Careers
Lack of Work for Summer Associates?
Posted May 13, 2008 12:01 PM CST
By Martha Neil
Summer associate programs at BigLaw firms are famously a time for potential legal eagles to play as well as work. But work may occupy even less of their time this year because of a slowdown at a number of corporate law firm departments.
Some firms are cutting the duration of their summer programs by a few weeks, or even rescinding offers to summer associates, reports the Wall Street Journal (sub. req.). Among them: Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman, which has shrunk its summer program from 12 weeks to 10 (and is also staggering the start dates for incoming first-year associates) and Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal, which rescinded offers last month to two summer associates (and two first-years) in its Charlotte office.
At other firms with reduced workloads, summer associates may find themselves on projects that ordinarily might not be a top priority, such as research or mock deals, reports the Wall Street Journal Law Blog.
“It’s an issue for lots of firms,” says Bill Perlstein, co-managing partner at Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr. Especially in corporate departments, “If you don’t have a lot of deals, it’s hard to find work.”
He says WilmerHale may urge associates interested in corporate work to try a litigation matter or pick up a pro bono project.
Related coverage:
The Recorder: "Utilities Adding to Summer Programs"
- How B of A’s GC Got Fired: Leave Now, and Leave Your BlackBerry Behind
- Schools Ranked by 'Super Lawyers' Produced
- Law Firm Price Wars Break Out as Some Try ‘Loss Leader’ Bids for Work
- Five Questions for Law Firms Abandoning Lockstep Compensation
- Judge Jails 2 Attorneys for Contempt in 4 Days
- Court Deputy Ordered to Apologize or Face Jail After Taking Lawyer's Paperwork
- Skadden Jumps on the Bonus Bandwagon
- ABA Executive Director Resigns
- Nasty Attitude to Co-Worker, Naughty Word in E-Mail Cost 2 Their Jobs
- NU Law Dean Adjusts 'Super Lawyers' Rankings to Reflect Law School Size
Should Supreme Court Justices Be Able to Review News Accounts Before Publication?
Comments
Houston Lawyer
May 16, 2008 7:00 AM CST
I don’t know what corporate law departments are experiencing a slowdown. I’m busier than ever at mine.
Flag this comment
Not So Slow
May 16, 2008 7:49 AM CST
#2-We’re pretty busy in our corporate department, too.I hear tell of a deal slow down, but haven’t seen it yet.
Flag this comment
appeal to reason
May 16, 2008 8:11 AM CST
wow, two law firms have cut their summer programs from 12 to 10 weeks. This is clearly some heavy evidence of a profession-wide mass slowdown. The ABA journal is staffed by moron writers. Just take a peak at all the weekly comments about the redundancy of (often factually inaccurate) stories about one lawyer being paid more than his neighbor. Does this headline-grabbing, no-truth checking required tactic work for this damn journal?? I have to go throw up now. The ABA sucks.
Flag this comment
MD Lawyer
May 16, 2008 8:44 AM CST
I’ll be more impressed when firms hire associates out of the summer program based on need instead of rotely making offers to 99% of the class just because they summered there.
Flag this comment
Greg Brady
May 16, 2008 10:14 AM CST
# 4, those moron ABA writers probably would have written “take a peEk”
Flag this comment
Mid-Atlantic Grad
May 16, 2008 10:27 AM CST
Many of my friends who will summer in NY, Philadelphia and DC this summer are uncertain about hiring prospects. I myself am a graduating Tier 1 student, and I have nearly 400 rejection letters sitting in my room. A second-year colleague of mine on Law Review at a Top 25 faced similar prospects, but was able to net 1 offer (after 3 interviews and about 200 rejection letters). Corporate firms aren’t biting right now, and I imagine it will show in work assignments for summer associates.
Flag this comment
Focus in on Your Job Search
May 16, 2008 12:21 PM CST
#5, “400 rejection letters”! I’m from a Tier 2 law school, it was Tier 3 when I graduated. But Tiers don’t matter. I made connections through the bar, focused on what I wanted, found a hand full of attorneys who were masters in that practice, and I pursued them until they hired me. Score: 20 applications, 2 offers.
Flag this comment
jonathan edwards
May 17, 2008 2:57 PM CST
The only resumes I gave to anyone were to the Dean of my law school, and to one professor, so they could write letters of recommendation to the bank for my SBA loan to start my own firm. I found a town with a dearth of attorneys, and am making my own niche. I live in a state with a 3% unemployment rate, growing businesses, low tax rate, and a certain level of panic that is absolutely unnecessary, but will drive a minimal level of bankruptcy work, as even in OUR economy, there are those who overstep their earnings. I haven’t even taken the bar yet, and am smiling about my future.
Flag this comment
Add a Comment
We welcome your comments, but please adhere to our comment policy.
Commenting has expired on this post.