With spring semester winding to a close, we law students have been busy applying for summer jobs. As I’ve spoken to my mentors and more senior students, I keep hearing a recurring theme. I keep hearing that it’s really difficult to get a 1L summer associate position in big law. They talk about it like some kind of holy grail. A herculean task. Well, I’m here to tell you that it’s not. Getting a lucrative, satisfying job at your dream biglaw firm is not just possible—it’s easy! Like falling off a log. You just need to know the insider life hacks that allow you to do it. I’d like to share with you the three secrets that I’ve found useful in my ongoing quest for a 1L summer clerkship in big law.
1. Make good grades.
2. Harness the power of networking
3. Interview for success.
1. Good Grades I know it’s a cliché, but there’s really just no two ways about it. Biglaw employers expect you to have good grades. Fortunately, it’s not impossible to get the kind of grades they’re looking for. All you have to do is rise above the competition. Prove that you have the right stuff. This is easily enough accomplished by performing unbelievably, exceptionally well in every single one of your classes. Look how easy it is…all you really need is to get a perfect 100% in Torts, a perfect 100% in Civ Pro, a perfect 100% in Legislation & Regulation, and a perfect 100% in Legal Writing!
And a perfect 100% in ADR, a perfect 100% in Contracts, a perfect 100% in Property, a perfect 100% in Criminal Law, and a perfect 100% in Legal Writing II.
Easy! From my experience, I’d say that most hiring partners are looking, percentage-wise, I’d say, for students in the top, oh, roughly .000 percent. Now, let’s say you don’t think that seems possible. Let’s say you look into the future and you think you might take an A- at some point. Don’t worry! There’s an alternative option. It’s ok! Well, haha, it’s ok if you catch it beforehand, I mean. If you’ve already got an A- on your transcript—hoo boy—you have a problem. It might be too late. But if your slate is still clean, just… Go to the best law school in the country!
At Yale, your grades won’t matter. In fact, they don’t even have grades! See, this is what I mean. People talk about these 1L biglaw jobs like they’re impossible to get, when in fact there are lots of ways to get your foot in the door. You just have to be willing to think outside the box a little bit.
Grades are 90 percent of the battle. A good GPA is like a golden ticket. Once you've won that battle, you're basically already there.
2. Harness the Power of Networking When it comes to scoring that sweet sweet 1L biglaw position, it really is all about who you know. You’ve got to get out there and hustle a little bit. Make some friends. Shake some hands. The earlier you start the better.
In fact, I recommend that you start by being born to parents who are both partners at a gigantic law firm. That simple act alone—making that human connection—will easily quadruple, nay, quintuple your chances of getting a sweet biglaw job. Now, I hear you. It’s entirely possible that for many of us it may be too late. You know, maybe that ship has sailed. Well, again, don’t worry! There are a lot of different ways to skin this cat. A networking technique that I’ve seen to be very effective is to just...
Marry a U.S. Senator.
That’s right, folks. I mean, come on. How am I the first person to think of these things? It really impresses big law hiring partners to see young people out there hustling, making connections, putting it all on the line; marrying a senator is exactly the kind of commitment and ingenuity that will impress hiring partners and help you stand out from the pack of applicants. And honestly guys, how hard can it be? There are two senators right here in Texas, for goodness’ sake. Marrying a senator allows you to add value to the firm immediately. It’s also great for those networking receptions. You know how students cluster around the partners and jostle you out if you don't fight for your spot? People never elbow you out of the circle when you have a senator on your elbow. Ok, but fine, I get it: there aren’t that many to go around. What if your senators are already married? What if your senator is the Zodiac Killer? This may not be an option for everybody. In that case, your networking opportunities are starting to look a little bit grim. But you still have an option.
Blackmail.
You can’t tell me it doesn’t happen. Thousands of 1Ls around the country get hired as summer associates every year. Kids from SMU score these gigs all the time, and you can’t tell me they’re THAT much smarter than we are. There must be more going on than what meets the eye.
3. Interview for Success This is the easy part. Once you’ve got an interview, that means that your grades and your networking have already paid off.
They like you.
At this point, all you really need to do is sit back, relax, and DO ABSOLUTELY EXACTLY NOTHING WRONG. Seriously, guys, a single misstep at this stage would be catastrophic. They might ask you difficult questions, or take you out of your comfort zone—you can’t be perfectly prepared for everything, after all—but relax. Everything is going to be ok.
The important thing is just to remember that your margin for error here is non-existent. You’re walking a razor’s edge here, so don’t screw it up. And then once that’s over, hopefully there are the callbacks. And then once those are over, you’re home free! You can pretty much laugh all the way to the bank. All that hard work was worth it.
Well, actually, just remember to send the thank you notes after the interviews, because if you forget those, you’re really in trouble. You could have perfect grades and be married to a senator and ace the interview, but if you don’t send a nice card to everybody who interviewed you...WHEW.
It was all for nothing. What I'm trying to say is that getting a Biglaw summer job for 1L year is easy, which is why I am still mostly unemployed. If you follow these three simple steps, you can be too.
Editor's Note: Since this article was first written, a deadly global pandemic has absolutely banjoed the American economy, shuttering businesses both large and small. The aftershocks are felt even at the Amlaw 100, where firms have announced cuts in partner distributions, the cancellation of bonuses, and the termination of summer associate programs. The good news is that the advice above works equally as well for non-biglaw jobs, and with similar results. Stay safe out there.
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