Summer Between Graduation and Start of BigLaw Associateship Forum

(Advantages vs Disadvantages, Big Law, Work-Life Balance, Hiring Practices, Company Culture, Hours and Compensation, Private Sector Firm Reviews & Experiences)
JimComeyGhost

New
Posts: 5
Joined: Thu Dec 14, 2017 10:41 am

Summer Between Graduation and Start of BigLaw Associateship

Post by JimComeyGhost » Mon Jan 18, 2021 7:03 pm

I have a big law job lined up for Fall 2021 in New York. It just occurred to me that while studying for the bar it's unclear whether it's required/encouraged to get some sort of internship before starting. Does anyone have any insight here from past experiences?

nixy

Gold
Posts: 4446
Joined: Fri Feb 16, 2018 8:58 am

Re: Summer Between Graduation and Start of BigLaw Associateship

Post by nixy » Mon Jan 18, 2021 8:39 pm

No, the expectation is that you'll graduate, study for and take the bar, and then start your biglaw job some time after that (often with enough time between to take a bar trip).

Anonymous User
Posts: 428107
Joined: Tue Aug 11, 2009 9:32 am

Re: Summer Between Graduation and Start of BigLaw Associateship

Post by Anonymous User » Fri Jan 22, 2021 2:42 pm

When do you recommend an incoming associate sign a lease in the city we move to? I am a little nervous about signing an expensive lease in a big city before passing the bar..

CanadianWolf

Diamond
Posts: 11413
Joined: Wed Mar 24, 2010 4:54 pm

Re: Summer Between Graduation and Start of BigLaw Associateship

Post by CanadianWolf » Tue Feb 16, 2021 11:10 am

JimComeyGhost wrote:
Mon Jan 18, 2021 7:03 pm
I have a big law job lined up for Fall 2021 in New York. It just occurred to me that while studying for the bar it's unclear whether it's required/encouraged to get some sort of internship before starting. Does anyone have any insight here from past experiences?
Assuming that this is a serious question, law firms expect one to study for & pass the bar exam.

Any internships or other type of work done during this time might result in a conflict with your future firm's clients.

Anonymous User
Posts: 428107
Joined: Tue Aug 11, 2009 9:32 am

Re: Summer Between Graduation and Start of BigLaw Associateship

Post by Anonymous User » Tue Feb 16, 2021 4:10 pm

I am in bankruptcy now and I worked at a distressed products desk of a hedge fund before I started at big law. One of the best career choices I’ve made.

No one at your firm is gonna care about the conflict arising out of an internship. I literally worked on a case where I used to intern at one of the opposing investors for the same debtor. Nobody gave a shit.

And you don’t need to spend the summer studying for the bar. Any intelligent graduate of a good law school can pass the bar with two weeks of cramming. All the pressure to overstudy only comes from the toxic risk aversion mentality of law students. Most of the student on this forum don’t know more than you do.

If you think you would benefit more from a break, take a bar trip. If you think you would benefit more from an internship related to your practice, be a gunner. I did my gig before big law because I believe in the latter. It served me well.

Want to continue reading?

Register now to search topics and post comments!

Absolutely FREE!


nixy

Gold
Posts: 4446
Joined: Fri Feb 16, 2018 8:58 am

Re: Summer Between Graduation and Start of BigLaw Associateship

Post by nixy » Tue Feb 16, 2021 4:14 pm

There’s nothing wrong with finding some kind of law gig during your bar summer, but it’s certainly not required or encouraged (in that I don’t think any biglaw employer actively wants you to do this. They don’t care).

CanadianWolf

Diamond
Posts: 11413
Joined: Wed Mar 24, 2010 4:54 pm

Re: Summer Between Graduation and Start of BigLaw Associateship

Post by CanadianWolf » Wed Feb 17, 2021 3:56 pm

I would ask your future employer if the firm has any concerns about possible conflicts that may arise during interim employment. This is important.

Usual expectation is that you will spend time on bar passage/membership related activities, relocation, and relaxing. No one expects you to do any type of interim work.

RX_distressed

New
Posts: 9
Joined: Sun Dec 27, 2020 5:59 pm

Re: Summer Between Graduation and Start of BigLaw Associateship

Post by RX_distressed » Tue Feb 23, 2021 5:14 pm

Anonymous User wrote:
Tue Feb 16, 2021 4:10 pm
I am in bankruptcy now and I worked at a distressed products desk of a hedge fund before I started at big law. One of the best career choices I’ve made.

No one at your firm is gonna care about the conflict arising out of an internship. I literally worked on a case where I used to intern at one of the opposing investors for the same debtor. Nobody gave a shit.

And you don’t need to spend the summer studying for the bar. Any intelligent graduate of a good law school can pass the bar with two weeks of cramming. All the pressure to overstudy only comes from the toxic risk aversion mentality of law students. Most of the student on this forum don’t know more than you do.

If you think you would benefit more from a break, take a bar trip. If you think you would benefit more from an internship related to your practice, be a gunner. I did my gig before big law because I believe in the latter. It served me well.
Hi - can you PM me? I'm heading to restructuring practice this summer and I was thinking about doing the same in my final year of law school. I'd love to hear from you about how it served you well in your career progression. Thank you!

User avatar
4LTsPointingNorth

Bronze
Posts: 253
Joined: Tue Nov 18, 2014 9:17 am

Re: Summer Between Graduation and Start of BigLaw Associateship

Post by 4LTsPointingNorth » Tue Feb 23, 2021 11:25 pm

Anonymous User wrote:
Fri Jan 22, 2021 2:42 pm
When do you recommend an incoming associate sign a lease in the city we move to? I am a little nervous about signing an expensive lease in a big city before passing the bar..
I would move in a couple weeks before your start date to have time to fully settle in/furnish the place/etc.

If you're going into Biglaw then I wouldn't really worry about whether you passed the bar or not as a reason to time your moving decision. Of a Biglaw class of 100 associates, two or three people typically fail the bar their first time almost every year. They retake the next available administration and most people at the firm never know anything about it.

Want to continue reading?

Register for access!

Did I mention it was FREE ?


Post Reply Post Anonymous Reply  

Return to “Big Law/Private Practice Jobs”