I have watching this post on Above the Law closely since it was put up yesterday regarding the summer recruiting process. Specifically, ATL reports that Skadden Chicago received 55 acceptances for summer associate positions, up from 29 last year. I checked an email sent out to all Skadden Chicago summers and confirmed a recipient count of 53. As a future Skadden Chicago summer, this seems a little disconcerting, as many people in the comments yesterday discussed. More commentators than not thought that Skadden (and other Biglaw firms) would continue to make 100% of offers at the end of the summer in order to maintain their reputation. Even if this turns out to be true, however, I am worried that the summers are going to feel that they are in competition with one another for full time offers, making the atmosphere this summer less than desirable. After all, this was supposed to be the last real "summer of George" before the real world sets in. I'm wondering if you don't want to put something up on SI to elicit comments from people that might actually know what they are talking about, rather than god-knows-who in the comments at ATL. Just a thought.So, does anyone know what they're talking about? Did Chicago hire too many 2Ls? Is the office that busy (or that empty) that there is a need for 53 or so new associates in the fall of 2009? We don't know, but we encourage comments and e-mails if you have any thoughts or information.
What specifics we we can offer to our new e-mail pal is the following:
1) Watch who you send e-mails to.
2) Lay off the Cristal (or at least pay for it yourself).
3) Don't feel the need to compete with your fellow summer associates. It's a fairly collegial place and there is no reason summer associates should be out to one-up each other. Instead, be personable, do the work you're assigned to the best of your ability (and don't piss off the support staff). Oh, and have a little fun while you're there -- Chicago is nice in July.
2 comments:
Chill out, homez. I summer-ed there last summer, and the 29 # is not accurate. All told, after the splits came/went, there were more like 39. The increase is # this summer is b/c the office will be in a new location when you come in as first year associates, and there will be many more open offices. There is PLENTY of work to go around. Nobody competes over the summer, except maybe for practice group areas -- b/w corporate hopefuls and corp restructuring hopefuls. So, do a good job on whatever projects you take on (rather than try to take on a hundred projects and do a half-ass job), and you'll be okay.
The real world was supposed to set in after you attained your bachelor's degree. You're a bit late on the uptake. No job for you!
Post a Comment