10-Q Summer/New Job Advice – Summer 2021 Update [PART 1]

For the last several years, at the end of the school year, the editors of The 10-Q have offered a variety of tips for those starting new jobs (here and here), chiefly for rising 3Ls taking summer jobs but, we believe, good for anyone embarking on a new career as a lawyer. Times have changed—you’ve heard of COVID-19, yes?—although the need for sage advice has not. We are now in an “in-between” time with COVID which will certainly play a role in your experience. Thus, we present an updated version of our random advice for those who are about to be employed, in two parts. This week, we talk about the work; next week, we will talk about socializing.

The Work

1. Before you start your new job, know something about the history, mission, and culture of the place. Where did they come from, where do they think they are going—and how do you think you can be part of that? In some cases, the answers will be obvious (and readily available on the employer’s website). Sometimes, the best sources of information will be mid-level-ish folks (e.g., junior partners at firms,) who have just made what passes for a long-term (possibly informed) commitment to the place (i.e., becoming partner at the firm). 
2. The availability of work in the current economic environment continues to be uncertain. Be as flexible as you can be and offer to help with any type of assignment – even more so than you would usually. The program may not have the luxury of having a bunch of assignments in your particular area of interest.  Mergers & acquisitions may be heating up again, but perhaps not enough to draw too many summer associates into the mix. 
3. Many employers continue to have COVID-19 task forces and resource groups. Since COVID still influences the economy for the near term (and we hope we are now beginning to emerge from its long shadow), you should consider volunteering for those opportunities.
4. Employers are likely to have very particular guidelines on issues relating to safety – remote work, social distancing, use of masks, etc. – which you should follow assiduously. When in doubt, err on the side of caution.  Many summer programs are in flux.  Some continue to be “all remote”, some are “hybrid” and some are more “in-person.” Some continue to have shortened summers. Be aware of what the latest information is at your employer.
5. The same goes for security. Take seriously each and every thing the employer tells you about cyber-security and if you have questions or concerns, ask. Some employers use Zoom and Dropbox; some don’t. Do not cut corners, and do not be the person who accidentally lets the Zoom-bomber into the meeting. Remember to always read the “to” and “cc” lines in your email one last time before you hit “send.” Calling an email back only calls attention to the fact that you shouldn’t have sent it in the first place.
6. Your first assignment: Understand it to the best of your ability. Listen as effectively as you possibly can. Senior lawyers (and, if you are lucky, clients) will dump complex projects on you with sometimes less-than-adequate explanations. You will probably need to take lots of notes on the fly. Never log on to a meeting (or enter anyone’s office) without a pad of paper and a pen (and don’t type on a laptop in someone’s face). Minimize distractions in your environment and close other windows and apps.
7. Review your notes immediately after getting the assignment. If you are like most of us, they will be incomplete chicken scratchings garnished with random arrows and doodles. Now is the time to make that stuff make sense, not after lunch or later in the afternoon, when you’ve forgotten what it all means. 
8. If you have questions, ask. But remember, contrary to popular belief, there is such a thing as a stupid question—and you may have to ask one. That’s not necessarily a problem, if you have a good reason for asking it, because you won’t know that the question is stupid until you ask it. Always have what you think is the most plausible answer (and potential alternative answers), to show that you are at least trying to understand what is going on.
9. Key questions to which you should always know the answer: (i) What’s the deadline? (ii) What’s the deliverable? (iii) Who is the ultimate audience? (iv) Who should I ask if I have questions? (v) Is this billable (and if so, to whom -relevant mostly if you are at a firm)? and (vi) How much time should I spend on it (don’t dedicate 6 hours to something that is expected to take 1)?
10. Get to know and gain the respect of the support staff. They are often far more knowledgeable about the realities of practice—how to get things done—than junior (and sometimes senior) attorneys. They are professionals. Treat them with respect and there is a good chance they will respond in kind.
11. Sometimes you may be asked to produce a “draft.” Do not be fooled. Even if it purports to be a “draft,” do not treat it as anything less than a final version. Come as close to perfection as time/resources/your judgment allow. Is it consistent with the office’s form/style? If they always use Calibri, don’t be “different” and use Copperplate Gothic Bold. Is it grammatically correct? Have you proofed it (twice) and run spell-check (remembering that even this won’t save you, if you’ve written brilliantly about a “proof of clam”)?
12. For many purposes, your “client” will be the senior attorney for whom you work. That attorney will have the relationship with the real client, and that attorney does (and should) control your relationship to that client and the work you do for them. Do not get ahead of (or, worse, contradict) that attorney.
13. Most important: Have you solved the problem you were asked to solve as effectively as possible under the circumstances? At the end of the day, you are in a service profession, and the service is problem-solving. You are entering a very competitive environment—one that will only become more so as the effects of COVID still ripple through the economy. There are many other, highly qualified people who would love to show that they can solve problems better than you—which they will, if they’ve followed these tips, and you haven’t . . . .

There is doubtless more we could say. And so we will, next week, when we offer a random list of tips on social matters. If you like this list—or don’t—let us know. If you have other, better suggestions, please let us know what they are. We’d love to hear from you.