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I’m surprised that the firm is willing to do this. Legally, this could be a really sticky area for them.
If you don’t have anything else, then I guess you’ve got to take it, though. Unfortunately, it doesn’t pay and your school is never going to offer you any kind of stipend for working unpaid for a firm.
Thank you for the response. As of right now, nothing else, don’t really expect anything else and biglaw after graduation is definitely my goal. Money isn’t an issue, my only expense would be gas/food.
I wouldn’t expect any substantive work - this set up sounds odd. It isn’t legal for a for profit law firm to take volunteers. Is this some kind of internship? Will you be able to put their name on your resume for OCI? Will you be able to get references? What will they say?
If money is not an issue and you can write Summer Associate on your resume, this is definitely a blessing. Close to bottom 1/3 at a low T14 has iffy odds of getting biglaw at 2L EIP. With this on your resume, odds are much better, in my opinion.
I agree that this set up is fishy. In fact, it could downright be illegal.
Regardless, the biggest concern for you is to explain why you weren’t invited back for 2L (assuming this is the case). I’m not sure what you would say.
This is what I’m hoping. Clearly being above median after next semester is pretty necessary, but right now I feel this will be my best option for 1l summer.
Yes, that is exactly my concern. I will say that I in no way shape or form tried my absolute hardest 1st semester, more of a complete underestimate of the work needed for top grades, and an underestimate of how bright everyone else is. But given that hardwork doesn’t always correlate with good grades, very scared of a repeat semester.
But then again, if I’m bottom 1/3 after spring, is there really a difference of either explaining why I wasn’t invited back or not. Either way I’ll be in a shitty spot, probably with no interviews. I guess if I do better and have grades that snag me actual interviews, explaining it would suck, but right now I think its a chance I should take. No?
Substantive work is what I’m worried about, although the way it was explained to me is that it will be an SA position. But why wouldn’t I be able to put their name on my resume? How would anybody know I didn’t get paid, aside from this thread which will be deleted shortly.
this is strange too.
either they won’t let you do substantive work,
or this will not continue for a long period
(I know a pal who interned for a firm for free for a short period, before it turned into a paid position… and my pal just happened to be there and wanted to start earlier)
Take it. Most 1L summer positions are unpaid anyway. It would be good for OCI, since you will be able to talk about how you excelled in a big firm environment etc. etc.
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Most people work for free at law schools.
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If you aren’t getting paid you can probably get credit for an externship. My school certainly allows it.
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It’ll be good for your resume.
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IF you do good work, there is an outside shot they take you long term. Bottom third isn’t too bad for v100.
Our Career office was talking to us about this. Technically the firm can do it as long you do absolutely nothing to benefit the firm or their work. They said the only things that you are allowed to do are things that you could do in an education environment. I’m surprised that a firm would even go through the trouble.
maybe OP’sbackground is otherwise impressive (despite his 1L grades) and the firm saw potential in him and considered take him/her as a permanent hire?
This shit isn’t enforced. Companies do unpaid internships commonly ITE.
This is what I’m hoping. According to OCS a writing sample is something that I need from my 1L summer and if no substantive work I don’t see how this is possible. ?
FWIW most associates from this office are T1 grads from the local market. I grew up in the market and attended undergrad there. I’m guessing the t14 on the top of my transcript is helping a little, although I know this is really a favor.
Negative. 
. The only thing somewhat impressive is the LS on top of my transcript and my very strong ties to the region.
I had a 1L SA. When I went through 2L OCI not a single firm asked me if I had received a full-time offer or if I was invited back. I did, however, have great fodder for interviews- discussing everything I did or saw all summer.
As far as I know, maybe one or two firms out of our entire OCI asked for a writing sample. Not one NYC/Chicago biglaw firm asked for one. Maybe things are different for secondary markets.
However, you will be asked in virtually every single interview what you did over the summer. This occupied probably 30 to 40 percent of my conversation during OCI.
Several asked me, but I had one from a LWR brief.