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Advice to Law Students Getting Job Offers: Accept Quickly

Posted Oct 24, 2008, 05:54 am CDT
By Debra Cassens Weiss

Law students weighing summer associate offers are getting this advice from the career services office at the University of Michigan: Accept. Now.

Above the Law posted the letter carrying the ominous advice.

Students are given 45 days to consider offers, the letter says, but “we think it prudent for you to accept an offer as soon as possible.” The letter says the office has heard “very few actual reports of rescinded offers” but suggests it is possible.

“To put it more bluntly, this is not the time to shop your offers or wait to see if a better one comes along,” the letter says. “In addition to being in your own best interest to accept quickly, it may also assist other students who may then receive an offer that you turn down.”

Susan Guindi, the assistant dean for career services at the law school, told the Wall Street Journal Law Blog that many firms are taking longer to make offers, and it’s unclear how the downturn will ultimately affect summer associate programs. She said most students are so nervous about jobs that they are eager to accept offers. “It feels like the anxiety level just keeps getting a bit higher,” she said.



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