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Is it okay to leave early (like around 3 or 4) if there is absolutely no work to do?

No. Ask for work from other partners if you are slow. Partners would expect that from you. At least they do where I work.

thewaterlanding wrote:No. Ask for work from other partners if you are slow. Partners would expect that from you. At least they do where I work.

I did do that, most of what I got is "I have work for you, but talk to me tomorrow I'm busy now"

You sound like a summer. Are you? If so, stay and find work. If still nothing, stay and organize your email. Convince someone to take you to coffee.

mushybrain wrote:You sound like a summer. Are you? If so, stay and find work. If still nothing, stay and organize your email.

My bad, I probably should have included that...I am a summer

Definitely stay as a summer until 6 or whatever the offic norm is, unless you have an event.

OP here, I think I'm just gonna stay another hour and a half, and re-read a case file because the e-mails are absolutely hilarious

Your SA is a summer-long interview, so play "I'm a real lawyer with grownup files" and act like it. Stay in your office. Browse the internet, then go home at 5:30 / 6 pm, whatever. You do NOT want anyone to walk by your office with an assignment they just thought would be "perfect for that new summer who I know isn't busy and has been doing other made up busy work we gave him / her", and you are not there because you went home fucking early. And while you may not believe it, people do notice when you come and go. People won't care so much once you're a real attorney, but you're auditioning and don't have the part yet. You are going to have rare chances to make any impressions - you don't want to risk making one bad impression by being perceived as a slacker. You can slack, but don't be seen slacking, its an art.

a just-so furrowed brow is key.

Yeah, I would try to stay every day until 6 or so as a summer. This is one of the few benefits of being full time vs. being a summer.

To the extent possible open binders and/or have case files on your desk. Very impressive.

If you've talked to everyone that you should have and no one has anything for you right now, I'd sit around until 5ish reading legal news or other loosely related industry news or something (or pretend to do that).

I doubt anyone will care if you leave at 4 as a summer if you've talked to everyone you should have, but not bad to keep up appearances.

Anonymous User wrote:If you've talked to everyone that you should have and no one has anything for you right now, I'd sit around until 5ish reading legal news or other loosely related industry news or something (or pretend to do that).

I doubt anyone will care if you leave at 4 as a summer if you've talked to everyone you should have, but not bad to keep up appearances.

And if your computer screen isn't visible from the door, go crazy and read Hello Giggles or whatever the hell you want. Go nuts. No porn.

Pretend you're working. It'll be good for you later on.