Biglaw

A Warning To Summer Associates

Enjoy work, while you can.

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We are deep into July and for law students hoping to start their career at a Biglaw firm, that means summer associateships.

There’s an old joke — it’s been making the rounds for more than 30 years — that paints a stark picture of the difference between being a summer associate and being a full-fledged associate.

A popular joke going around New York City law firms this summer tells of an old man who is accidentally sent to hell, only to be surprised by its splendor and tranquility.

Suddenly, he finds himself back on earth, where he commits every possible sin until he is banished to hell again. But this time it is as cruel as he had once imagined and he asks the Devil what happened.

”Oh, you must have been here for our summer associate program,” the Devil responds.

And, well, it’s still very, very true. And that joke has been updated for those Millennial/Gen Z cusp-ers living through their summer programs right now by Attorney Problems. And they message, as it always was, is be warned. Because it is… nothing like the Biglaw life that awaits you after graduation.

Kathryn Rubino is a Senior Editor at Above the Law, host of The Jabot podcast, and co-host of Thinking Like A Lawyer. AtL tipsters are the best, so please connect with her. Feel free to email her with any tips, questions, or comments and follow her on Twitter (@Kathryn1).

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