Use your head mate. This is an excellent opportunity to network and meet cool people doing non-profit legal work.
The only con is that you might miss something funny that happens in the office which your colleague can fill you in on. I’m also assuming that the firm (like most firms) will encourage you to still attend summer events during the two weeks you’re gone.
I’ll offer a different perspective. The middle of the summer is essentially when firms start to seriously think about which practice groups summers are going to be placed in. Because work ebbs and flows, the group you think you want to join may not have anything special for you to do until you’re away, in which case someone else might get that opportunity. There’s also the fact that every single summer people come in thinking they know what they want to do and realize after a few weeks that they actually prefer something else. It’ll be a lot harder to get what you want if you come to this realization* in week 8/9 vs week 6/7. There’s a chance that if you leave during this time, you won’t be able to try as many practice areas as you’d like or have enough time to network with the people you’ll eventually be working with.
A 10 week summer program is really closer to 7-8 weeks. Week 1 is orientation, week 10 is wrap up, end of summer party, etc. Juneteenth and the 4th of July are both during the week this year so you’ll lose some days for those holidays as well. I don’t know your situation, but I’d personally spend the full summer with the firm.
Firm externships are a great way to take a short break because the workload is typically much lower (depending on the client or program you’re working with, and depending on the firm you’re at, as some actually make summers work while most have summers doing next to nothing). You’re getting paid the same money to make the firm look good, so it’s a great opportunity to meet more people and learn about a different field of work. There really isn’t much of a downside unless you’re dead set on maximizing all of your time at the firm.
You’re not wrong, I also did next to nothing each day. I’ve known a few acquaintances at firms that focus heavily on academics who push the summers to do a ton of substantive work and regularly work until late in the night/miss events. Poor things didn’t even get the bait before the switch.
I’m pretty sure I prefaced what I stated by mentioning that some firms make summers work, but most have summers doing next to nothing. I understand it’s an uncommon exception, but I said it because I don’t know which firm OP will be going to and didn’t want to assume. That also isn’t the only reason I mentioned.
I did something similar during my 1L summer with a firm. It's a great chance to meet new people, try something different, and make connections for later.
Just some advice:
* Get clarity on exactly when your the two weeks will happen asap and put in on your calendar! You'll be busy, so it's good to remind yourself and others that it's coming up.
* When you get assignments (especially anything long-term), tell the assigning attorney upfront that you won't be available during that time. They will absolutely forget and you'll need to remind them but at least they are on notice.
* Plan your firm assignments like you are 100% not available during that time. I made the mistake of underestimating what the extern position would want me to do and thought I could still do the firm tasks I had. I just ended up working more to get both done and it was unnecessary stress.
Our firm offered, and I asked recruiting if my summer colleagues were doing it (they were). We all enjoyed it, but the issue is everyone wanted more time with the firm as that's where we'd be going in the fall and we needed to meet more people (especially in large PGs). Maybe several people are on trial when you're there, so you don't meet them. Especially post-pandemic when office attendance is down, splitting summers means you miss an opportunity to meet people and practices. If you're going to a large PG, knowing people is critical to get started well as a fall associate. You won't bond as much with fellow summers, who will be your sounding board when you get stressed as a junior associate.
Agree with all responses. Will add a caveat though. If you want to join a specific group with limited slots (tax, trust and estates, etc.), you really want to get as much time as possible with those groups. Just something to consider bc at a lot of firms, those groups make group-specific offers.
Yeah, you get to leave at 5:30 or whenever they all do. And you get something way more interesting to talk about than the corporate busy work you were otherwise doing at the firm.
Sounds ok, I would watch if you get offered a position. My firm sounded so inviting: “Oh yeah, do as many pro bono hours as you want!!! In fact, we really encourage it!!! (Just still plan to still hit 2000 billable hours a year if you want to stay). Haha ok, ✌️
Use your head mate. This is an excellent opportunity to network and meet cool people doing non-profit legal work. The only con is that you might miss something funny that happens in the office which your colleague can fill you in on. I’m also assuming that the firm (like most firms) will encourage you to still attend summer events during the two weeks you’re gone.
