What to Do Over 1L Summer With an Early Offer

If you landed a BigLaw offer through a 1L diversity fellowship, early interview program, or direct application, you are in an enviable position. You may have a 2L summer locked up, or close to it, before many classmates finish the main recruiting cycle.

The question is what to do with your 1L summer. Since you do not need to use the summer to prove that BigLaw should interview you, you have more freedom. Do something useful. Do not over-optimize the title.

Option 1: Work at the firm that gave you the offer

Some early offers include a 1L summer position at the firm. If yours does, take it. You will build relationships, learn the firm's culture, and make your 2L summer less mysterious.

Option 2: Government or public interest

This is often the smartest move. A summer at a DA's office, public defender, legal aid organization, federal agency, state agency, or judicial chambers gives you:

• Experience that complements BigLaw rather than duplicating it
• Skills that make you a more well-rounded lawyer
• A story for interviews and conversations that goes beyond "I've only done BigLaw"
• The chance to do the kind of work you may not get to do again once you start at a firm

Option 3: A different firm

If your offer is from one firm, you might consider splitting or spending 1L summer at a different firm to compare. This is less common but not unusual, especially if you want to evaluate different markets or practice areas.

Option 4: Research assistantship

Working with a professor on research in an area you care about can be intellectually rewarding and useful for building relationships with faculty, especially if you are considering clerkships or academia down the road.

What not to do

Do not waste the summer, but do not treat it like the credential that got you the offer. Having an early offer is a gift of certainty. Use it to build skills, explore interests, and round out your resume.

Also, do not coast on your offer. Continue building relationships, keep your grades up, and treat the 2L summer seriously when it comes. The offer can still be affected by your performance.

Browse the firm directory to learn more about your future firm and start planning how to make the most of your time there.