2L summer working part-time for firm as a 3L? Forum

[Anonymous User]

What is the general policy on allowing summer associates to work part-time as a 3L? Do most firms allow it or is this only granted in exceptional circumstances? Asking specifically for GDC, PW, or S&C (all NY).

[Anonymous User]

bump

[Anonymous User]

asking also for DPW (NY)

[crazywafflez]

No idea what it is like in other markets- I'm in the south and did this; and it seems to be common practice in my mid-sized city in midlaw. I have one other friend who did this at a similar sized market and firm in the lower midwest.

[Anonymous User]

asking also for DPW (NY)

DPW gave summers the option to continue working part time as a 3L this past year.

[Anonymous User]

Thanks, all. heard the same about DPW. I know S&C likely did not last year, but any information on the firm from previous years?

[Anonymous User]

any intel re latham, PW and GDC?

[Anonymous User]

any intel re latham, PW and GDC?

Bump

[Anonymous User]

Can anyone speak to the market rate (per hour) for NY biglaw firms offering this arrangement to 3Ls?

Specifically interested in some of the firms mentioned already but feel free to mask the exact firm name

[Anonymous User]

Can anyone speak to the market rate (per hour) for NY biglaw firms offering this arrangement to 3Ls?

Specifically interested in some of the firms mentioned already but feel free to mask the exact firm name

$90 at one of those firms

[jotarokujo]

what's the motivation for doing this? it's your last year, try to enjoy what free time you have. you'll have plenty of work when you get there.

[Anonymous User]

Junior at PW and have not heard this was an option

[Mullens]

what's the motivation for doing this? it's your last year, try to enjoy what free time you have. you'll have plenty of work when you get there.

Some people would rather make $90/hour than watch Netflix in some of their free time as 3Ls?

As for firms, it’s going to be based on each firm’s needs and their excess work during your 3L year (they only do this if their first years are too busy for all the work they need done). Might be hard to predict in the future. My firm has offered it in like 3 of the past 6 years (with no future indications of when it’ll be offered).

[Anonymous User]

2L here, $90/hr sounds like reason enough to do it.

How much benefit is there in terms of training, building connections with future colleagues, getting a feel for different personalities & dealflows, etc.? I have to imagine 3Ls are assigned pure scutwork, but is it slightly easier to hit the ground running if you’ve spent a couple of months working part-time before joining?

[purplegoldtornado]

Is it bad practice to ask to be able to do this? I would love to.

[Anonymous User]

Donno if it’s bad practice but I’d imagine it’s only if the firm has a need. In my case the firm got in touch and offered.

[Anonymous User]

Chiming in for SoCal.

The NY rate seems high, but I could see it being possible if the 3L is billed out at ~200/hr. The LA rate for 3Ls is ~150/hour, at least at the firm I did this at. So they paid 3Ls ~50/hr.

If you get offered to do this, I’d take it in a heartbeat. In my case, this allowed me to establish a personal connection with a rainmaker before my first year. They still constantly give me work as a result. I’m never worried about hours because the rainmaker always has something to throw my way (honestly, sometimes I’m too swamped because of this).

In my experience, the opportunity being offered depends on the firm’s workflow and your summer work product. Out of my class of ~10 2Ls, only two received an offer which included language allowing 3L work.

I’d much rather get a project that I can put 30-50 hours into and get some monthly income than just watch Netflix all day during 3L, but that’s just me. And the work I did was not really scut work...I was drafting complaints, writs, motions, discovery, and asset purchase agreements; and conducting client meetings, doing fact investigations, appearing in court to watch the rainmaker perform; et cetera. And all of this was under the personal supervision of an experienced attorney and his team, meaning that I received valuable tips on how to do all the stuff I did more efficiently.