Anonymous Lawyer

With the new summer class arriving in just two weeks, we wanted to advise you of some protocol for helping to make this the best summer yet! Please adhere to these guidelines as closely as possible; the recruiting staff will be paying close attention:

(1) The summer associates are not your slaves. We want them to receive important, challengeing projects, not just spell-checking a document or making sure all of the numbers are in the right order. Give them substantive work to whatever extent possible, and be sure to provide guidance and feedback. Every year one of the most common complaints we get is that the associates and partners did not provide enough guidance and feedback. We are bringing in an expert in guidance this Friday, and an expert in feedback next Wednesday. They will provide optional lunchtime sessions to share how to be a better mentor to the summer associates. Everyone is encouraged to attend. Free lunch will be provided, as well as a $5 gift certificate to Starbucks as an incentive. Sign up in advance by e-mailing [deleted].

(2) Lunch is a time for mentoring. Before you go to lunch, try whenever possible to take a summer associate along with you. Remember that lunches with summer associates are reimbursable. At lunch, talk to them about their experiences at the firm. Try not to reveal anything that reflects badly on the firm, or on any of your colleagues. We do not want a repeat of last year's incident when one partner made negative comments about a colleague and it got back to him. Summer associates gossip a lot. It is important to exersice discretion.

(3) Smiles are addictive. Smile!

(4) Never tell any summer associates they won't get an offer, even just joking. They take those kind of remarks very seriously and they only create problems on our end. Please exersice extra caution.

We know you are all very excited about the new summer class, just like they are excited to be here! Get ready for an incredible summer!

# posted by Anonymous @ 1:47 PM