Are the Parties Over for Summer Associates? Firms Expected to Trim Perks

Last year, some summer associates were complaining about too much fattening food and alcohol. “They throw numerous social events that last for eight hours, including heavy drinking, and then expect summers to behave 'appropriately,' " one participant complained.

Long social events may not be a concern this year. Law firms aren’t announcing big cuts in parties and perks for their summer associate programs, but the expectation is that this will be a no-frills summer for participating students, the National Law Journal reports.

Altman Weil principal Thomas Clay explained why. "It looks bad to be spending money on these events when people at the firm have had to take a pay cut," Clay told the National Law Journal. "This year's summer programs aren't going to look like they have in the past. You can't justify taking kids on a wine-tasting trip when you are laying off attorneys."

Some law firms are hinting at changes. Morrison & Foerster chairman Keith Wetmore told the legal newspaper that his firm “is toning down some of the events." And Jerry Clements, chairwoman of Locke Lord Bissell & Liddell, said she expects the program will be “less extravagant” this year.

The NLJ article points out that many firms have trimmed the length of their summer associate programs and cut back on the number of students hired. A few have dropped their programs altogether this year.