Question of the Week
Name Your Favorite Over-the-Top Summer Associate Activity
Posted Jun 5, 2008 9:28 AM CST
By Molly McDonough
It's summer associate season, time to hear about extravagant parties and wooing of top law school talent by star-hungry firms. Blogger Deb Weiss alerted us that some lucky associates will rake in $3,000 a week.
And the firms are pulling out the stops to make the summer recruiting experience memorable. Our favorite is Weil, Gotshal & Manges, which is renting out an entire Nintendo store in New York for a summer associate Wii competition.
This made us wonder what other firms are offering their summers. Tell us: What are some of the more creative summer associate/recruiting programs you've seen lately? Or tell us what sold you on your firm.
Answer in the comments below.
Read last week's answers and poll results about favorite legal-themed TV shows.
Our favorite answer from last week:
Posted by "J. Cornehls": " 'Rumpole' was far and away the most realistic and hence best TV law show. No. 2 in my opinion was the Practice. The worst aspect of all TV law shows is when the lawyers testify instead of asking questions. For great commentary on contemporary social and political issues, Boston Legal, and James Spader in particular are tops."
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Comments
Lex Fortis
Jun 5, 2008 11:22 AM CST
With all the job cuts and constrictions? Actually hiring summer associates.
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msg
Jun 6, 2008 9:34 AM CST
With all the job cuts and high cost of legal fees, I think it is obscene to have these law firms engage in such activities. If I were their clients, I would not be happy about such activities.
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Andy the Lawyer
Jun 6, 2008 11:43 AM CST
I won’t name the firm, but summer associates who accept fulltime jobs after graduation get a free tattoo of the firm’s logo—choice of bicep or small of the back.
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lawb
Jun 6, 2008 2:34 PM CST
The firm I summered with last year flew all of its US summers to California for a 3 day orientation, and rented out the exclusive Jonathan Club for dinner on the beach at sunset. We are all impressed.
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atty86
Jun 9, 2008 10:24 AM CST
After a summer at a huge international firm that requested (er, mandated) the honour of our presence at its “social” events and activities, I chose a smaller firm that wasn’t wasting its clients’ money by hosting popularity contests and rear-end-kissing competitions.
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usclawyer
Jun 13, 2008 8:12 AM CST
Our L.A. firm took us to the Scratch DJ School. It was not excessively expensive but it sure made for a great bonding experience. I think the key is that the young associates and even some of the partners came and participated. These activities are not necessarily a waste of money; they help retain and recruit talented young attorneys.
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yesimalawyer
Jun 13, 2008 9:01 AM CST
It’s sad to think our recruits are swayed by tattoos and DJ classes. Sure, they are fun activities, but the focus should be on the quality of the work product and extend of new social involvement in cases and client relations. Just because a firm engages in fun activities does not mean it is going to be a great place to work or that it will be prefosessionally and intellectually fulfilling. I guess some people—or firms—don’t have their priorities straight. It turns into a popularity contest and it doesn’t allow the associates to spend much time away from the firm. To have a healthy and somewhat balanced life as an attorney, which is much easier said than done, spending time with people outside the firm (family members, friends, non-lawyers, fellow alums, even clients) should be encouraged.
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Summer Clerk
Jun 13, 2008 10:02 AM CST
As an intern, the most creative thing my firm does is treat me like one of them. They’ve taken me out for lunches, etc., but none of the extravagance that seems to be so popular. I get to tag along where they go, offer input/work product that is considered valuable, and truly see what it is like working at this firm. There isn’t a veil of (basically) deceit about what the work environment is like that is lifted once you sign your soul away and discover that it isn’t all Nintendo games and DJ classes. Instead it’s tragically long hours and hard work. I want to know what my potential colleagues are really like to work with, not how well they can play Duck Hunt. Classmates of mine thought I was crazy to take this lower-paying offer rather than a “wine and dine” position elsewhere. Ultimately, it’s more rewarding and has confirmed that this is truly what I want to do. But that’s just me…
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