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Gonna be an SA soon and just realized it might not be normal to sit around in an office ignoring the world with my headphones on. Also just realized I'm utterly incapable of doing mindless tasks like doc review without music to listen to, so headphones better be acceptable.

Are headphones cool at your firm? If so, what kind of headphones we talking here: like apple buds, in-ears, on-ears, over-ears, clip-on jawns, hipster Grados, etc?

EDITED to add a poll, because science is salvation.

This is weird, unfortunately. If you have an office you can play music quietly. Once you establish yourself you might be able to get away with this, but don't during your SA.

Don't wear headphones during your SA

Tons of people at my summer firm wore headphones at their desks. My officemate (second year) and I both listened to music every day while working. Actually, now that I think about it, my firm provided free headphones.

I personally wouldn't wear them at all, especially not during the day when the office is busy. Might be ok if you are working late at night an either alone or close to alone.

They look unprofessional and make you appear disinterested both in your work, the office, and socially.

I know a lot of older, even 45 years and up, who hate that younger people wear headphones at work and have held it against otherwise great employees.

A lawyer auditioning for a job, especially when they still don't know what the hell they are doing shouldn't wear headphones at work. Jesus Christ!

was totally fine and common in my bay area office.

dammit. glad I asked, I guess, even if this makes me like 1000x more likely to kill myself within a week

It won't matter at all once you're an associate, but as a summer I wouldn't risk it. Literally no one cares as long as you are responsive and do good work (it's unlikely that anyone of consequence is going to walk into your office anyways). But better safe than sorry as an SA.

Personal anecdote - I was watching netflix on my phone during lunch and didn't hear the knock at my door. Suddenly the door opens and the partner I work for walks in. I tried to hide my phone, but there was no hiding it. He simply asked for what he needed and walked away. I was super nervous for a while, but a month later he was asking me not to do my second rotation and continue to work with him. However, I'm sure the reason he didn't care was that I had already proven myself and was billing 300 hours a month. You won't have that proven value as an SA.

You hit a point in your career where you have established your value and you are entitled to take certain liberties. I work from home at least one day a week and my boss is totally fine with it. Why? Because I do excellent work, bill hours and get clients. That said, when I was a youngen, I walked around on egg shells.

Don't do anything that could possibly attract negative attention to yourself during an SA. And just because a senior associate takes certain liberties, it doesn't make it ok for the younger ones to do the same. Always keep in mind that you have no idea what the more senior people have done to earn the right to those extra freedoms (or if they are taking freedoms that are looked down upon and will hurt their chances at advancement).

I agree, not worth the risk during your summer. Not because it actually matters, but just because it's not a good look when you're trying to get a job. You probably won't be doing that mindless of work as a SA, anyway.

But unless you're going to a really obnoxious firm, this is an absolute non-issue once you're an associate. I listen to music or podcasts during all my mindless tasks.

Wore headphones and when particularly hungover, sunglasses. It was expected and encouraged to be woefully hungover and free headphones were plentiful (to watch television or listen to music).

SA is the best indoctrination ceremony anyone will ever have.

Lots of excellent posts in here with excellent and convincing reasoning, and I'm pretty sure I know the correct answer now. That said, I'm loving the disparity between some of these.

Anonymous User wrote:Lots of excellent posts in here with excellent and convincing reasoning, and I'm pretty sure I know the correct answer now. That said, I'm loving the disparity between some of these.

^^^Whoops, accidental anon. That was me.

My firm gives all summers and associates headphones when they start. It's totally normal to listen to music using headphones, and most people I know at work do it at my NYC big firm.

I really wouldn't. Its fine to listen to music quietly in your office, but you don't want to miss a knock on your door because you have headphones in.

My firm also gave everyone headphones. I wore headphones occasionally during the summer and I'm sure partners walked past and saw me at some point. No one ever mentioned anything. I was careful to make sure that I could still hear my phone so that I wouldn't miss a call. You're mostly working on your own assignments, so unless you are chatting with your office-mate (if you even have one), you're just going to be sitting there in silence anyway while working.

i used to joke with a couple boomer partners about the summer kids these days always wearing their headphones until 2 different partners were like which one was doing that? and got noticeably upset immediately. you might be okay, but why take the risk.

Avian wrote:My firm also gave everyone headphones. I wore headphones occasionally during the summer and I'm sure partners walked past and saw me at some point. No one ever mentioned anything. I was careful to make sure that I could still hear my phone so that I wouldn't miss a call. You're mostly working on your own assignments, so unless you are chatting with your office-mate (if you even have one), you're just going to be sitting there in silence anyway while working.

I don't think I've ever seen an office where associates routinely work with their door closed unless you're on a call or serious deadline or something. Is that common in your office?

in my office this would never fly. we recently had a new attorney start and she always works with her door shut - this is a major source of gossip.

until you have some seniority just toe the line. look what midlevels are doing and do about two notches less extreme than that.

Don't do it. It's just unprofessional.

lol @ this "profession"

I think having the capacity to do work without a headphone should be bare minimal of you being a qualified lawyer. You can survive without your playlist, it's not that dramatic, just don't do it. Unless you are doing some real drafting work and the office is like loud as shit. ( and you guys share cubicle or something)

ballouttacontrol wrote:

Avian wrote:My firm also gave everyone headphones. I wore headphones occasionally during the summer and I'm sure partners walked past and saw me at some point. No one ever mentioned anything. I was careful to make sure that I could still hear my phone so that I wouldn't miss a call. You're mostly working on your own assignments, so unless you are chatting with your office-mate (if you even have one), you're just going to be sitting there in silence anyway while working.

I don't think I've ever seen an office where associates routinely work with their door closed unless you're on a call or serious deadline or something. Is that common in your office?

At my office everyone works with the door closed. It's so depressing.

You won't be doing doc review during your SA anyways, unless your firm hates you.

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