Ten Tips for a Successful Summer as an Intern or Summer Associate

It's almost summer associate/summer internship season, and in the spirit of that I thought it might be helpful to post the internal "best practices" document that Jeff Lawhorn and I put together back in the day. We drafted this in about 2014, but most of the principles hold so you won't go far wrong adhering to them:

1.??????Be Professional. Take pride in your work and treat your colleagues – whether partners, associates, staff or fellow interns – with the highest level of courtesy and respect. Work under the assumption that all information and documentation is privileged and confidential.

2.??????Be Interested. Take every opportunity to learn more about the firm, our clients and the attorneys you work for. Be proactive in finding ways to provide value.

3.??????Go Beyond The Task. Try to look at assignments as more than a discrete and superficial task. When your research yields an answer, ask yourself what the “next question” is or try to think of other issues that may affect the client’s position. Make sure you understand the big picture and what’s at stake. The answer is rarely as simple as a “yes” or a “no.” A good intern always finds a way to advance the “ball” down the field.

4.??????Ask Questions. Never be afraid to ask questions to understand more about your assignment or the issue. If an attorney is too busy in the short term to explain something, ask your assigned associate or mentor. The same principle applies to administrative matters.

5.??????Write Things Down. Carry a legal pad and pen/pencil with you everywhere and make sure you have obtained adequate direction from the attorney you are working with to allow you to do the needed work. If you miss an issue when taking notes, ask the attorney to repeat it. Be sure to always ask about when an assignment needs to be completed and the form of work (i.e., email, memo, further discussion, etc.) you should submit back to the supervising attorney.

6.??????Communicate. It is critical that you keep attorneys apprised of your workload and your status on various projects. If you are given a new high priority assignment, please promptly notify the other attorneys that you are working for that their work will be pushed until later in the day/week. Poor communication can escalate non-issues into sources of frustration.

7.??????Take a Deep Breath and Reread. When sending an email, submitting a research memo, or turning in a contract that you’ve been drafting or proof reading, give your work one final close read. Before hitting “send,” ensure everything is as close to perfect as possible – you’ll be frustrated later if it’s not.

8.??????Make Mistakes, Admit Them. Everyone here expects you to make reasonable mistakes. If you do something incorrectly, tell somebody immediately. Chances are that it’s not as bad as you think – and if it is, it’s better we fix it quickly.

9.??????Organize Your Work. Whether dealing with physical or electronic documents, try to ensure that you organize your work neatly and logically. Take note of how each attorney retains his or her files, and ensure you understand any applicable software. Make sure that any book or file you take is replaced promptly and correctly.

10.??Observe Best Practices for Working Hours. You are expected to be in the office for a “normal” work day. Occasionally, however, an attorney may ask you to stay later to work on a time-sensitive project. If that occurs, try to be flexible and view it as a learning opportunity. As a general rule, do not leave the office at night without checking in with any attorneys that you are working for and the associate that has been assigned to you. Likewise, please notify relevant parties in advance if you have an obligation (dentist’s appointment, family event) that will cause you to be out of the office during the day.