What Law Schools And Firms Really Think About Summers

Firms seem to be dealing with some unprofessional summers.

You know how I know the economy is picking up for entry level associates? Because it seems like summers are back to acting a fool. In 2005, 2Ls approached summer programs like a 12-week party with a boatload of disposable income. But by 2010, summers acted like it was a ten-week job interview. Now, it appears there is some backsliding.

I say that because I attended a NALP 2015 panel about making the best out of the summer for firms and law schools, and the firms do not sound like they are dealing with people who are terrified of being no-offered. The firms were talking about students who aren’t even responding to their emails after accepting summer positions, while the schools expressed year-round commitment to helping their 2Ls succeed.

The panelists:
Dyana Barninger — Recruiting Director, K&L Gates.
Irene McGrath — Chief Associate Recruitment Officer, Hogan Lovells
Bruce Elvin — Director Professional Development, Duke Law School
Mark Weber — Dean for Career Services, Harvard Law School

Note, I felt the panel was geared towards issues with top law schools and Biglaw Summer Associates. Do not try this at home, 2Ls coming off the pace and trying to latch on to a midsize power. But if you go to a top school, it seems like you can expect a whole lot of support from your office of career services while you are a summer associate, especially if you are screwing up.

Weber and Elvin both encouraged law firms to call them, literally personally, if the firm was having an issue with a summer associate from their schools. The room went buzzing when one law firm recruiter talked about a summer associate who was lasciviously “making out” with his fiancee right in front of the elevator banks. Apparently some partners wanted the summer no offered on the spot (it sounds like he got an offer though). The career services people said that this was the kind of thing they could help with.

And, while it might sound silly that a person would need “training” from career services to know that he shouldn’t be feeling up his girlfriend at the elevator bank after a lunchtime quickie, Weber made what I thought was an excellent point: when dealing with summers “you’re talking about people who have been lifeguards and waiters, entering into their first professional job.”

Firms can be appalled by what summers don’t know about professionalism… but somebody actually has to teach them. Some people don’t get it “naturally.” Some people don’t have good role models. Some people are just damn awkward, we’re talking about would-be lawyers after all. A good career service officer is also an educator. If a firm can’t educate their summers, maybe CSO can.

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Weber told a story about a student who the firm was concerned about. She was getting all of her work done, but seemed withdrawn from the social events. It made the firm think that she “just wasn’t that into” the firm, and maybe they should spend their offer on somebody more likely to take it. The firm called Weber, Weber explained (without divulging any confidences) that the student was going through a rough personal patch. Problem solved, offer received.

That’s a crazy story though, right? You’re supposed to go to social events and come off like a drunk asshole… that’s unprofessional! But if you are “withdrawn” and appropriately sucking up to your future colleagues, that’s also a problem. Biglaw man, catch the fever.

Elvin mentioned that not every school has the resources of Harvard. (It’s funny when Duke has to speak up for the poor kids in the neighborhood.) But he encouraged schools to provide year-round support to their 2Ls. The career service experience does not end when a 2L gets a summer offer in August.

Again, that’s easy to say from the Duke’s and Harvard’s of the world. If only 10% of your class gets a job through campus interviews, it’s hard to keep caring about that 10% when the rest of your class is looking at a summer of selling plasma for Ramen. I’m sure there are some law students reading this who are thinking “Wait, can you go back to the part where people got jobs as lifeguards and waiters? Are those on Symplicity?”

Summer associates don’t show up to the law firm as fully developed professionals. It seems that everybody knows that. But if you are lucky enough to go to a good school, it seems like you have an on-campus support system willing to help you learn.

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