New York Lawyer
June 2, 2005

Q:
I was lucky enough to get a summer associate position at a prestigious firm. Could you give me some pointers on the types of things employers look for in a summer associate? I would love to get a full-time offer at the end of the summer.

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A:

There are tons of articles out there right now on how to impress everybody as a summer. I won�t belabor the obvious -- do a great legal job, work hard, etc. But I will add a few of the finer points that I think are just as valid.

Make connections. While keeping your head down and working hard is important, it is equally important to make contacts with people within the firm so that they remember you. In other words, try to be an actual human being along with being a law geek. If you find yourself in a social situation talking with the managing partner, don�t freeze up or think that you have to discuss Marbury v. Madison or something. Just chat about the weather, what you�re doing for the weekend, sports -- anything to get a conversation going. It�s critical that people have an idea of who you are as an individual, not just as a lawyer grinding away.

Get feedback. Everyone says this but I don�t see enough about how to get feedback if it is not offered voluntarily. This is critical, because sometimes there can be a problem with performance and you won�t have much time to undo the damage. Make sure that you follow up with each assignment to find out whether there are any issues. Here�s what you can say: "Just wanted to follow up on the memo I wrote -- do you have any suggestions about it?" If the person seems at all hesitant or less than effusive, but isn�t telling you in a straightforward manner what the problem is, probe further: "I would really like to improve if there are any issues, so I�d be very appreciative if you could let me know how I might do better in the future." People don�t like giving bad news, so you will have to demonstrate that you are open to hearing sensitive information if you want to get it. And you need to know what�s going on so that you can improve your performance, or at least show that you are willing to work on any flaws.

Proofread your work and get someone else to read it. These days, with horrific writing rampant, just having a completed memo that doesn�t have spelling and grammatical errors in it can set you apart from the crowd. Be very careful to make sure your written work is impeccable. Have someone outside the firm (a friend from law school, perhaps) read your work if you don�t have someone at the firm who can do so. When people see that you attend to every detail, they will think of you as someone who will not overlook anything and who will be a careful lawyer, and as someone who cares about the work they produce.

Be polite to the support staff. Well -- the firm may not ask the support staff�s opinion about whether to hire you, but don�t go around snapping your fingers to secretaries and seeing how high they will jump. If you get a reputation as an imperious jerk with the support staff, this can bubble up through the ranks and eventually come back to haunt you.

Be enthusiastic. Everyone knows that someone who is truly interested in the work they are doing is more likely to enjoy the work environment and to stick around for a long time. So -- project energy and enthusiasm about your projects, even if they are a tad dull; you�re just starting out so you�re bound to get some tedious stuff, but you need to project an air of can-do, limitless energy.

Don�t drink too much. I really can�t emphasize this enough. You will have many social opportunities during the summer and many will feature alcohol. You must be very careful not to drink too much and make a fool of yourself. Here�s the infallible test that you�ve slurped one-too-many Margaritas: you must instantly stop drinking booze if you feel uncharacteristically witty, funny, sexy, or otherwise better than you usually do. Despite the social trappings, these people are not your social friends; they are your potential colleagues and (at this point) almost entirely your superiors. It may look like a party, and act like a party, but it ain�t a party -- it�s still a work situation and you must conduct yourself accordingly.

Finally, ask yourself -- do you like them? Remember that each and every firm is different, because it consists of a group of individuals. Therefore the culture will vary significantly from place to place. While, of course, you are being looked over, you also need to be soaking up the firm atmosphere to figure out whether you would even accept an offer should one be extended. If it�s a casual, free wheeling place and you are formal, it may not be the place for you; if the firm is reserved and careful while you are brash and out there, again, it might not be a fit. Understand, too, that if this firm is not for you, there will (presumably) be another one out there that better fits your personality and goals.

Good luck and have a great summer.

Sincerely,
Holly English