglaw firms) and consider that sacrifice reasonable. And you knew it was unpaid when you accepted. So while I agree it's totally reasonable to ditch the unpaid job for the paid one, I don't think people should assume the unpaid job will accept that of course they should only be second choice. Chances are good you will burn those bridges (it's not guaranteed, but a decent chance). I don't think that's a reason not to drop the first job, at all, but I think the OP should at least be aware of it.

(I'm not even saying the first job is going to be pissed/horrified/shocked, or anything like that. Just that they are likely to write off the OP for the future.)