As traditional summer associate programs are cut back year after year, it is harder than ever to score a coveted summer position. But you’ve done it. You have a legal job for the summer. Finals are over for the year, the weather has warmed up and it’s time to get to work. For law students, summer jobs are not just a matter of putting nose to grindstone. A summer position comes with unique potential and risk, and must be treated as more than just a paycheck for the summer. You should go into the office with an understanding of what the job is and what it is not, and tailor your performance accordingly.
What Your Position Is: A Three-Month Interview
In contrast to the practice 10 years ago, if you have a traditional summer associate position in a medium or large firm, having that summer associate position does not guarantee an office with your name on it come graduation. Firms sometimes hire more summer associates than they have first-year associate positions. Particularly with law being an employer’s market, if a summer associate’s quality of work is less than impressive, the summer associate does not show appropriate work ethic or the summer associate’s personality does not fit the firm culture, the firm will not hesitate to withhold a full-time offer. You should be at your peak performance for those three months, at your best, brightest and most driven. While you may have gotten on well with your interviewers, your time as a summer associate is your opportunity to prove to the whole firm that you can be a star member of the team.
