Having to take a week off during a 2L SA Forum

[RVP11]

I mentioned the wedding during my interviews, so it's not like they were surprised by it....

How did that go? I've thought it would be best to discuss it between receiving the offer and making my decision, when I would have at least some bit of bargaining power.

[TTT-LS]

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[NYU2011]

Completely agree with TTT. Missing a week out of ~10 week program is too much. ITE economy I wouldn't even ask for a day off unless someone died.

[Alexandria]

Why does the wedding have to be in the summer? You could have a wedding over break. I have no idea if this would appeal to you, but I've been to some gorgeous Christmastime weddings. And you save money on decorations, because most venues are already decorated for the holidays.

[SweetnessUVA]

Similar question - I was hoping to take a week off for the Newport-Bermuda sailing race in mid-June, but since I won't be able to do it this year and it's every two years, the next one would be during my 2L summer.

There's no way to make it work though, right?

[270910]

Similar question - I was hoping to take a week off for the Newport-Bermuda sailing race in mid-June, but since I won't be able to do it this year and it's every two years, the next one would be during my 2L summer.

There's no way to make it work though, right?

rofl. If you need to ask, this career may not be right for you...

[TTT-LS]

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[mr.undroppable]

Looks like we'll have to do the wedding/honeymoon in August. Worst case scenario I miss the first week of 3L.

Bahama, I don't know if this necessarily qualifies as just one of many work/life conflicts to come. Where I come from, getting married, being at the births of your children, etc. are pretty important and not ordinary events you can equate with going on vacation or making it to all your kid's soccer games.

I guess I don't want to risk getting an offer out of school, but if any firm I work for, BigLaw or not, fires me for missing work for the most important family events, I'll be happy to part ways.

FWIW, I don't foresee that happening since I intend on working in a family-friendly, heavily LDS market, where I assume partners value having happy wives and kids to go home to.

Have you spent much time around biglaw partners?

[ziggysmarley]

I mentioned the wedding during my interviews, so it's not like they were surprised by it....

How did that go? I've thought it would be best to discuss it between receiving the offer and making my decision, when I would have at least some bit of bargaining power.

The wedding came up during first round and call back interviews, either because the interviewers would notice the engagement ring or I would mention my fiance... and then they'd ask about the wedding. I didn't press anyone re: taking off a week/starting late until after I received multiple offers and was weighing my options.

Summer programs all start at different times, and there is often some flexibility re: start date based on your school. If you schedule your wedding for May 28, you could start a day or two later... and still work 9-10 weeks. This is more than enough time for the firm to get to know you, evaluate your performance, etc. I just don't see a firm administrator/partner saying "He/She does great work... but he/she got married at the beginning of the summer and this shows a lack of maturity and lack of commitment to the firm. NO OFFER." Maybe if you took off mid-summer or took off multiple weeks or did crappy work, but the firm will likely understand that you planned your wedding months before you did OCI, received an offer, got the dates of the summer program, etc.

I think a lot of kids on this site (and others) have never worked at firms, and base their recommendations on horror stories re: mean partners that float around law schools. At my old firm, no one was canned for stuff like this. When a summer's wife had a baby mid-summer and he took off for a week, people were HAPPY for him. He got an offer (and baby gifts).

[ziggysmarley]

Looks like we'll have to do the wedding/honeymoon in August. Worst case scenario I miss the first week of 3L.

Bahama, I don't know if this necessarily qualifies as just one of many work/life conflicts to come. Where I come from, getting married, being at the births of your children, etc. are pretty important and not ordinary events you can equate with going on vacation or making it to all your kid's soccer games.

I guess I don't want to risk getting an offer out of school, but if any firm I work for, BigLaw or not, fires me for missing work for the most important family events, I'll be happy to part ways.

FWIW, I don't foresee that happening since I intend on working in a family-friendly, heavily LDS market, where I assume partners value having happy wives and kids to go home to.

Have you spent much time around biglaw partners?

Have you?

[wiseowl]

I mentioned the wedding during my interviews, so it's not like they were surprised by it....

