Is it a bad sign if I'm not enjoying my summer? associateship? Forum

[Anonymous User]

Summer associate here. I have heard that being a summer associateship is the best it ever gets, which has me worried because honestly I'm not quite enjoying the work. I had worked in a government office as a paralegal before law school and also interned at the USAO during my 1L year and enjoyed the work there. But as a summer associate... it just feels meh. The work does not feel particularly meaningful and the fancy restaurants were cool the first and second time, but now I would rather just get pizza or something. I LOVED working for the government and since biglaw can only really go down from here I am starting to get second thoughts. Does anyone here have any thoughts/advice? My goal was to do biglaw a few years than transition to government but I really cannot imagine being a biglaw associate if this is the best it gets.

[Anonymous User]

When people say being a summer associate in biglaw is as good as it gets, they're just saying that you will get paid a lot to eat expensive food and enjoy free events with no real expectations or strings attached beyond "don't be a fucking idiot".

It's not indicative of how practice is at most firms in terms of substance or expectations. So I wouldn't put too much stock in trying to extrapolate how practice will actually be from it unless you're at a firm where they work summers for real. If you're really curious just talk to associates that do the work you're interested in and ask them for the candid reality of their day-to-day.

[cornerstone]

When people say being a summer associate in biglaw is as good as it gets, they're just saying that you will get paid a lot to eat expensive food and enjoy free events with no real expectations or strings attached beyond "don't be a fucking idiot".

It's not indicative of how practice is at most firms in terms of substance or expectations. So I wouldn't put too much stock in trying to extrapolate how practice will actually be from it unless you're at a firm where they work summers for real. If you're really curious just talk to associates that do the work you're interested in and ask them for the candid reality of their day-to-day.

This. Summer assignments are by design not meaningful. What exactly did you like about your work in the government (pre-law and 1L)? And what assignments have you had this summer? That might help TLS give some advice as to whether you can expect similar satisfaction as an associate.

[Anonymous User]

The substance of the work gets better, the work environment gets worse. Even as a junior, my work responsibilities are wayyyyy more interesting and rewarding than my summer projects, and it will only improve as I get more senior. However, I also work wayyyy more hours, have way higher expectations, and way less fun activities (though there are still some).

If you're really curious just talk to associates that do the work you're interested in and ask them for the candid reality of their day-to-day.

This is something every summer should be doing anyway, at all firms. Gold mine of information that you should really really want to know.

[Anonymous User]

If you're really curious just talk to associates that do the work you're interested in and ask them for the candid reality of their day-to-day.

This is something every summer should be doing anyway, at all firms. Gold mine of information that you should really really want to know.

Devil's advocate says most associates want to sell you on coming back to the firm and joining their dept. You may not get candid answers.

IMHO, the better option is to try to shadow an actual team as a summer. Get your email added to the listserv, attend team meetings, read the work product, and do a meaningless assignment or two. That's the best way to see what life is like. Not always an option, but if you do a good job on an assignment for a large matter they may have wiggle room to rope you in.

[Res Ipsa Loquitter]

If what you're saying is you want to be working more hours and making a bigger contribution, then you'll probably be good at biglaw. There is zero correlation between enjoying the SA and being good at biglaw.

The people who enjoy SA stints the absolute most are the people who love fancy dinners, drinking, and socializing. Which bears no relation to the actual job. Many of these people will leave within 2 years.

[attorney589753]

All the other replies are spot on. Add to the fact that at many firms, junior and mid-level associates are basically afraid and discouraged from actually assigning you real work: They know they're not allowed to make you stay late, that you need insane amount of time, soft feedback, and they have to carve out mentoring time. If you want to get a meaningful work assignment you might need to try and signal to someone that you actually want to work. I think the shadowing suggestion is a good one and also just try to ask "is there anything I can take off your plate, I have open time for the next 3 hours" and people might actually give you a signature page packet or something to fill out.

[Joachim2017]

The other thing to consider is if you're an introvert / nerd / law dork who likes reading and writing and thinking about law but not necessarily the social aspects of fancy food and drinks, the summer won't be that fun. Which is fine, b/c as others have said, the summer experience isn't indicative of the actual full-time experience. But yeah, whether it's "enjoyable" will depend on the sorts of things you, as an individual, find enjoyable. Personally, I found the near-obsession among Big Law colleagues with fancy restaurants and outings as tired and boring. YMMV.

[Anonymous User]

There is very little correlation between whether you "like" your summer associateship and whether you'll: a) do well in biglaw a/o b) enjoy your time in biglaw. In fact, I could put the point even more strongly. There may even be a negative correlation; I've noticed the people who become "Mr. Summer" and go all-in on all the summer associate stuff also tend to be the ones who flame out in a couple years--maybe there's a disenchantment factor as it becomes increasingly obvious that normal practice in biglaw isn't an endless series of baseball games, yacht parties, and cocktail mixers lol. In short, you should infer very little (if not something mildly positive) from the fact that you aren't digging the summer program; it's not what actual life or practice will be like at the firm.