Summer Associate Class of 2016 Forum

[smaug]

i am tagging this thread because jesus fucking christ

[smaug]

general protip: if you're sad that you're not getting free lunches and not getting tons of free booze and have to do some work, what exactly do you think your job is going to be like after your summer vacation with the firm?

[Anonymous User]

general protip: if you're sad that you're not getting free lunches and not getting tons of free booze and have to do some work, what exactly do you think your job is going to be like after your summer vacation with the firm?

I don't think people have any illusion about what being an associate will actually be like. It's just that people want to enjoy this summer.

[lavarman84]

Weird to get a work email from another Summer at 8pm? Feels like they're trying too hard, but maybe I'm not working hard enough - I only stayed until 6.

Yes, definitely weird I think.

Depends on the firm I think though, mine didn't even offer to put my work email on my phone or in any place that it would be accessible when I'm not in the office. I had to ask them about it, at which point they were like "sure if you really want to I can call IT or something", after which I politely declined. Meanwhile a friend of mine is worried about missing plans on sunday for work stuff.

My firm is very different. They went out of their way to put email on our phones.

general protip: if you're sad that you're not getting free lunches and not getting tons of free booze and have to do some work, what exactly do you think your job is going to be like after your summer vacation with the firm?

I expect that's why people want to live it up now...because they are somewhat aware of what comes next.

[smaug]

general protip: if you're sad that you're not getting free lunches and not getting tons of free booze and have to do some work, what exactly do you think your job is going to be like after your summer vacation with the firm?

I don't think people have any illusion about what being an associate will actually be like. It's just that people want to enjoy this summer.

I'm saying they probably do. Unless you're at a very small handful of firms, even if you're not getting wined and dined, you are have a much more enjoyable experience as a summer than as an first year associate. I could spell this out in detail but, briefly:

• Even taking into account the (slim) possibility of a no-offer, you don't have tons of downside risk as a summer. Your reputation will probably not follow you. This isn't a MAKE IT OR BREAK IT chance. You're there to meet people and see what it's like.
• You are not expected to own anything. There will always be a failsafe above you. This is reversed when you start working and you are expected to be the failsafe for others.
• You are probably given work that is not difficult, important, or pressing and it'll be relatively interesting. As a junior, you're going to be doing work that's still probably not that important, but that is often boring yet requires a lot of focus and will be expected to work through it quickly.
• People will want to like you as a summer. You're entertainment. You provide events and booze and are upbeat. Nobody will give a shit about you as a junior.

Your job, as summers, is to be pandas. There are exceptions, but really, you're there to look cute and eat things and provide some marginal entertainment. They will give you things to do, but nobody gives a shit what a panda thinks. Luckily, pandas can't fuck things up too much.

(yes, I'm paraphrasing this: https://youtu.be/tLgUMqw3JMA?t=252)

enjoy being a panda

[smaug]

It's simple: if you don't realize that you are living it up right now, even without the wining and dining, you do not understand what is coming next.

[lavarman84]

It's simple: if you don't realize that you are living it up right now, even without the wining and dining, you do not understand what is coming next.

Your argument is too focused on the polarity.(if you're life isn't as shitty as biglaw junior, you're living the life...) I think most of us recognize that we have a better life than the real associates right now. But I can understand why someone wants even more. Personally, I am okay with my situation. I'd love to be able to be lazier but I've got it pretty good. Will probably be working 40-60 hours a week making good money. I've worked anywhere from 60 to 110 hours a week during past summers not making half of what I will now. So life is pretty good.

Plus, I can definitely deal with being a Panda...as long as I don't allow myself to end up Panda-shaped this summer.

[smaug]

I'll try to leave y'all be after this comment, but specifically on this:

But I can understand why someone wants even more.

I think this is a low-key dangerous sentiment for a summer to have, one of few probably. Always appreciate what you have and don't get greedy. Entitlement is an awful look and hopefully you realize how much money the firm is putting into the program. And, unlike most jobs you've probably worked, that's cash that would otherwise go directly to your bosses. Seeming ungrateful (not directed at you lawman84, just generally) could be disastrous.

