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April 30, 2007
What Employers Are Looking For in a Summer Associate
Soon after finals, many of you will be off to start your new positions as summer associates/law clerks. Here are some pointers, according to Holly English, on how to impress as a new summer associate/law clerk:
1. Make Connections - While working hard is very important, it is equally important to make contacts with people within the firm so that they remember you.
2. Get Feedback - Particularly if it is not offered voluntarily, you must follow up with each assignment to find out whether there are any issues. It is important to know what's going on so that you can improve your performance, or at least show that you are willing to work on any flaws.
3. Proofread Your Work and Get Someone Else to Read It - Be very careful to make sure your written work is impeccable. Have someone outside the firm (a friend from law school)read your work if you don't have someone at the firm who can do so. When people see that you attend to every detail, they will think of you as someone who will not overlook anything and who cares about the work they produce.
4. Be Polite to the Support Staff - Although the firm may not ask the support staff's opinion about whether to hire you, don't go around snapping your fingers to secretaries and seeing how high they will jump. If you get a reputation as a jerk with the support staff, this news can travel fast up through the ranks and eventually come back to haunt you.
5. Be Enthusiastic - Project energy and enthusiasm about your projects, even if they are a tad dull. You're just starting out so you're bound to get tedious projects, but you need to show your superiors a "can-do" attitude and limitless energy.
6. Don't Drink Too Much - You will probably have some social opportunities during the summer that will include alcohol. You must be careful not to drink too much and make a fool of yourself. Despite the social trappings, these people are not your social friends - they are your potential colleagues and (at this point) almost entirely your superiors. It may look like a party, but it's not - it's still a work situation and you must conduct yourself accordingly.
7. Ask Yourself - Do You Like Them? - Firm culture will vary from place to place. While you are being looked over, you need to soak up the firm atmosphere to figure out whether it is the right place for you. Understand that if this firm is not the place for you, there will be another one out there that better fits your personality and goals.
Posted by cld30 at April 30, 2007 03:09 PM