By Kathleen Pearson 

Well, summer 2010 is almost here and let’s face it – summer looks a lot different for law students today than it did for your older brethren. Gone are the days of bloated summer classes of yore where the main goal was for the Summers to be wined and dined, perhaps show up by 10:00 am to do a little light research and then out to a 2-hour lunch at the hottest spot with some partners giving you the hard sale on a great job with a high salary.

All is not lost, however. While firms and students faced terrifying unknowns going in to last year’s summer season, we are all settling in to this new reality. Whether you have a clerkship or not, you can still have a very successful summer that will help you enter the field of law after graduation and create a path for the type of legal career you think you would like.

1L clerkships are virtually extinct. The good news for you is that firms know that. When Fall Recruiting starts, we will not be expecting you to have a primo clerkship from a top tier firm (or any firm for that matter) listed on your resume. Focus your efforts on summer school, volunteering at the legal clinic, working on a research project for a professor, even going to the courthouse to just watch the action. Anything to practice or review those newly found Contract or Torts 101 skills.

I’m not going to lie to you. You need to get some legal experience somehow this summer. This may not be in the form of a traditional clerkship with the firm of your dreams doing the work you feel destined to do. Look to your "circle of influence" and work that network. Your network can include family friends, older law school classmates and undergraduate friends. Let them know you are looking to get experience and are willing to help in any way – even for just a short time. You never know when an introduction to a business person by a close family friend will translate in to a summer job reviewing contracts, which may lead to another introduction, etc. While the networking process takes a lot of time and energy, you are learning valuable skills for the future that will help you develop business and may land you a job right now.

Congratulations. Fall recruiting was more difficult this year than any time in the past. Now you have got to show your summer firm that you have the drive and determination to be an associate with them. Expect some wining and dining – we do need to get to know you after all – but also expect some real work. Do your best and be yourself and you will be fine.