The Top 10 Tips for a Successful Summer Experience

2. You need to show up. Actively participate in summer-program activities, and take advantage of opportunities to socialize with all partners, associates, and staff members. You will be judged on your interactions with them in a social setting. Do not reserve your most respectful behavior for senior partners. All attorneys and staff will expect to be treated with dignity, and you deviate from this rule at your own peril. Treat all staff members like attorneys and all attorneys like partners, and you will reap the benefits.

3. Always look for opportunities to put your best foot forward and to generate a portfolio of written product on which your performance may ultimately be judged. Sticking out like a sore thumb may not be the answer, but neither is keeping a low profile. At the same time, always remember that quality takes dominion over quantity. If you must decline assignments for workload or scheduling reasons, always do so gracefully.


4. Give your best effort on every assignment—regardless of who it's for. You only have three months to prove yourself. It's a long interview, but a short stint. There is no such thing as a "first draft." Eliminate typos and other flaws over which you have control, keep accurate records of your time, and turn in your best effort on a consistent basis.

5. Be yourself—not someone else. Relax and enjoy the experience. Show lawyers at the firm that you enjoy what you are doing, and try to have fun with it. Resist any temptation to complain about a particular assignment. An optimistic attitude goes a long way.

6. Whether you are there for half the summer or all of it, take the time to get an accurate feel for life and culture within the firm and to evaluate how well you fit in there. It may be a summer, but it could last a lifetime. Take the time to judge the people judging you.

7. There is no such thing as a "dumb question." Lawyers are busy people, and they are notorious for inadvertently omitting facts that are crucial to a thorough legal analysis. There's nothing wrong with returning later with additional questions, which is always preferred over assuming the wrong facts entirely. To minimize return visits and avoid misunderstandings down the road, press for clear definitions the first time around.

8. Keep attorneys in the loop. Even if you fail to hear back from them, take the initiative to let them know how you are coming along on a project, and always alert them in advance of embarking upon Lexis, Westlaw, or other computer research. You will be judged on your efficiency and time-management skills, so be mindful of deadlines, and let attorneys know if it becomes apparent that the assignment will take longer than expected. Also, be sure to let them know if you anticipate the need for leave to tend to personal issues.

9. Take good notes. It may seem obvious, but those who fail to take comprehensive notes at the time of an assignment will often regret it. The fewer wheels you spin, the better.

10. Don't be the story that attorneys end up telling to future summer associates. Always drink in moderation (if at all), dress in appropriate attire, err on the side of being conservative, and exercise good judgment and social grace at all firm functions.

About the Author:

Steve Bernstein is the hiring partner for Fisher & Phillips, LLP, in Atlanta. He maintains a traditional labor practice, representing employers throughout the U.S. He can be contacted at sbernstein@laborlawyers.com, 404-231-1400, or laborlawyers.com.