[lavarman84]

I'll try to leave y'all be after this comment, but specifically on this:

But I can understand why someone wants even more.

I think this is a low-key dangerous sentiment for a summer to have, one of few probably. Always appreciate what you have and don't get greedy. Entitlement is an awful look and hopefully you realize how much money the firm is putting into the program. And, unlike most jobs you've probably worked, that's cash that would otherwise go directly to your bosses. Seeming ungrateful (not directed at you lawman84, just generally) could be disastrous.

No doubt. If someone doesn't have the common sense to be grateful and not act entitled in real life, they deserve what they get. But this is the internet so I can understand people being envious on here. I don't know how much money they're putting in but I do know that they're paying me a lot of money to be useless.

[Anonymous User]

general protip: if you're sad that you're not getting free lunches and not getting tons of free booze and have to do some work, what exactly do you think your job is going to be like after your summer vacation with the firm?

I don't think people have any illusion about what being an associate will actually be like. It's just that people want to enjoy this summer.

+1

Sorry I like doing fun things.

[smaug]

general protip: if you're sad that you're not getting free lunches and not getting tons of free booze and have to do some work, what exactly do you think your job is going to be like after your summer vacation with the firm?

I don't think people have any illusion about what being an associate will actually be like. It's just that people want to enjoy this summer.

+1

Sorry I like doing fun things.

Then why did you go to law school.

[star fox]

general protip: if you're sad that you're not getting free lunches and not getting tons of free booze and have to do some work, what exactly do you think your job is going to be like after your summer vacation with the firm?

I don't think people have any illusion about what being an associate will actually be like. It's just that people want to enjoy this summer.

+1

Sorry I like doing fun things.

Use some of the Summer Associate money we get paid to be useless and do something fun on the weekend.

[buddhabelly]

general protip: if you're sad that you're not getting free lunches and not getting tons of free booze and have to do some work, what exactly do you think your job is going to be like after your summer vacation with the firm?

I don't think people have any illusion about what being an associate will actually be like. It's just that people want to enjoy this summer.

+1

Sorry I like doing fun things.

Then why did you go to law school.

I'm un-anoning for this.

The fact that you think anything in the world is incompatible with the idea of fun is fucking bleak, I do not want to know what it's like to have that kind of outlook towards life. Life is about finding whatever enjoyment you can, regardless of your situation, and honestly being a highly paid professional in a big city is fairly up there on the list of cards you can be dealt.

The people like you are the reason this profession is so fucking garbage sometimes, some people just want to enjoy themselves, why does that offend you so much?

[star fox]

general protip: if you're sad that you're not getting free lunches and not getting tons of free booze and have to do some work, what exactly do you think your job is going to be like after your summer vacation with the firm?

I don't think people have any illusion about what being an associate will actually be like. It's just that people want to enjoy this summer.

+1

Sorry I like doing fun things.

Then why did you go to law school.

I'm un-anoning for this.

The fact that you think anything in the world is incompatible with the idea of fun is fucking bleak, I do not want to know what it's like to have that kind of outlook towards life. Life is about finding whatever enjoyment you can, regardless of your situation, and honestly being a highly paid professional in a big city is fairly up there on the list of cards you can be dealt.

The people like you are the reason this profession is so fucking garbage sometimes, some people just want to enjoy themselves, why does that offend you so much?

Why are you watching netflix and eating takeout instead of going out and having fun then?

[smaug]

general protip: if you're sad that you're not getting free lunches and not getting tons of free booze and have to do some work, what exactly do you think your job is going to be like after your summer vacation with the firm?

I don't think people have any illusion about what being an associate will actually be like. It's just that people want to enjoy this summer.

+1

Sorry I like doing fun things.

Then why did you go to law school.

I'm un-anoning for this.