How did that go? I've thought it would be best to discuss it between receiving the offer and making my decision, when I would have at least some bit of bargaining power.

The wedding came up during first round and call back interviews, either because the interviewers would notice the engagement ring or I would mention my fiance... and then they'd ask about the wedding. I didn't press anyone re: taking off a week/starting late until after I received multiple offers and was weighing my options.

Summer programs all start at different times, and there is often some flexibility re: start date based on your school. If you schedule your wedding for May 28, you could start a day or two later... and still work 9-10 weeks. This is more than enough time for the firm to get to know you, evaluate your performance, etc. I just don't see a firm administrator/partner saying "He/She does great work... but he/she got married at the beginning of the summer and this shows a lack of maturity and lack of commitment to the firm. NO OFFER." Maybe if you took off mid-summer or took off multiple weeks or did crappy work, but the firm will likely understand that you planned your wedding months before you did OCI, received an offer, got the dates of the summer program, etc.

I think a lot of kids on this site (and others) have never worked at firms, and base their recommendations on horror stories re: mean partners that float around law schools. At my old firm, no one was canned for stuff like this. When a summer's wife had a baby mid-summer and he took off for a week, people were HAPPY for him. He got an offer (and baby gifts).

i don't think anyone is saying the wedding is the problem. the problem is that he wants to take a week-long honeymoon right after it.

paternity leave is protected by law. honeymoon leave isn't.

[ziggysmarley]

[]

[RVP11]

Wedding date is locked down. The positive news is that the honeymoon will be short. I should only be missing 2-3 days max for the honeymoon if the firm's program has even started by then. I spoke with one former BigLaw recruitment partner who felt this wouldn't even be a consideration come offer time.

[wiseowl]

i don't think anyone is saying the wedding is the problem. the problem is that he wants to take a week-long honeymoon right after it.

paternity leave is protected by law. honeymoon leave isn't.

He recently said wedding May 28 or June 4, and honeymoon in August... but people were still saying not to miss a second of the summer program.

i don't see the OP having said that anywhere.

^^^^ guess that settles it. good luck to you man.

[LawSchoolWannaBe]

Why not get married on one of those weekends and do the honeymoon when you both have a week free?

[RVP11]

Why not get married on one of those weekends and do the honeymoon when you both have a week free?

Long story, but this is kind of what we're doing. Lots of compromise involved.

[NYU2011]

I think a lot of kids on this site (and others) have never worked at firms, and base their recommendations on horror stories re: mean partners that float around law schools. At my old firm, no one was canned for stuff like this. When a summer's wife had a baby mid-summer and he took off for a week, people were HAPPY for him. He got an offer (and baby gifts).

I think the key phrase that most people have included is "ITE." People are getting no-offered right now for NO reason, so why give a firm any reason, even if it's tiny and seems inconsequential? Some firms won't care. Some might not be able to give everyone an offer and will be looking for distinguishing factors.

And yes, I worked for a firm for years.

Anyway, looks like he figured it out, so good luck OP and congrats on your wedding.

[Anonymous User]

Looks like we'll have to do the wedding/honeymoon in August. Worst case scenario I miss the first week of 3L.

Bahama, I don't know if this necessarily qualifies as just one of many work/life conflicts to come. Where I come from, getting married, being at the births of your children, etc. are pretty important and not ordinary events you can equate with going on vacation or making it to all your kid's soccer games.

I guess I don't want to risk getting an offer out of school, but if any firm I work for, BigLaw or not, fires me for missing work for the most important family events, I'll be happy to part ways.

FWIW, I don't foresee that happening since I intend on working in a family-friendly, heavily LDS market, where I assume partners value having happy wives and kids to go home to.

Careful there- remember UVA has a first day sign in requirement! (and word on the street is that it is almost impossible to get excused- even for honeymoons!)

[a.williams]

Why not get married on one of those weekends and do the honeymoon when you both have a week free?

Long story, but this is kind of what we're doing. Lots of compromise involved.

Just elope, she'll understand. Congrats on finally setting the date.