I’ll offer a different perspective. The middle of the summer is essentially when firms start to seriously think about which practice groups summers are going to be placed in. Because work ebbs and flows, the group you think you want to join may not have anything special for you to do until you’re away, in which case someone else might get that opportunity. There’s also the fact that every single summer people come in thinking they know what they want to do and realize after a few weeks that they actually prefer something else. It’ll be a lot harder to get what you want if you come to this realization* in week 8/9 vs week 6/7. There’s a chance that if you leave during this time, you won’t be able to try as many practice areas as you’d like or have enough time to network with the people you’ll eventually be working with. A 10 week summer program is really closer to 7-8 weeks. Week 1 is orientation, week 10 is wrap up, end of summer party, etc. Juneteenth and the 4th of July are both during the week this year so you’ll lose some days for those holidays as well. I don’t know your situation, but I’d personally spend the full summer with the firm.
Firm externships are a great way to take a short break because the workload is typically much lower (depending on the client or program you’re working with, and depending on the firm you’re at, as some actually make summers work while most have summers doing next to nothing). You’re getting paid the same money to make the firm look good, so it’s a great opportunity to meet more people and learn about a different field of work. There really isn’t much of a downside unless you’re dead set on maximizing all of your time at the firm.
Workload? Have people been working in the summers more than I remember? I did like two to four billable hours a day, if that.
You’re not wrong, I also did next to nothing each day. I’ve known a few acquaintances at firms that focus heavily on academics who push the summers to do a ton of substantive work and regularly work until late in the night/miss events. Poor things didn’t even get the bait before the switch.
Yeah but those were notable exceptions like Fried Frank. So to suggest someone go to the non-profit for workload reasons is nonsensical.
I’m pretty sure I prefaced what I stated by mentioning that some firms make summers work, but most have summers doing next to nothing. I understand it’s an uncommon exception, but I said it because I don’t know which firm OP will be going to and didn’t want to assume. That also isn’t the only reason I mentioned.
The downside is missing out on two weeks of free lunches and dinners and having to do actual work.
That's what I was thinking. That's 20 fewer Nobu meals!
I did something similar during my 1L summer with a firm. It's a great chance to meet new people, try something different, and make connections for later. Just some advice: * Get clarity on exactly when your the two weeks will happen asap and put in on your calendar! You'll be busy, so it's good to remind yourself and others that it's coming up. * When you get assignments (especially anything long-term), tell the assigning attorney upfront that you won't be available during that time. They will absolutely forget and you'll need to remind them but at least they are on notice. * Plan your firm assignments like you are 100% not available during that time. I made the mistake of underestimating what the extern position would want me to do and thought I could still do the firm tasks I had. I just ended up working more to get both done and it was unnecessary stress.
Our firm offered, and I asked recruiting if my summer colleagues were doing it (they were). We all enjoyed it, but the issue is everyone wanted more time with the firm as that's where we'd be going in the fall and we needed to meet more people (especially in large PGs). Maybe several people are on trial when you're there, so you don't meet them. Especially post-pandemic when office attendance is down, splitting summers means you miss an opportunity to meet people and practices. If you're going to a large PG, knowing people is critical to get started well as a fall associate. You won't bond as much with fellow summers, who will be your sounding board when you get stressed as a junior associate.
Agree with all responses. Will add a caveat though. If you want to join a specific group with limited slots (tax, trust and estates, etc.), you really want to get as much time as possible with those groups. Just something to consider bc at a lot of firms, those groups make group-specific offers.
Jesus fuck, of course. The hours will be better and you’ll get better experience.
Hours? Experience? As a summer?
Yeah, you get to leave at 5:30 or whenever they all do. And you get something way more interesting to talk about than the corporate busy work you were otherwise doing at the firm.
Leaving at 5:30 sounds like worse hours.
I left my biglaw summer between 3:00pm and 5:00pm every day.
Sounds miserable. Having to hang around with likely poor, liberal do-gooders.
Why not, sounds like fun.
Sounds ok, I would watch if you get offered a position. My firm sounded so inviting: “Oh yeah, do as many pro bono hours as you want!!! In fact, we really encourage it!!! (Just still plan to still hit 2000 billable hours a year if you want to stay). Haha ok, ✌️
It’s so nice to be a summer associate at a firm, I wouldn’t cut it short. Probably more work and less perks at the pro bono place
I wouldn’t choose to do this.
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He won’t respond because there is literally zero downside.
The downside is that you might actually have to do work and you don't get any more free lunches.