Summer Associate Drinking Etiquette Debate

// It’s that time of year where law students flock to the firms to get hands-on experience with practical legal work… but mostly go to lunch and firm parties.

Which has experienced attorneys sharing their homespun summer associate advice. Nothing big… stuff like “don’t slap attorneys,” “avoid initiating a love triangle with the managing partner,” or “never involve the Coast Guard.”

googletag.cmd.push( function() { // Display ad. googletag.display( "div-id-for-top-300x250" ); });

But one bit of advice kicked off a social media debate: should summers avoid drinking at firm events? Cybersecurity law professor Jeff Kosseff thought no:

Sponsored ChatGPT Draws State Lawmakers’ Attention To AI ChatGPT and other AI models have drawn a great deal of public attention since being introduced last year—state lawmakers are taking notice too. From Korey Clark, Editor, State Net Capitol Journal™  

Summer Associate Advice

1. Don’t drink at firm events.

2. Proofread your work.

3. Ask questions, but don’t be the summer associate who asks the most questions. This is not law school. You are receiving an obscene paycheck to go to lunch and baseball games.

-30-

— Jeff Kosseff (@jkosseff) May 31, 2023

Certainly would underscore the second point. And I can think of a couple lawyers who used ChatGPT in a filing who would probably agree right about now.

googletag.cmd.push( function() { // Display ad. googletag.display( "div-id-for-middle-300x250" ); }); googletag.cmd.push( function() { // Display ad. googletag.display( "div-id-for-storycontent-440x100" ); }); googletag.cmd.push( function() { // Display ad. googletag.display( "div-id-for-in-story-youtube-1x1" ); });

But should law students really go fully on the wagon for the sake of the summer? It turns out there are some strong feelings on the subject:

Lawyers discussing the pros and cons of drinking at summer associate events pic.twitter.com/H6yd3nt20m

— Alex Su (@heyitsalexsu) June 1, 2023

Sponsored Sponsored Artificial Intelligence Saves Lawyers Time And Money While Improving Accessibility Of Data From Michael Owsley - VIQ Solutions   Sponsored The Non-Event Industry Wrap-Up CRM, Virtual Receptionist, Chat and Text Messaging for Law Firms. News from the world of legal tech, featuring Lawmatics and MyCase. From Above the Law   Sponsored ChatGPT Draws State Lawmakers’ Attention To AI ChatGPT and other AI models have drawn a great deal of public attention since being introduced last year—state lawmakers are taking notice too. From Korey Clark, Editor, State Net Capitol Journal™   Sponsored The Non-Event Industry Wrap-Up CRM, Virtual Receptionist, Chat and Text Messaging for Law Firms. News from the world of legal tech, featuring Lawmatics and MyCase. From Above the Law  

While some heartily endorsed the advice, others questioned whether refraining from alcohol at events designed around open bars could undermine their career prospects. A firm wouldn’t consciously no-offer someone for not drinking, but could a summer assiduously avoiding happy hours and being “out of step” with the sobriety level around them get dinged for “not fitting in”?

They shouldn’t. Firms are far more conscious of substance abuse and peer pressure than they were in the past — arguably a little too conscious — so there is little risk that you’re compromising your career by passing on the free drinks.

Well, unless you’re the guy Lawprofblawg is snarking on here.

googletag.cmd.push( function() { // Display ad. googletag.display( "div-id-for-bottom-300x250" ); });

If I see someone *not* snorting cocaine at an event, I'll need to know why. Not snorting cocaine because you can't control yourself is just as valid a[] reason as any other why I wouldn't hire you. #lawtwitter https://t.co/eHcS0At6hf

— Lawprofblawg (@lawprofblawg) June 1, 2023

It’s also arguably an ADA violation to not hire someone because you think they’re a recovering alcoholic, so don’t do this.

Sponsored Sponsored LawVu Enhances Contract & Matter Functionality With AI LawVu, the category-defining legal workspace for in-house legal teams, today announced the addition of several new AI enhancements to their legal workspace. From LawVu   Sponsored The Essential Guide to Slack eDiscovery Someday, you will likely need to extract data from Slack for eDiscovery, compliance, or other purposes. Here's how you can navigate its unique complexities. From Onna and Above The Law  

Speaking of opening the firm up to legal action, asking after a non-drinking associate is fraught with opportunities to land in hot water.

That time when the partner asked the summer associate if she wasn’t drinking because she was pregnant.

— David Friedman (@profdaf) June 2, 2023

Folks had a lot of thoughts and there were a lot of lengthy threads (not this one though):

HERE IS HOW SUMMER ASSOCIATES SHOULD DRINK ALCOHOL

1/258

— Joe Dudek (@JoeDudekJD) June 1, 2023

So should summers drink at firm events? Sure… if they want to. Or don’t if you don’t want to. As long as you don’t end up gracing the pages of Above the Law in the bad way, do whatever you want. The firms expect summers to drink, so don’t abstain for fear of getting tipsy. But firms also don’t want to fish you out of the river, so don’t get drunk.

Not to sound like a liquor commercial, but be responsible. If that means not drinking, no one (at a serious firm anyway) is going to mind. And if it means drinking for you, stay professional.

Joe Patrice is a senior editor at Above the Law and co-host of Thinking Like A Lawyer. Feel free to email any tips, questions, or comments. Follow him on Twitter if you’re interested in law, politics, and a healthy dose of college sports news. Joe also serves as a Managing Director at RPN Executive Search.

Topics

Biglaw, Drinking, Summer Associates