Starting Your Summer Job Out Right!
So, you are about to start your first day as a law clerk or perhaps you are a returning veteran to the law clerk or summer associate world. Either way, this is a great time to think about how to best prepare for your summer, what to do during your tenure as a law clerk, and what not to do before you pack it up to head back to law school. A great resource is What Law School Doesn’t Teach You by Kimm Walton (a graduate of Case Western Reserve University School of Law!) and here are just a few pointers based on the suggestions in her book. The book is full of great advice and copies are available to be checked out in the CSO’s Resource Room.
Be Prepared
Know before you even walk into the office this summer what it is that your employer is expecting from you. Kimm has a top eight hit list that includes excellent output, good judgment, enthusiasm, flexibility, appreciation, ability to “fit in,” an understanding of the organization’s goals, and realistic expectations.
And about walking in the door – be sure that you have scoped out parking, travel time, etc., prior to your first day of work. Make sure you know exactly where you are going and exactly how long it is going to take to get there. Be sure to bring whatever the employer requested if you will be filling out paperwork upon your arrival.
What to Do
Dress the part. Wondering about the dress code? Wear your interview attire until you figure out what is acceptable dress for the office. More employers seem to be moving toward business casual or business casual for the summer but understand that not everyone's idea of business casual is the same. Your best bet is to dress more formal during the first few weeks until you have a firm grasp on what your employer considers business casual.
Get down to business – you were given you first assignment! Now what? Well, Kimm Walton has great advice for making sure you get the assignment done right. Always right down the assignment, ask questions about what type of product the attorney wants (does she want a five minute briefing in three hours or a three page memo in five days), and be sure you understand the issue you are being asked to address. Most importantly, get clarification - don’t leave the attorney’s office before you have briefly repeated back exactly what you believe she is asking you for.
What Not to Do
Don’t miss deadlines! The fastest way to make a bad impression is to promise to have a memo to an attorney on Tuesday, then on Tuesday say you will have it finished on Thursday, and then finally admit on Thursday that you were so swamped all week that you never got to the assignment! When you receive assignments be sure to ask how long each one should take you to complete. The best thing you can do is talk to your assigning attorney as soon as you realize that you will not meet a deadline about the situation and see how he/she wants to proceed – ask if it is ok for you to take extra time.
Don’t forget that social events are still “work events.” A work outing to Jacobs field is not the place for overindulgence. You don’t want to be the summer clerk that everyone remembers for having one too many. Absolutely go out on the town with your co-workers and supervisors for work functions but know your own limits. Always have fun but remember that you are still being evaluated even though you are not technically in the office.