The law firm recruiting process often gives the impression that the only thing that matters is getting a “good” job. Law school placement offices give students statistics about law firms (various ratings of size, salaries, profitability and other measures). Law firms keep track of their own statistics (numbers of students from top schools, numbers of judicial clerks and other measures). These statistics suggest that hiring is what counts, and that qualitative factors (making sure that there is a good fit between a law firm’s needs and opportunities and a student’s talents and interests) somehow do not much matter.
On this view, the summer associate experience is essentially irrelevant. Everyone knows that most summer associates, at most firms, will be offered jobs as permanent associates. So long as you do not make a massive blunder, you are nearly guaranteed an offer. If the goal is to get hired, and if by becoming a summer associate you are bound to be hired, there is little point in putting a lot of mental energy into the summer associate experience.
