Summer
Associates In The Brave New World
A vast majority
of students and associates are principled, determined, and ambitious. They are
not whiners, malingerers, manipulative, or unappreciative of the remarkable
changes that rare taking place. Still, the most tiresome voices in the audience
sometimes encourage even reasonable people to step over the boundary.
My recommendations to summer associates (and associates as well) —
• Do good
work and lots of it. This advice is always
important, but it is critical when the pressure is greatest to perform.
• The
table of life is not an all-you- can-eat buffet. A law firm is neither a
catering company nor a personal trainer. You cannot have it all - great income,
unlimited opportunity to make partner, reasonable hours, wonderful culture, and
a bike rack in the basement. The lawyer must make choices – the firm is not
your parent or fiduciary.
• And do
not assume that the ‘green’ light is now on to make silly or extreme demands during
the summer, whether or not they are economic. You may f
ind partners a bit more testy
about economic issues. The sensible summer associate will maintain a profile lower
than a snake’s belly in a wagon rut (thanks, Jed) on these issues.
• There is no up side to being an opinion leader, agitator,
or rumor monger. No, you won’t get fired but you will be remembered and perceived
in a way that is not favorable. It does not mean you cannot chat with your
colleagues but I wouldn’t recommend that you lead the charge on why your firm
must compete with firms around town or volunteer to collect data on other
firms.
• Don’t misinterpret
the actions of your firm. That your firm was out front on this issue does
not necessarily make
them wonderful. And if your firm is a bit slower to react does not mean that
they are greedy, foolish, oblivious or uncaring.
• Focus on
professional success and let the economic dance proceed without you for a
while. Taking a tumble
in the summer can be very disruptive - the 3L market is virtually non
existent. With the ‘new
math,” it will be very hard to access for summer associates who fail
because they are ‘high
maintenance, difficult people.’ Hiring partners and recruiting
coordinators talk to
each other. If you are “difficult,” the word will go forth from this time and
place faster than it did at JFK’s inaugural.
• Do not exaggerate
your time. Beyond the ethical and moral issues, it sets you on the top
of a career- long ski
jump which you will not survive.
• Do not create a
world or angels and devils where senior partners are evil, mendacious, or
dense. Far from it, a
vast majority of senior partners are careful, smart, professionals who
have seen many ups and
downs and are now struggling with how to adapt to the new math
without impairing
client relationships.
• Don’t become the
conspicuous griper and malingerer who makes serial demands because you think
you are driving the bus. When the bus stops, your ticket will be
punched and you’ll be
dropped off first.
• Take a long term
view of finances. At some points in your career you will be overpaid. At some
points you will be beneath your fair value. But over the long term, you will be
amply rewarded.
• Your firm may lead
the parade today and follow the elephant truck tomorrow. That your
firm is today’s primo
piatti does not mean that it will be in 2015. A firm that struggles today
may
zip by competitors in years to come.