Wedding in South East Asia during SA? Forum

[Anonymous User]

A very close friend is getting married an 18 hour flight away from NY during the week of July 4th. Do you think it would be appropriate to request 3-5 days off from my SA to go to this wedding? If so, should I do so in the coming weeks/months so I am able to RSVP?

Firm has 100 percent return offer rate and requires only 7 weeks for a split summer, so I would still be on the team for longer than other SAs. What do you think?

[Anonymous User]

Go to the wedding, and yes, give them a heads up.

(Once you start as a junior associate, your firm won't remember who attended what during the summer, but you will remember a SE Asia wedding for your life!)

[Dcc617]

Go to the wedding, and yes, give them a heads up.

(Once you start as a junior associate, your firm won't remember who attended what during the summer, but you will remember a SE Asia wedding for your life!)

[Bosque]

If you are super concerned about missing the 3-5 days, offer to either work a week before or after the program starts/ends. They probably won't take you up on it, but shows you are not trying to duck work (though I really wouldn't be too concerned).

Go to the wedding. If that is the thing that tanks your offer, you didn't want to work there anyway.

[Anonymous User]

I literally missed 2 days during my 1L SA to interview at other firms and my firm was totally chill with it. The summer program is for you--it is not for the firm and it is not a real job.

My only advice is make sure you clearly communicate that to the people you work with and don't get staffed on something that will require (I use that term loosely, you're a summer) your attention while you're out.

[Anonymous User]

As long as you aren’t spending the summer with Munger Tolles, you should be OK. During my SA there, I literally got docked pro rata pay for one day I missed to attend my sibling’s wedding and one day I missed for a clerkship interview. Collectively that was over $1600.

By contrast, the firm I was with a different summer did not care at all (given sufficient notice).

[Anonymous User]

bumping this because I'm in a similar situation and I'm surprised by the nice tone of the comments.

[Anonymous User]

Even after you start as an actual associate, it is something you should do. Just always make sure you let people know and arrange cover if necessary. But as an SA: yes, 100% go, RSVP now, and a bit before the summer starts (or during the first week) let them know and offer to stay a week longer/start a week sooner. Done.

One of my friends skipped a wedding during their summer. When the partner found out, they couldn't believe it and were so upset my friend didn't go. Don't take this job more seriously than you have to.

[Anonymous User]

bumping this because I'm in a similar situation and I'm surprised by the nice tone of the comments.

Don't be. The summer is a dog and pony show for you, so don't think for a second the firm is going to lose sleep over you not "working" for a few days.

As long as you communicate in advance (including to your teams, and not like the day before), don't take on an urgent project right before taking time off, and complete your assignments on time for the rest of your SA this shouldn't have any impact on your shot at an offer.

[Anonymous User]

Just to provide a different perspective—I still think you should go but give the number of days I would be prepared for the firm to tell you that they won’t pay you for the week away. I believe there was a person in my class who had a similar situation. The firm of course was fine with them going but noted that they wouldn’t receive pay for that week, and I believe this isn’t unusual when taking more than 1-2 days in a single stretch as a summer associate.

Not to say the above is definitive but just want to set expectations.

[Anonymous User]

Even after you start as an actual associate, it is something you should do. Just always make sure you let people know and arrange cover if necessary. But as an SA: yes, 100% go, RSVP now, and a bit before the summer starts (or during the first week) let them know and offer to stay a week longer/start a week sooner. Done.

One of my friends skipped a wedding during their summer. When the partner found out, they couldn't believe it and were so upset my friend didn't go. Don't take this job more seriously than you have to.

Yeah, when I saw this, I was imagining everyone’s reaction if they found out someone missed something like this for their SA. They would be totally shocked and definitely say the person should have gone.