Got SA at dream firm, what now? Forum

[Anonymous User]

I’m a 2L at a t13 that got an offer to join my dream firm as a summer for 2019. I’m estatic, but have been feeling lost about next steps.

Before law school, the goal was easily identifiable; crush the LSAT and get into a great school.
The goal was also easily identifiable during 1L; get great grades.
OCI, same thing; get a job.

But it’s harder figuring out what the goal is now. Get ready for my SA I assume? If so, how do I do that? Network with attorneys in my group over the next year? Take classes about my practice area?

[kyle010723]

I’m a 2L at a t13 that got an offer to join my dream firm as a summer for 2019. I’m estatic, but have been feeling lost about next steps.

Before law school, the goal was easily identifiable; crush the LSAT and get into a great school.
The goal was also easily identifiable during 1L; get great grades.
OCI, same thing; get a job.

But it’s harder figuring out what the goal is now. Get ready for my SA I assume? If so, how do I do that? Network with attorneys in my group over the next year? Take classes about my practice area?

Celebrate and enjoy 2L? The goal is to enjoy law school before you have to start working.

[albanach]

Celebrate and enjoy 2L? The goal is to enjoy law school before you have to start working.

Actually the goal is to enjoy law school AND enjoy working. That's why the advice is not to go to law school unless you want to be a lawyer.

[jbagelboy]

Congrats: you’re now in the fun part of law school. Unless you want to clerk, your only responsibility between now and the bar exam is to ultimate chill and live it up. Go to all those free boozy events you missed last year to study. Fly to visit those college friends you neglected the past thirteen months. Read those books and catch up on those shoes you’ve fallen behind on while you were gunning your way through 1L. Go to Amsterdam.

Enjoy your life and stop fretting. Once you’re an associate at this dream firm, your life will be terrible and you’ll regret every moment you weren’t doing fun shit in law school.

[smokeylarue]

Congrats: you’re now in the fun part of law school. Unless you want to clerk, your only responsibility between now and the bar exam is to ultimate chill and live it up. Go to all those free boozy events you missed last year to study. Fly to visit those college friends you neglected the past thirteen months. Read those books and catch up on those shoes you’ve fallen behind on while you were gunning your way through 1L. Go to Amsterdam.

Enjoy your life and stop fretting. Once you’re an associate at this dream firm, your life will be terrible and you’ll regret every moment you weren’t doing fun shit in law school.

TITCR

[nerd1]

Unless you are in your school's law review and/or trying to clerk, I would try to do more of those things that you are not going to be able to do when you start working at your biglaw firm. If you like working out at the gym, how about going to the gym regularly and achieving the best fitness level of your life before you get fat or small once you start working. If you ever wanted to learn a new instrument, why not try learning it? You should still do some studying of course, but cramming and studying only before finals will definitely be okay.

[tlsthrowaway1]

Lots of good advice in this thread. OP, you headed for an epic reversal of perceptions.

[barkschool]

Congrats: you’re now in the fun part of law school. Unless you want to clerk, your only responsibility between now and the bar exam is to ultimate chill and live it up. Go to all those free boozy events you missed last year to study. Fly to visit those college friends you neglected the past thirteen months. Read those books and catch up on those shoes you’ve fallen behind on while you were gunning your way through 1L. Go to Amsterdam.

Enjoy your life and stop fretting. Once you’re an associate at this dream firm, your life will be terrible and you’ll regret every moment you weren’t doing fun shit in law school.

TITCR

where's that post about getting into sullivan cromwell, getting the business cards, wearing the bag, ect...

[Sadnessandmisfortune]

Get off TLS and have fun

[doggo]

You can finally stop clenching your teeth. Try to relax and not look for the next achievement.

[TheoO]

Start planning for a semester abroad. I couldn't recommend this enough. Enjoy this wonderful period in your life.

[Anonymous User]

Fortunate enough to be in the exact same position as you OP. As a pretty goal-oriented person it's tough to not have the next carrot in front of you - that's how I work at least. On my end, I've set the academic goal of graduating with honors - I don't care what "tier" of honors - just honors.

My grades are close enough to the border that I don't really have a semester's worth of grades a "cushion" so that keeps me at least somewhat motivated in school. Otherwise I'm enjoying life with my fiance, eating out way too much, loling at my student loan balance, and playing a SHIT TON of video games (Subnautica is awesome everyone - highly recommended).

Oh yeah, don't forget to get an AirBNB or lease for the summer at some point this semester.

[Tyler_Durden]

Keep your grades up and make sure you work very hard at your SA. Permanent offers are less guaranteed than they used to be. I'm not sure what firm you're at, but some firms will evaluate SAs in comparison to each other and cut the lowest performers.

[QContinuum]

Keep your grades up and make sure you work very hard at your SA. Permanent offers are less guaranteed than they used to be. I'm not sure what firm you're at, but some firms will evaluate SAs in comparison to each other and cut the lowest performers.

OP can check the NALP data for their firm & office. If historically 100%, OP shouldn't worry. Of course, OP (like all summers) should work hard, pay attention to detail, not blow off any deadlines, and not make an ass of themselves at firm events... but unless OP's joining a firm with an abysmal offer rate, they shouldn't view the summer as a Hunger Games-type scenario with their fellow SAs as the enemy.

[PrayFor170]

Unless you are in your school's law review and/or trying to clerk, I would try to do more of those things that you are not going to be able to do when you start working at your biglaw firm.

Second this.

[SFSpartan]

Have fun, continue to get good grades, and chill out. The stress of biglaw will be here before you know it.

[Anonymous User]

I’m a 2L at a t13 that got an offer to join my dream firm as a summer for 2019. I’m estatic, but have been feeling lost about next steps.

Before law school, the goal was easily identifiable; crush the LSAT and get into a great school.
The goal was also easily identifiable during 1L; get great grades.
OCI, same thing; get a job.

But it’s harder figuring out what the goal is now. Get ready for my SA I assume? If so, how do I do that? Network with attorneys in my group over the next year? Take classes about my practice area?

I'll go against the grain here and say you have 2 years to go above and beyond to crush it, give yourself a safety net, and keep your mind in shape. I only realized long after the clock had started running that while a lot of the law school prizes seem kind of stupid, they will matter in your career long after you graduate.

You also never know what will happen. I was in a position where a lot of people say you can't fail, and I got really sick and I did. I also know really bright and effective people who have been laid off or pushed out as juniors, or who want to leave because it's not working for whatever reason. Have fun but also don't forget that this time could well matter too.

Maybe explore interests outside the core prestige prizes too now that you have some room - maybe join a clinic or explore some totally non-law interest.

Debbie Downer out

[nerdlegal]

I agree with the other posters here that the best thing to do is probably relax and get ready to enjoy what will be a fairly relaxed summer full of social events. If you're a normal person who works reasonably hard in this economy, it's pretty hard to get no-offered.

That said, I've been at a firm for four or so years, so if you want to talk about what it's like in general corporate or M&A as a SA or as a practicing attorney, happy to talk.