Don’t Wear Flip-Flops . . . And Other Advice for Summer Associates

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The last time we heard about an anonymous hiring partner starting a blog, it was a ruse by Harvard law grad Jeremy Blachman, whose summer associateship at Willkie Farr & Gallagher provided him with enough fodder for both a blog and a book. We couldn’t help but think of Blachman’s “Anonymous Lawyer” this morning, when we opened up an email sent from hiringpartneroffice@gmail.com announcing a new blog, called — you got it — “Hiring Partner Office.”

We have no idea whether the author is, in fact, a “hiring partner at an office of an AM LAW 200 law firm,” as he/she claims to be. But here’s what the person says: “I decide which law students get offers to come to our office for a full day of interviews after an initial screening (aka ‘call backs’). I also decide which of these law students gets offers to join our summer associate program in my office. When the summer program ends, I decide who gets an offer of full time employment.”

The first post, published Friday, offers up a list of the “Top Ten Things Law Students Do that Annoy Your Hiring Partner During the Summer.” Here are the highlights:

• (10) Ask to leave work early for various non-emergency related reasons (e.g. guests are coming and I need to clean up my house).
  
• (9) Put in a request for reimbursement for a $1.85 cup of coffee you had while on brief work travel.
  
• (8) “Personalize” your summer associate office as if it is your full time office — hanging pictures and diplomas on walls!
  
• (4) Leaving summer associate events early — an obvious “no no” is leaving before anyone else without a valid excuse explained in advance. This is especially bad if it is a small event and people will notice your absence.
  
• (2) Seeking to date support staff/attorneys. . . .You will have plenty of time for dating after the summer associate program is done. Be professional and focused.
  
• (1) Failing to show up — for work, events, etc. If you are invited to a hiring partner’s house for a summer associate event — RSVP (by the deadline!) yes and show up on a timely basis. It is not appropriate to “pop by” at 10:00 p.m. These are people at home. They are hosting the event for YOU. Show up on time - do not bring guests unless guests are invited and you have RSVP’d. Be charming and pleasant. Be respectful. DO NOT take off your flip flops (btw, don’t wear flip flops!) and put your bare feet on the partner’s couch/chair, etc — YES, I saw this one happen myself. YOU ARE NOT AT HOME. Talk to the host’s wife/husband/partner, talk to the other attorneys and guests. Leave when others appear to be leaving. It would be nice to send a handwritten thank you the next day or two.

Law Blog Readers: Sound legit?