Cleary Encourages 'Home Cooking' To Keep Summer Associate Lunch Costs Down

Everyone is writing about how summer associate programs will be lean and mean this year due to law firm cutbacks in the recession. The summer associate classes will be smaller. The summers will be shorter. The perks will be less lavish. The long summer associate lunches will be few and far between. And on and on.

Well, Cleary Gottlieb got the memo… and has posted a memo to the firm intranet letting their attorneys know just what to expect from the summer associate program this year. One source there said:

Cleary released some very bizarre summer associate rules. Can’t tell if they’re joking.

Here is a sampling, from the “2009 Summer Associate Lunch Policy” portion of the memo, neatly incorporating our suggestion to McWine and McDine SAs.

The full memo, a response from the firm, and special discounts to look out for this summer, after the jump.


We thought it was safe to say that they’re joking, but we checked in with the firm anyway. A spokesperson tells us:

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We confirm this is meant to be light-hearted. It is from the “April Fools” edition of an internal newspaper at the firm (we realize it is a few weeks late).

Download the memo in all its recession-humor glory here: Cleary Summer Associate Memo courtesy of Above The Law

While reading the memo, look out for the usual SA booze cruise, but on the (free) Staten Island ferry; a wine-and-cheese tasting replaced by an evening visiting Trader Joe’s for their free samples; and an encouragement to treat clients at Au Bon Pain… especially between 4 and 6 p.m. during their 50% off Bake Sale. Oh, and be aware that there is no 40th floor in Cleary’s New York office, says one source.

You gotta love a Biglaw firm with a sense of humor. There’s a reason why Cleary made it to the Finals in the 2008 Competition for Coolest Law Firm.

Earlier: Summer (Associate) Lovin’… Not As Much of a Blast

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Cleary Summer Associate Memo [PDF]