By Kathleen Pearson 

Guess what? The sky is not falling in the AmLaw 200.

While summer classes are a bit smaller, they still exist and there is real work for the summer associates to actually do. They are busy going to trials, working on closings, sharpening their Westlaw skills and of course going to dinner parties, lunches, happy hours and riverboat cruises. At the end of the summer, there will be job offers and not ones that are deferred until 2015.

The good news here is really for rising 2Ls.  Fall recruiting will most likely look very different for you than it did for your senior classmates as "big firms" continue to refocus and cut back on class sizes.  But take heart, summer programs will continue to exist and thrive, especially in smaller markets.

When fall recruiting starts, consider regional firms that will actually be able to make you an offer!