Get ‘Em Ready

During the next few weeks, lots of young people will enter your office and begin their lives as new young professionals. To help you and them, we intend to provide lots of helpful hints. With any luck these will ease the transition from backpack to briefcase.

In future entries, we’ll address making a great first impression, dressing, dining, etc. For now, take a few moments to think about your orientation presentation. We urge you to use your welcoming statement to position your summer associate program as a two month interview—from both the organization’s as well as the summer associate’s perspective. 

Recommend to your recruits that they use the summer to “interview” as many firm lawyers as possible. Suggest that they ask hard questions: What are the hours really like? What’s the worst task you’ve been assigned? Have you ever seriously thought about leaving the firm? If so, why? Your summer recruits should seek to learn as quickly as possible whether their personal values mesh with those of your firm, and answers to questions like these will help them do just that.

In a very unscientific survey conducted prior to NALP’s annual conference, we asked new associates, “If there was one factor you could change at your firm, what would it be?” Virtually every respondent said they would like more feedback. Urge your recruits to actively seek feedback. Encourage them to ask: How could I improve my writing? How would you rate my presentation skills? What can I do to improve?

Related Things You Need to Know

Best communication practices during a pandemic

This year’s summer hires you will have fewer opportunities than their predecessors had to interact in person with employers and recruiters. Because of social distancing requirements, you’ll need to maximize every Zoom meeting to which you are invited as well as phone calls and emails. Don’t allow an unforced error to keep you from landing a job offer this fall.

Preparing for Generation Z

It's not too soon to prepare for Generation Z, which will start arriving in workplaces everywhere.

Embrace Anxiety & Put It to Work

Events like job fairs, interviews, and work-related receptions may cause social anxiety, often experienced in the form of heart palpitations, extreme sweating, facial flushing, or a series of other physical reactions. Successful professionals harness social anxiety and put to work.

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