Incoming Associates: What to expect at orientation? Forum

[Anonymous User]

Landed biglaw as a 3L and starting September 19th. Super nervous/excited. Any insight as to what orientation will be like? How much of a disadvantage I am at not having summered?

[mvp99]

Lots of stuff you won't remember the next day. No disadvantage re summers. Pay attention on how your firms bills hours and its entered into the system, they will give you a manual

[Anonymous User]

Unless you're in a unique situation where you've already been prepped to start on a big team, generally you will have HR and trainings for the first two days and not start any real work until day 3. Even then it can be slow at first, depending on work flow at the firm and how well your start date aligns with when the committees meet to assign work to juniors. By the end of the first week/beginning of the second you will probably start billing hours, and from there experiences vary (as do firms, e.g. Rotation versus free market).

The main difference from not being in the summer class will be that you dont already know several partners or associates, so you might have to be a little more active about meeting people and getting them to want to work with you or go to lunch with you. This isn't a huge deal though.

[denvieboco]

Not having summered is fine -- you might feel a little awkward since most of your class already knows one another. Orientation usually has a fair amount of downtime (breakfast, lunch, in between sessions), so try to use that time to get to know people.

Also, if it isn't offered, ask HR for an office tour. You'll want to know where the bathrooms, printers, etc are before you get staffed.

TBH I didn't find the sessions themselves that helpful, but orientation is a nice time to ease into your new job.

Oh and wear a suit the first day and then dress more casually the following days (assuming that your firm isn't business formal).

[Anonymous User]

I'm in the same boat and also starting next week. Would like to hear more. Will there be more events? Do we at least get a few days to feel what it's like to be a summer?

[Anonymous User]

The way it works at my firm is that associates spend several days in various seminars discussing things like how to properly store files on our network, how to bill time, how to read documents for typos properly, and how to write concise and clear emails to supervisors. Lunch is provided. It's quite funny to watch their reactions as they slowly realize that 18 years of education has seemingly prepared them to be a glorified file clerk.

(But take this stuff seriously, one of the ways you will impress as a junior associate is keeping a matter file organized, and sending clear emails so I do not have to call you and have you explain a 6 paragraph email.)

[Anonymous User]

Only posting what I know about my specific firm. Could vary. I know Debevoise and others run a 3-week "mini-MBA" type program.

We have 2.5 days of filling out forms (making sure tax forms are in order, etc.), getting basic training on IT and such (configuring iPhone or Blackberry for work, how to log in remotely, how to use the phones, how to input time, stuff like that). Administrative things. After that, it's right to work.

However your firm does it, just get to know your associate class.