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Law Students Facing a Bummer of a Summer?
Most firms have appropriately austere plans for their summer associates
The National Law Journal
April 10, 2009
When fresh-faced summer associates arrive at law firms across the country in several months, will they find that the Free Lunch Express has run out of track?
The economy is in shambles, prestigious law firms are sending associates and staffers packing right and left and clients are railing against exorbitant legal fees and frivolous spending. Given the harsh climate, legal experts say it's no time to throw lavish parties, plan flashy outings and eat the cost of pricey lunches in an attempt to woo summer associates.
Law firms seem to be taking the hint.
Although no firms have announced they are planning a no-frills and no-fun summer, the general consensus is that most will pare back the partying -- and trim the price tag -- of their summer programs.
"We are moving forward with our program as planned, but I expect it will be less extravagant this year," said Jerry Clements, chairwoman of Locke Lord Bissell & Liddell. "That said, I think people are still going to be able to enjoy themselves."
There are a number of factors law firms must consider as they evaluate their summer programs, and cost is first and foremost, said Altman Weil principal Thomas Clay. But the appearance of an expensive summer program, both to people at the firm and to clients, is another consideration.
"It looks bad to be spending money on these events when people at the firm have had to take a pay cut," Clay said. "This year's summer programs aren't going to look like they have in the past. You can't justify taking kids on a wine-tasting trip when you are laying off attorneys."
'ALL CLERK' WEEKEND
Amroh Idris will soon return to Vinson & Elkins for his second stint as a summer associate, but the University of Texas School of Law 2L isn't expecting to be wined and dined the way he was last summer -- when the firm footed the bill for an "all clerk" weekend at the Four Seasons Hotel in Austin.
"I would be surprised if we do that again," said Idris, 24. "You would have to be completely ignorant or naive not to anticipate that there isn't going to be as much of a show this summer. Two-Ls are much more realistic this go-around, and we're all very cognizant of the economy. We understand that nothing is guaranteed."
Of course, a socially subdued summer program is better for participants than the alternative, which is a canceled summer program. A handful of firms have eliminated their 2009 summer associate programs in an attempt to cut costs and adjust for a projected falloff in demand for associates in the coming years. Dallas-based Winstead, San Diego-based Luce, Forward, Hamilton & Scripps, and Boston-based Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge are among the firms that pulled the plug on their 2009 summer associate programs.
A more common approach by firms has been to trim several weeks off the length of summer programs. A shorter summer not only cuts down on salary costs for summers -- who make around $3,000 a week at top firms -- but it also reduces the cost of entertaining them. Weil, Gotshal & Manges; Reed Smith; Blank Rome; and Alston & Bird are just a few of the firms that have cut the length of their 2009 summer programs.
Instead of spending a full three months at the firm, Dechert's 81 incoming summer associates will be there 10 weeks, a spokeswoman confirmed. They also won't be taking the annual firm-funded trip to London, which was eliminated to save money, the spokeswoman said.
