First Day Advice for New Summers
This advice has been passed down from generation to generation. I took it and I was the first one in my class to get an offer. I highly recommend following each suggestion.
1. There will inevitably be a morning meet and greet/orientation with other members of the summer class. It is imperative that you seek out a fellow summer who you think you can beat up. Once you find that person, beat the shit out of them in front of everyone. If you do this, you are off to a good start. Others will see this and think you are a bad ass not to be fucked with. (Note: If you are weak, do not attempt. Instead, become the bitch of the guy who looks the strongest.)
2. When you are getting your first assignment from a corner office partner, be sure to drop the line “your bustin’ my balls here” at least 3 times
3. What to wear? There are only two suitable outfits for first day dress
a. Cape, monocle, fedora combo (always reliable) or
b. Try to look as much like a 16th century Spanish Conquistador as possible (http://www.floridahistory.com/conquistador-armed.jpg)
4. Make light of your secretaries weight problem at least twice
a. If she threatens to complain to management, quickly diffuse the situation by telling her to “relax.” If instead your secretary is a skinny, gay dude, tell him to quit being “such a pussy.”
Follow all these steps and your offer is in the bag.
(20) Comments
I'm looking for actual SA advice (I tried to post a new topic, but Lat's crappy site isn't working).
I start at NYC Biglaw this summer, what should I wear on the first day? We are business casual, but I figure we'll be introduced to the big-wigs in the office and maybe have a picture taken . . . would it be ostentatious to wear a suit?
Use common sense. If you wear a suit, you are not under-dressed if a suit is expected. If business casual is expected and thats what everyone else is wearing, lose the tie and jacket.
Wear a suit.
i am involved with hiring for a summer program in d.c. and expect for summers to dress "business" (not "business casual") on the first day. take3:45 PM's advice.
Thanks guys. That's what I expected.
Wear suit for the first day. If the firm is business casual, then go casual after that.
Wear a suit the first day. Nobody will think you are weird. If you are still wearing a suit in July, however, everyone will think you are weird.
For the record, I am not weird.
I am going to be a SA in DC for biglaw, any other good advice/tips?
Go to as many hearings/arbitrations/conference calls as you can. Don't kill yourself with work, talking with the attorneys at the events is more important than banging out as many research memos as possible - your work as a summer isn't that valuable to them anyway. Don't wear a suit all summer if the attorneys dress in business casual - they will think you're uptight. Try not to be too much of a douche (I say this knowing that it is impossible for many law students/lawyers to follow that advice).
I would go without suit--my office is business casual and they specifically told us not to wear a suit on the first day
if you're a dude, don't wear a skirt.
Go the shadowing opportunity route as mentioned above. Do just enough actual work to show your not a moron, and other than that, take on the "assignments" that involve the most attorney interaction. Do you actually show any lawyering ability in a conference call or following some nitwit partner around? No. But if you show you have good social skills and get them to actually remember you, then your summer offer will be just as secure.
What about 1L's this summer in BIGLAW? Should we worried about offers for next summer?
if you're going to a biglaw in NY, wear a suit. we are business casual, but yes, almost everyone wears a suit on the first day. within a few days, i see most people lost the jacket and tie, but a suit on the first day is generally a good idea.
Get to know how to calculate deadlines from court rules. Great site to begin your research is www.criblaw.com -- Many Partners will throw date calculations to 1st years and they often struggle with this.
Great forum to pose serious questions regarding court rules and docketing.
If your firm is business formal all year long (read: Cravath) it is best to step it up the first day and wear a tux.
Always, always, always wear a suit on your first day. Show up on time or early. Have already heard a story about some entitled jackass who has shown up late his first 3 days with no excuse and without appearing at all sorry. WTF??? Another assclown asked the recruiting manager why the firm wouldn't pay his rent during the summer program. Is $3000 not enough, have these kids not heard about the recession and layoffs?? A little judgment people - please!!
Roger Lou would have said, if he were alive, be yourself.
So if the firm tells him to dress business casual without a suit and without a tie, you guys are saying wear a suit? What are you guys, 1Ls? Quit sabotaging the kid.