SUMMER ASSOCIATE "101"

By: Michael C. Gross

As a second year law student, it is nearly impossible not to get caught up in whirlwind process known as the fall recruiting season. After on-campus interviews, visits to firms, and perhaps some fine dining, you've landed a job with a great law firm. However, once exams are over and it is time to get to work, few law students are fully aware of what lies in store for them as summer associates.

For many law students, their position as a summer associate may well be the first "real" job they have ever had out of college. Even students with work experience before law school may not be fully aware of what a law firm culture entails. There is little doubt that participation in a summer associate program can be a significant highlight of any law school career. Accordingly, law students can take certain steps to ensure a positive experience.

Don't Be Afraid to Ask Questions: While it may be intimidating to walk into the office of a senior partner who has just assigned you a matter to ask them a question, it is an essential component of learning. A summer associate can reduce this anxiety by fully thinking a question through before approaching the lawyer, and taking initiative to find answers on your own. The lawyer will certainly appreciate the summer associate's preparation, and will likely take the time to fully explain a complicated point of law, or decipher a complicated factual scenario. On a related issue, the summer associate can reduce the need for questions by taking diligent notes during the assignment process, and clarifying the assignment with the attorney before leaving their office.

Don't Be Afraid to Ask Questions: While it may be intimidating to walk into the office of a senior partner who has just assigned you a matter to ask them a question, it is an essential component of learning. A summer associate can reduce this anxiety by fully thinking a question through before approaching the lawyer, and taking initiative to find answers on your own. The lawyer will certainly appreciate the summer associate's preparation, and will likely take the time to fully explain a complicated point of law, or decipher a complicated factual scenario. On a related issue, the summer associate can reduce the need for questions by taking diligent notes during the assignment process, and clarifying the assignment with the attorney before leaving their office.

Rely on Support Staff: A law firm, even a small one, can be a confusing labyrinth of files and faces during your first few weeks as a summer associate. Documents sent from your computer can end up at a printer nowhere near your office. Files may not be where your assigning attorney said they were. Even simple tasks, such as making a phone call can be a mystery. A law firm's support staff has likely addressed all of these issues 100 times over, and can provide tremendous assistance as one becomes familiar with the intricate operations that makes each firm so unique. Benefit from their expertise and experience throughout the summer, and show appreciation for the help you receive.

Rely on the Library Staff: In the rapidly increasing era of electronic research, few law students spend much time engaged in extensive book research beyond the first weeks of law school. Even tech-savvy students may have limited exposure to the types of extensive electronic research being utilized in today's firms, such as CD-ROMs and on-line subscription services. Library staff can assist summer associates in locating hard-to-find or new sources of research materials, will help track down missing case reporters from a partner's office, and can work with you in devising strategies to make the most efficient use of your research time.

Work With As Many Lawyers As Possible: Every law firm is a diverse group of personalities, and the summer associate can learn something from each of the firm's lawyers. Thus, it is valuable to receive assignments from a wide array of lawyers. By working with as many lawyers as possible, the summer associate cannot only get a real flavor of a firm's diversity, but will benefit from the different skills and training that each lawyer imparts.

Develop Relationship With Your Mentor: Many firms assign summer associates to a mentor at the beginning of the program. Realize the full potential of this valuable relationship. Have your mentor proofread a lengthy memorandum you are about to hand to an assigning attorney. Use your mentor as a sounding board before making important phone calls. The guidance a mentor provides can greatly enhance the summer associate experience.

Stay Organized: This point simply cannot be overstated. As assignments get expanded and new ones continue to come your way, the steady flow of papers, files, and billing sheets can begin to rattle the cage of even the most organized law student. Spending some time at the close of each work day to organize your office can reduce clutter and ensure efficiency. Importantly, time sheets should be completed on a daily basis to further ensure accuracy.

Take Advantage of "Outside" Events: Some valuable and informative summer associate experiences take place outside of the law firm. At my firm, offers to attend lectures, bar association meetings, and academic programs were routinely extended. I was fortunate to attend several of these which contributed immensely to my legal education. Further, any visit to a courtroom for a law student can help bridge the academic training of law school with your law firm experience. Be sure to take full advantage of these opportunities as they become available.

The summer is an exciting time, where law students can finally take the tools they have learned in the classroom, and put them to use them in a legal environment. Above all else, the experience should be enjoyable. Make the most of chances to meet and work with new people, who could eventually be your future colleagues. Take advantage of opportunities for learning and fulfillment both inside and outside of the firm. Appreciate the time involved from the firm's perspective of creating a well-designed summer program. In doing so, the summer associate can ensure that they have maximized their experience in "the real world" to the fullest extent possible.

Copyright © 1999, Manko, Gold, Katcher & Fox, LLP

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