How Summer Associates Can — Succeed In A Challenging Economy — Overcome Adversity And —Find Excellence Everywhere- Part 30

More Success Amid Chaos

An AmLaw 100 Equity Partner - This Northwestern graduate started her career in private practice with a leading mid size Chicago firm. A member of the Class of 1992, she started in practice during the depths of the 90-93 recession.  She considered a lateral move in the mid 1990's and ultimately joined one of the top 12 firms in Chicago and became a partner five years later. She married, started a family and moved to another part of the country to be closer to her family and joined one the nation’s most selective firms as a partner - and practices there today.  Along the way there were many challenges and a few potholes to be avoided.  But she was (and is) determined to the point of being relentlessly focused on an objective. 

She had the misfortune to graduate in one terribly economy (92-93) and make move as a lateral partner during another economic trough (the 01-03 tech wreck 9-11 recession).  The did not use the economy as an excuse to stop her from achieving her objective.  Along the way she became a terrific lawyer and became a partner in two outstanding but entirely different law firms.   

Anonymous but Impressive Clerks  - Every year I hear from many 3L’s who land “off-season” judicial clerkships and government service opportunities.  Some identify the opportunity through OSCAR, others through friends who are currently clerking, and others through law school faculty members.  In my work with students I’ve seen the following

‘ a Northwestern 3L who landed a District Court clerkship in Nevada with a senior status judge in May of his third year and then went on two practice with two leading firms in San Francisco

‘ a Michigan 3L in the bottom half of the class who secured a N.D. Illinois clerkship with a Magistrate Judge and a class mate of his who landed a Bankruptcy Court clerkship

‘ A Michigan 3L who landed a Sixth Circuit Clerkship in the middle of her last semester in Ann Arbor who then went on to practice with two of the nation’s most famous firms and is now senior in house counsel for the nation’s most profitable telecommunications company A Michigan graduate who was caught in the Manhattan maelstrom but landed through a Michigan faculty member a Bankruptcy Court clerkship.

From Chicago to Cleveland Via Sydney - Several years ago a Michigan 3L came to my office. He was in the broadly defined middle of the class, had a disappointing 2L summer, and was looking to return to Cleveland where had family and personal ties.  As is almost always the case, the 3L market was terrible.  He had been stymied in his efforts and was frustrated, a bit taciturn, and more stubborn than a Wyoming mule. 

I recommend the usual array of tactics from networking, to working with OCS, to contacting classmates, to considering government service. Nope. Nope. Nope.  None of this would work he told me - almost defiantly.  I was becoming a wee bit irritated but maintained my zen space (primarily because both of my golden retrievers were asleep under my desk). 

I asked him to “hand me the bible.”  He looked on my book shelf, where there is indeed a beautiful family Bible.  I said “No not THE Bible” - give me my Michigan Alumni Directory.  I asked him to open it to a random page and put his gnarly index finger on random name and said “I’m going to call that person and he and I are going to help you get a job in Cleveland - because the Wolverine nation works.”  He puts his finger on the name of a fellow from Sydney Australia who earned an L.L.M. in the late 1960's.  

I love a challenge.  It was 5 p.m. in Chicago so early morning Sydney 1 day later.  I reached the lawyer and said “Hi it’s Frank Kimball, Class of 77 from Michigan and I need your help.”  We exchanged the usual manly banter about football, Americans, beer, and Australia and he said “How can I help you mate?”  I replied, “Well I have this student in my office who has lost faith in the Wolverine nation and he does not believe that you and I can get him a job in Cleveland.”  The Aussie answered “Is he daft or intoxicated?  A lot my mates in Ann Arbor were from Ohio - send me that resume and let me see what we can do.”  Three weeks later, the student has a job in Cleveland. 

The Wolverine nation. Nothing like it in the world. Except that the family of graduates from any institution or any elite organization will support their younger members.  It could be the most powerful tool in your kit.