Top Law Schools

Without sending desperate. Career services' advice is to send an e-mail explaining our interest, and to extend a lunch invitation. That sounded good in law school but in practice (1) it sounds desperate and phony, and (2) not all partners want to have an impromptu hour lunch with a junior associate.

I did that back when I was a rising 2L, to get in with the firms I hadn't gotten through OCI lottery. Led to a bunch of phone conversations and a number of additional callback interviews.

Are you asking how to ask for work at your firm, or are you looking for another job?

Asking for work at your firm is as simple as having a conversation. Knock on door -> talk -> ask for work.

I've always just shot an email to the partner saying "I'm a little slow at the moment if you need help with anything." I'm in a small practice group with lots of associate-partner interaction, though. I'm not sure how I would approach a more distant partner.

Maybe ask a more senior associate for advice?

Already practicing. I get slow at times, and also find a more niche area in the same practice area more interesting. I reach out to midlevels and seniors when I'm slow, but I know some of them very well. There's degrees of separation between junior and partner that make random e-mails more random and potentially harmful (advertising that you're slow to those financially impacted by it isn't fun).

I've typically done it by expressing an interest in the work that they do and letting them know I have bandwidth if they need help with anything. Don't see how it has to be awkward or desperate - it's a 1-2 sentence email.

I just send emails saying I have time and asking if they need help.

I would knock on doors. I've only had to do it twice, but both times it has yielded cool assignments. Now juniors sometimes do it to me, and I usually have something I can peel off and hand out. I prefer the knock on door method there too.

Partner/Senior Associate,

Now that [xyz deal closed/abc case settled], I have more time to work on new matters. If there is anything I can do to assist on any of your [deals/cases], please let me know.

Best regards,

Junior Associate