The fact that you think anything in the world is incompatible with the idea of fun is fucking bleak, I do not want to know what it's like to have that kind of outlook towards life. Life is about finding whatever enjoyment you can, regardless of your situation, and honestly being a highly paid professional in a big city is fairly up there on the list of cards you can be dealt.

The people like you are the reason this profession is so fucking garbage sometimes, some people just want to enjoy themselves, why does that offend you so much?

I actually find being a lawyer pretty fun when I'm not terrified but yeah I'm def. the problem with the profession and not tools complaining that they're not going to enough concerts or getting enough free lunches.

You want to have fun? Have fun! Nobody is stopping you.

[youtube]77Y6CIyyBcI[/youtube]

[buddhabelly]

I actually find being a lawyer pretty fun

+1

Sorry I like doing fun things.

Then why did you go to law school.

k

[RaceJudicata]

At least half of my summer class are entitled pieces of crap. Seem to be relatively normal/decent people...but the minute they sit down with an attorney -- even partners -- they begin spewing nonsense as if they know the ins and outs of the practice area. I feel second hand embarrassment sitting next to them, and worse, feel like the partners/associates are passing judgment on me thinking that I have the same inane sense of entitlement and "knowledge"... which I certainly do not.

Another note.. 1L SAs are the worst. Uniformly from great schools, but jesus, they lack common sense.

[TheoO]

[youtube]77Y6CIyyBcI[/youtube]

I fucking love this scene.

At the end of the day, guys, if you wanted better summers, you should have gotten better grades. You can hardly blame your firm that it doesn't lavish you the way Skadden does.

[Rahviveh]

At least half of my summer class are entitled pieces of crap. Seem to be relatively normal/decent people...but the minute they sit down with an attorney -- even partners -- they begin spewing nonsense as if they know the ins and outs of the practice area. I feel second hand embarrassment sitting next to them, and worse, feel like the partners/associates are passing judgment on me thinking that I have the same inane sense of entitlement and "knowledge"... which I certainly do not.

Another note.. 1L SAs are the worst. Uniformly from great schools, but jesus, they lack common sense.

You should cut your classmates some slack, partners are intimidating and they are probably just nervous and don't know what else to talk about

[bearsfan23]

I enjoyed my summer as an associate last year and hopefully this years SA's are too. As others have said, have fun but be grateful for what you have. Definitely do "non-formal" stuff with the rest of your class too, everyone is looking to make friends.

Also, ignore smaug. What a fucking miserable human being. God forbid anybody enjoy life, even if it's just for the summer dude. I'm glad I'm not at the same firm as him

[JenDarby]

I enjoyed my summer as an associate last year and hopefully this years SA's are too. As others have said, have fun but be grateful for what you have. Definitely do "non-formal" stuff with the rest of your class too, everyone is looking to make friends.

Also, ignore smaug. What a fucking miserable human being. God forbid anybody enjoy life, even if it's just for the summer dude. I'm glad I'm not at the same firm as him

idk I think the miserable people are the ones complaining they aren't being ENTERTAINED ENOUGH in their SAs while being paid a boat load of money to sit around not doing shit all summer. Smaug seems pretty fucking content

smaugs panda advice was spot on. if you feel like your firm doesn't have enough enough events, the good news is you're making enough money to buy lunch or a few drinks, and a good number of you are probably in NYC. Go out with friends, other SAs, or organize an "our firms are NO FUN" get together with the other people complaining in this thread

[BmoreOrLess]

Can we get back to talking about what people are wearing on day 3? This is srs bsns.

[Slytherpuff]

So far my summer has been the most exhausting experience of my life, because it is both a working summer, and we have lunch out and/or an event every day. I honestly can't wait to do work and eat a sandwich alone in my office sometimes.

Same with mine. There's a good amount of social stuff but we just got huge assignments and now have work phones that we're expected to check at home (not in the middle of the night, thankfully). I'm already exhausted! Haha

[gk101]

lol this is pretty great

[Anonymous User]

Speaking of free concerts. One of the V10s is taking all its summers to a Beyoncé concert.