Since last fall, the most junior associates at firms across the city have been trying to learn as much as they can about the practice of law. From what we remember, this process was a little bewildering and sometimes confusing. The culmination of that first year does not happen in September when the first-year associate becomes a second-year associate, but rather when the summer associates arrive and the first year associates are no longer the most junior persons at their firm. In this column, we offer some advice to those associates on how to be effective now that they are sitting on the other side of the desk.

Your firm relies on you to help the summer associates learn how to adapt and thrive. You are going to be the class that the summer associates can relate to most since you were in their position yourself only 2 years ago. You will find yourself being viewed as an experienced lawyer and summer associates will look up to you for advice and counsel. This is not an unpleasant experience by any means, but it is a little strange and will take some time to get used to. You should be proud of all that you have learned and try and pass along that knowledge to the summer associates. For many of you, the introduction of summer associates to the firm marks the first time that you will be giving assignments to other attorneys.

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