Career Strategy

Job Success

Whether your summer position may result in an offer for future employment or simply an excellent experience and recommendation, make every effort to be a "star" at your summer job. Remember that a summer job is really a 3 month interview-always put your best foot forward in every situation.

Regardless of the nature of your summer position, your ultimate goal should be to have the employer conclude, "I want this person to work with us in the future. If I had a position, I would offer it to this candidate."

Success in your summer job requires you to demonstrate excellence in both your work product and your work process. The following is a helpful checklist of "golden rules" and common pitfalls that trip candidates up over the summer

Common Summer Pitfalls to Avoid!

Work Assignment / WP Problems ("WP" = "work product")

Golden Rule:

Step Into Your Client's (i.e., Assigning Attorney's) Shoes
Give The Client What She Wants, When She Wants

1. Not working hard enough! Keep yourself busy! Seek out work B don't wait for it to find you! Actively seek chances to do or observe new things! Showing your ability to get work in the future is key.
    
2. Failure to respond quickly & pro-actively to phone calls, e-mails, or other communications! The top reason clients take their work elsewhere and "fire" lawyers from their matters is lack of responsiveness!!! Respond to all phone calls, e-mails, memos, visits, or other communications ASAP! Try to treat every call as "urgent," particularly those involving assignments! Your promptness now will be evaluated.
    
3. After getting an assignment, failing to get enough information from the assigning attorney.
    
   1. Fear of "bothering" or "asking dumb questions."
       
   2. Not reviewing notes right after initial conversation and spotting gaps.
       
   3. Not spotting key threshold issues like: deadlines, jurisdiction, intended use of WP.
       
4. Lack of communication with assigning attorney.
    
   1. About questions or confusion.
       
   2. About time it's taking to find answers (both deadline and billing).
       
   3. About other major deadlines or emergencies being juggled simultaneously.
       
5. Not providing the WP that assigning attorney needed.
    
   1. Getting off-track from the original question w/o communication
       
   2. Providing WP that you want, not what assigning attorney wants.
       
      1. Law Review Article vs. Bullet Points.
          
      2. Conclusion or "Exam" answer without useful legal precedent or analysis.
          
      3. Topics new or intriguing to you, but not needed by attorney.
          
   3. Not following instructions about WP format, delivery method, etc.
       
      1. Attorneys have reasons for their requests.
          
      2. Make sure attorney has access to your WP on computer system.
          
      3. Be sure attorney can find and work with your file.
          
   4. Not providing neat, organized file of relevant authorities or other project materials.
       
6. Not providing WP on a timely basis.
    
   1. Ignoring or resetting deadlines without permission.
       
   2. Leaving assigning attorney w/little time to digest or review the WP.
       
   3. Beware "by the end of the summer" deadlines: they are often deadly!!!
       
7. Poor quality WP.
    
   1. Providing "drafts" to assigning attorney.
       
      1. Almost never appropriate to turn in less than final work.
          
      2. The proofreading you fail to do must be done later by assigning attorney.
          
   2. Failure to properly "blue book."
       
      1. Considered as basic as proper spelling to most attorneys!
          
      2. There are no "cite-checkers"! If you don't "bluebook," the attorney will have to do it!
          
   3. Failure to identify proper and controlling legal authority.
       
      1. Attorney needs the leading statute or case law that governs.
          
      2. Too much attention or time spent on abstract, esoteric articles or non-controlling law from other jurisdictions and not focusing on controlling law in your jurisdiction.
          
   4. "I couldn't find any cases." Wasting time wading through vast, inefficient piles of computer research w/o grasping the "big picture" first, then coming up "empty." Computer searches are only as good as the subject knowledge of the researcher! Use treatise or digest to grasp topic.
       
   5. Devoting too much effort and emphasis to articulating your opinion rather than the opinions of relevant courts or tribunals that have actually answered the question at hand.
       
   6. Writing structure.
       
      1. Not organized clearly.
          
      2. Not using proper grammar or sentence structure.
          
      3. Failure to use headings and bullets to guide reader.

Relationship-Building Problems

Golden Rule:

"Law Practice Is A Team Effort: People Prefer To Work With Folks They Know, Like, & Trust."

