On the Job and Professionalism

If you have received an offer that you know you want to accept, or if you are otherwise no longer interested in a particular firm, the firm would prefer you cancel your callback than spend their time and resources on a callback interview.

If you are having a hard time scheduling an interview or otherwise reaching an employer, try picking up the phone and calling rather than sending emails back and forth. The recruiting season moves quickly, and recruiting teams receive hundreds of emails per day, and sometimes calling will save you and them time.

If you have received 5-6 callbacks or more in any one location, as a general rule, you could feel comfortable beginning to decline or cancel callbacks.

With two days left of EIP week, now is not the time to be looking in the rearview mirror by dwelling on perceived mistakes or lack of success. Each interview is a fresh chance to impress.

Remember to acknowledge all callback invitations promptly (within one business day at most), even if you are unsure you want to accept the callback. You should not wait to schedule if you are certain you will attend the callback.

As firms start getting back to students about callbacks, make sure your voicemail is set up and professional and that you are checking it frequently. Also be sure to check your spam folder to ensure you do not miss messages from employers.

All callback invitations should be acknowledged promptly (within one business day at most), even if you are unsure you want to accept the callback. If you know you want to accept a callback invitation, do so promptly.

Now that you have a couple of days of EIP under your belt, you are no doubt feeling the effects. Although you may be feeling quite fatigued, remember, every interviewer is meeting you for the first time.

You do not need to send thank you notes after EIP screening interviews. If you had a particularly strong connection with your interviewer or otherwise feel strongly that you would like to send a thank you note, remember it must be error free.

As you finish up your summer job, remember to show your gratitude to those individuals who helped you this summer.

At the end of your summer program, you may be asked to meet with a member of the recruiting team to discuss your time with the firm.

If you are hoping to use a writing project from this summer’s job as a writing sample for EIP or future job searches, including judicial clerkships, you will need to ask permission.

As you finish up your summer program, remember to show your gratitude to those individuals who helped you this summer. Whether they taught you something new, patiently answered your questions, or made your life easier in some way, reach out and let them know you are grateful for their help.

You should never be sitting around during your summer job with nothing to do. You should aim to have a constant work stream to stay productive and continue learning. If you are not getting enough work, or if you can anticipate that your current work will be ending shortly, speak with your mentor or the firm’s summer coordinator to keep the work flowing.

Toward the end of the summer, your firm will likely ask you to rank your practice area preferences with an eye toward placing you as a first-year associate. Be flexible and strategic as you consider your choices.

Having an issue on the job this summer? Worried you did something wrong? Don’t ignore it. You need to nip small issues or concerns about your job in the bud before they blossom into large problems that are much harder to fix.

As firms start outreach to students about Preview interviews, make sure your voicemail is set up and professional and that you are checking it frequently. Also be sure to check your spam folder to ensure you do not miss messages from employers.

Missing deadlines is always unacceptable and could jeopardize your ability to secure an offer with your firm. Stay on top of all of your deadlines so that you are able to turn in every project that has been assigned to you.

If you are splitting your summer between two different firms, you must stay conscientious and focused because you will need to make a lasting impression on each firm in half the time. Work hard at both firms. Take on as many assignments as possible and build strong relationships with as many attorneys as you can in both firms.

To the extent you have any choices among projects in your summer job, try to seek out writing projects. These projects will help develop your writing skills and be a helpful source of writing samples for future job searches, including for judicial clerkships.

Conflicts checks are a necessary part of legal practice which will one day become second nature. For now, you can simplify your life down the road by beginning to track the client matters on which you work this summer.