Jones Day associates - how should I navigate this situation? Forum

[Anonymous User]

Incoming SA at JD and the partner and associates in the practice group I was planning on working in have lateraled to a different firm (i.e., the entire practice group no longer exists in my office). I still want to work in this practice group and have been told that several associates in my office work mainly with different offices. Should I just focus on working with the practice groups in my specific office this summer and try working with the practice group I'm interested in when I have somewhat more job security as a first year associate? I imagine that I am at risk of being no-offered this summer since the practice group I expressed interest in is no longer located in my office.

[Anonymous User]

I’m a mid level at a major JD office. We do not recruit summer associates for any practice group so I wouldn’t be worried about being no offered. The first ~1 year after new hires start at the firm they are in the New Lawyers Group (NLG) before they select and apply to a group. I recommend exploring other groups that you may be interested in other than the group that you were focusing on. As you say, it’s unlikely that you will be able to become an associate in a group if your office has no lawyers in that group.

[Anonymous User]

I’m a mid level at a major JD office. We do not recruit summer associates for any practice group so I wouldn’t be worried about being no offered. The first ~1 year after new hires start at the firm they are in the New Lawyers Group (NLG) before they select and apply to a group. I recommend exploring other groups that you may be interested in other than the group that you were focusing on. As you say, it’s unlikely that you will be able to become an associate in a group if your office has no lawyers in that group.

Thanks for replying. How feasible is it to work with other offices? There are at least two associates in my office who primarily work with partners/practices in other offices. Would you advise against doing that?

[Anonymous User]

I used to work at JD some years ago. My best advice is to try out other practice areas. JD gives huge flexibility in trying various areas, even into the 1st year by way of the NLG. Just keep in mind that, while they will at least try to accommodate your preference, your placement is ultimately going to depend on firm needs at the time. Its the kind of firm where the focus is mostly on the short-term as far as placing associates, since most are gone fairly quickly. Its not realistic to think that JD is going to take you into a group where no lawyers in the office are members of the group.

[Anonymous User]

I’m a mid level at a major JD office. We do not recruit summer associates for any practice group so I wouldn’t be worried about being no offered. The first ~1 year after new hires start at the firm they are in the New Lawyers Group (NLG) before they select and apply to a group. I recommend exploring other groups that you may be interested in other than the group that you were focusing on. As you say, it’s unlikely that you will be able to become an associate in a group if your office has no lawyers in that group.

Thanks for replying. How feasible is it to work with other offices? There are at least two associates in my office who primarily work with partners/practices in other offices. Would you advise against doing that?

As a summer associate you should only be working with attorneys in your office. As an associate there is a lot of work across offices but it is between offices with the same practice group.

[Anonymous User]

As a JD SA I (and several other summers) worked for associates in other offices in practice groups that my office didn't have. Just talk to your work assignor about your preferences and they can reach out for you.

The firm in general is pretty good about switching offices too. If you're really wedded to a particular practice group and want to switch to a location that has it, they'll generally let you as long as that office isn't overly full