Converse Rule:

"It's Easier to Reject or Criticize People We Don't Know, Don't Like, or Don't Trust. "

1. Failing to appreciate the importance of positive office relationships.
    
   1. Not developing good relationships with attorneys.
       
      1. Too "busy" to go to lunch, etc.
          
      2. Don't take the time to "shoot the breeze" when appropriate.
          
      3. Fail to let others get to know you.
          
   2. Believing that only certain attorneys matter, and all other folks don't.
       
      1. Failure to recognize that junior attorneys are critically important to process.
          
      2. Treating non-attorneys with less respect or cordiality.
          
      3. "Kissing up" to some folks, but dismissing others.
          
   3. Being passive & not networking pro-actively to develop positive relationships w/ busy attorneys.
       
   4. Not developing good relationships w/other summer clerks. Working well w/ peers is key!
       
   5. Contributing to, or participating in, negative office gossip. Do not get tangled up in the office grapevine. Even if attorneys or staff share the latest scoop, do not assume that you should (or can) join in! Stay objective, nod politely, and say, "Interesting. I really don't have any basis to judge." Change subject or stay neutral, if graceful exit isn't possible.
       
2. Not being a "team player."
    
   1. Being "high maintenance," too "me-centered" and overly demanding.
       
   2. Never volunteering to help with emergency projects.
       
   3. Making like Machiavelli: projecting cutthroat competition and naked ambition.
       
   4. Inflexibility when it comes to emergencies, changes, unplanned needs of colleagues or clients.
       
   5. Lack of kindness, generosity and constructive support to colleagues, support staff, etc.
       
3. Failing to be gracious and appreciative to your prospective employer: forgetting your manners!
    
   1. Not participating in training or other events to which you are invited.
       
   2. Treating administrators or support like servants.
       
   3. Acting as though you are "entitled" to the red carpet treatment at all times.
       
   4. Being perceived as a whiner or complainer.

Other Potential "Big Picture" Problems

Golden Rule:

"Expect The Unexpected!"

1. Time-management / juggling. Summer gives a taste of juggling multiple deadlines, supervisors, and commitments. Staying organized is essential to projecting that you won't "drop the ball."
    
2. Dealing with mistakes, errors, and resulting criticism. Achievement-oriented students try hard to avoid mistakes. But, we all may make mistakes, both when we're new and throughout our professional careers. What sets you apart as a professional is how you handle your mistake: take responsibility right away, do not try to hide it, immediately start fixing the problem, and learn from the experience. If you receive negative feedback, do not argue or be defensive. Listen and use the discussion as an opportunity to learn from more experienced lawyers. "I totally see where you're coming from. In the future, I plan to do [X], [Y], and [Z]. Have you ever found yourself in such a situation? Do you have any wisdom to share with me, because I respect your abilities and your insight would be really helpful to me."
    
3. Learning when (and how) to say "no" to new assignments. Delicate touch needed. But sometimes better to say "I'd love to do this, but I don't think I can do it justice, given that I have several other deadlines over the next few days," than to take on the project when you're overwhelmed and do a poor job.
    
4. Practice specialty preference. Strike balance between demonstrating focus and maintaining flexibility. Communicating focus informs attorneys of your preference and enhances likelihood you'll get work in your desired practice area. However, hiring needs may vary across practice areas. Steadfastly sticking to only one specialty preference presents risks: a match may work, but only if the desire is mutual and there is enough work in that specialty to justify your addition. Similarly, developing no preference may leave you out in the cold or suggest a lack of passion. Understand the risks associated with taking either strategy to the extreme.
    
5. Nothing is guaranteed. For a variety of reasons, you may not be able to return to this employer in the future. Always conduct yourself in an exemplary fashion during your whole summer. Leave your summer colleagues with positive opinions of you, even after your departure. Make sure you develop meaningful rapport with at least one attorney who can vouch for the quality of your work and professional character. Develop an excellent writing sample, as well.

Contact career strategy if you need somewhere to turn for advice during the summer!

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