Law Practice
May 30, 2001
Summer Associates Dance to the Same Tune
As many a law student is aware, at least one California law firm is attempting to lead the staid world of prestige law firms out of the "who wants to act like a millionaire for the summer" days of the past and into the "boot-camp-reality firm" world of the future.
As many a law student is aware, at least one California law firm is attempting to lead the staid world of prestige law firms out of the "who wants to act like a millionaire for the summer" days of the past and into the "boot-camp-reality firm" world of the future. This firm apparently will require its summer associates to take part in an intensive program in which they will litigate a mock case from intake through trial in four short weeks, allowing them to spend the other eight weeks elsewhere, like another firm or the beach.
Just as many firms reluctantly followed the leaders in the recent salary wars, it is inevitable that others will follow this firm's lead. Fear not, however, for while the landscape may change for the worse down the road, it is too late for most firms to jump on the sweatshop bandwagon for this summer.
At times like these, especially given the fragile state of the economy, it is critical that those law students participating in "normal" summer programs play it right so that firms will get the message that boot-camp-style summers won't pass muster.
In order to accomplish this, a few well-established rules for success are in order:
• Don't embarrass yourself. This sounds simple enough, but you will be expected to know certain things that are obvious to the partners running the summer program. Pick up a copy of "Caviar, The Definitive Guide," by Susie Boeckmann, and walk in prepared and confident.
• Don't alienate anyone important. The key word here is "important." Read through the firm's Martindale-Hubbell listings. Rank the attorneys according to length of time with the firm and educational background. Get hold of the firm's financials and bills and figure out the book-of-business pecking order. With this knowledge, you'll know who deserves obeisance, and who will be ignored if they speak ill of you.
• Don't appear haughty. You know you are smarter and better educated than 99 percent of the attorneys you'll be working for. After all, most of the partners started out in days of yore when Harvard and Yale accepted all comers and the Bar Exam consisted of a three-hour take-home test. In any case, try to resist correcting them when they misanalyze issues or make obvious errors in judgment.
• Don't tip the help. Whether dealing with the personal valet the firm will assign to you, the masseuse who comes in on Tuesdays or the shoe-shine person, realize that the firm already has taken care of them and that it would be gauche and wasteful to offer them additional compensation.
• Don't befriend the staff. This may seem obvious, but occasionally, a summer associate forgets that secretaries, copy-room personnel and other such employees do not matter. It is best to ignore such nonpersons, lest you lose perspective and the respect of the partners.
• Don't overdress. In the old days, lawyers wore suits to work, but nowadays, virtually every firm is full-time casual, so take it easy. Wear shorts, sandals or whatever else makes you feel most comfortable. The last thing you want is to look like you're taking things too seriously.
• Internet Explorer is better than Netscape Navigator. This is perhaps the most important rule of all. When you are not being lunched at five-star restaurants, being treated to shopping sprees at Barneys and yachting with the managing partner, you will be expected to spend the rest of your time surfing the Internet. As such, you will not want to use a browser as unstable, slow and unreliable as Netscape Navigator. The partners never may know if you do, but why risk minimizing your enjoyment? After all, if you're not at the firm for 12 weeks to have a good time, why are you there?
Ray Bilbeaux, a Bay Area intellectual property lawyer, publishes www.ScaldingCoffee.com.
Columnist
For reprint rights or to order a copy of your photo:
Email
Jeremy_Ellis@dailyjournal.com
for prices.
Direct dial: 213-229-5424
Send a letter to the editor:
Email: letters@dailyjournal.com