Sonnenschein Shortens Its Summer Program
(And a request for tips about changes to other firms’ summer programs.)
Several tipsters informed us that Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal was trimming its summer associate program to 10 weeks (as Pillsbury Winthrop previously did). We reached out to Sonnenschein’s chairman, Elliott Portnoy, who apprised us of some changes to the firm’s program:
We have made two changes to the structure of this year’s Summer Associate Program. There is considerable overlap between the group of Summer Associates to whom these two policies apply.First, we have confirmed a uniform, firm-wide policy of a 10 week maximum for the Summer Program. As our firm continues its migration towards a greater practice group orientation, we felt it necessary to make policies such as this one uniform throughout the firm.
Second, we have made a general policy decision to end the Summer Program on August 1st firmwide (with a few exceptions). We believe that the August vacation season for our attorneys is simply not a period that is conducive to a positive Summer Associate experience.
Collectively, these two decisions will affect approximately one-half of our Summer Associates in Chicago who had originally indicated an interest to be with us for more than 10 weeks this summer. They may also affect some other Summer Associates in other offices, but if so (again, I working from memory) I believe that would be relatively isolated.
If you have other questions about our Summer Program, let me know.
These changes make sense to us, considering how dead August is (although maybe we’re biased ‘cause we’re in D.C., which basically shuts down for the whole month). We thank Mr. Portnoy for this detailed and helpful information, as well as for getting back to us so promptly.
The changes made to the summer associate programs of Sonnenschein and Pillsbury raise a broader question: When it comes to summer programs, is Biglaw cutting back? In light of the faltering economy, have firms made material changes to their SA programs — e.g., in terms of summer class size, length of the program, or overall lavishness of events?
Will Skadden Prom be moved from Rockefeller Center to Dave & Buster’s? Will farewell dinners at Per Se or Citronelle be replaced by brown-bag lunches in the firm cafeteria? Will the top-shelf booze get removed from the “booze cruises”?
We’d like to prepare a comprehensive report on notable changes to summer associate programs nationwide. If you have information that might interest us, please email us (subject line: “Summer Associate Program Changes”). Thanks.
Earlier: Endless Summer? Not at Pillsbury
(29) 
Comments
blah!
OMFG!!!! My career is ruined! No booze cruises. Oh noes!!!!!! I will never be a bigshot lawyer if i can't go on booze cruises.....
:(
:(
:(
When was the last time firms cut back like this, and when were the most dramatic cuts made in the last 10 years or so?
From law.com:
WinstonHeller.com.' Hmm …
Legal Pad
Heller merger rumors swirl, with Winston & Strawn the water cooler favorite. Everybody denies everything, but someone bought some interesting URLs last week. Also Blogged: Paralegal sues Victoria’s Secret over her patented bra.
I HATE THIS LAYOUT. THIS SUCKS LAT. GO BACK TO OLD LAYOUT NOW.
1;21,
Bitching about the lay-out is very 2 weeks ago. I'm a die-hard of the old lay-out, and I've completely given up. So should you.
Good post, 1:10. So do you think someone squatted for a week to see what would happen, then backed off while they could still get a full refund when the firms denied the rumors? That'd be normal.
Hilarious would be if the firms registered the domain name, got caught, and then dropped the name so they could remain secret, meanwhile allowing a squatter to come in and, for less than $100, tie up every good site name so that the firms had to buy him out for $10k.
Why would Winston want to keep the Heller name, just keep it out west for marketing purposes for a couple of years and then make the whole firm Winston & Strawn.
What happened to SEN??? BRING BACK SEN!!!!
Who has a farewell lunch at Per Se? Is this another Wachtell flashback. Please.
August is dead, but that policy is still suspicious. Sounds like they are also trying to limit splitting.
what about the u. of chicago students who don't start school until october (and can't begin the summer until mid june). does sonneschein's recruiting stink so bad that they no longer get students from the best school in their own backward?
Good catch if true 2:31 - if people are getting the boot on August 1, the only way you can even get 10 weeks is to start in mid-May.
Predictions
1. At least 10 AmLaw 100 firms will have offer levels of less than 80% to their 2L summer associates. This news will dribble out in September
2. 3 AmLaw 100 firms will disinvite a substantial number of their incoming 2008 graduates - and this news will trickle out in the late summer as the economic bad news gets worse and worse
3. One AmLaw 50 firm will fail - poof like Arthur Andersen - during the next year - from an unexpected scandal having nothing to do with the recession
4. the elephant in the garden is the slow death of big firm litigation - firms continue to hire way too many graduates in this practice area and over the next 2-4 years a majority of the Am Law 200 will see significant fall off in utilization so that associate classes of 2003-2010 will slowly suffocate.
5. all of this will be denied by most law firm's senior management until the reality is so painful and conspicuous that they can no longer do so.
2:31, maybe the "few exceptions" he mentioned are UC students.
the next step will be to tell summer associates that they cannot start until June 21st - after all it's Spring until then.
It looks like good old boy Portnoy is finally realizing the power of the internet and law blogs such as this one. Communication is a good step, now if he could only repair the reputation of the entire firm so every law student that interviews with Sonnenschein doesn't jump ship as soon as she gets an offer from another firm. First recinded offers in Charlotte, now shortened summers in other offices? Great job Sonnenschein. Keep up the good work.
Another important consideration that wasn't mentioned by Portnoy is that law schools have moved up the on-campus interviews earlier and earlier each year. Recruiting coordinators now have to end summer programs and very quickly turn around and travel to law schools in mid-august.
I summered in Texas last year, and all big-law firms ended their programs on August 2nd.
1:53, SEN like the old lay-out is dead and thankfully won't be coming back to ATL, though this change is one that we should be grateful about. Besides, we have Kash, who needs SEN?
3:35, we know you are Kash. Stop glorifying yourself and bashing SEN.
3:41, not exactly, just a reader who appreciates having someone who can actually write well-constructed, entertaining articles.
2:31, would you seriously expect Sonnenschein (or any firm) to tailor its summer program for UC students? UC is in Chicago, but Sonnenschein has offices and hires from all over, just like the rest of the big firms. And historically UC produces primarily eggheads, not practicioners. If UC wants its students to be able to compete, perhaps it should consider bringing its own calendar in line with other law schools.
There are well-constructed, entertaining articles on this site? I thought it was entirely egotistical gossip and rumor-mongering. My mistake.
My buddy's firm actually offered him an ADDITIONAL week. So, doesn't look like it's bad for everyone.
This is the responsible thing to do. Every time there is a slowdown firms cut back. It makes sense and its nothing new. Even Cravath's annual holiday party is stingy, they do not allow spouses.
Agreed 4:38. In a downturning economy where law firms and other markets are laying off/firing employees left and right, it's pretty hard to take these kind of whines seriously. That this wonderful gig known as Summer Associateship lasts but 10 weeks should be the least of everyone's concern.
Shearman has a 12 wk. max, and the start dates are on the early side, and last possible work day is August 1st... basically if you want to get a full 12 weeks in, your finals better be over early.
lul, alston & bird ended on july 20 last year, i believe. significantly earlier than aug 1 or 2. lulz
I have to hand it to Portnoy for learning his lesson. This is how you proactively address issues like this. It's bad news, but by being forthright like this, he defuses 90% of the negative impact.
Anyone hear anything about their San Fran office?