Law Firm Internships Slim Down for Summer

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom.  Reed Smith. James Lawlor. Ballard Spahr. Morgan, Lewis & Bockius. Blank Rome. Drinker Biddle & Reath.

For the non-law firm savvy, these are interesting names, perhaps part of a series of abstract haikus. However, for law students seeking a path to firm life, these are potential summer law firm internship employers. And they all have something in common.

They were recently mentioned in the Los Angeles Times as representing a sign of the slimming tendencies of a summer in economic recovery. The law firms are mentioned are reported to have modified their summer internship programs to match the waning tides of the economy.

The article noted that many prominent law firms have gone about the slim-down in different ways:

• reductions in summer associate pay
• shortening the length of summer internship programs
• limiting the sometimes-lavish summer intern entertainment events
• accepting fewer interns for summer 2010 are a few popular tools of choice.

Considering that earlier, law firms elected to defer employment of new associates, the L.A. Times notes that the new measures have also been put in place to ensure that there is not an influx of new associates and summer associates on site all at once.

Where does that leave you?

If you have a summer law firm internship, you may be well-advised to go along with the changes. And if you feel like the cuts may have cost you a summer law firm internship of your own--your hunch may be validated. You will likely find others commiserating the same on the Greedy boards. 

Related Resources:

• Many law firms are cutting back on summer internships (Los Angeles Times)
• 51 Reasons People Are Still Going to Law School (FindLaw's Greedy Associates)
• Because You Love "the Office"...and its Legal Liabilities (FindLaw's Greedy Associates)
• The Funniest Resume Gaffes Not To Make (FindLaw's Greedy Associates)
• 111 Ways to Find Your Next Legal or Non-Legal Job (FindLaw's Greedy Associates)