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When do firms typically make practice group assignments?

How long before the start date are new associates assigned t...
dull therapy
  09/02/10
Probably more the latter than the former, though both play s...
Titillating mother stain
  09/02/10
ty. plz see my edit above...
dull therapy
  09/02/10
There is no "typical". Some firms hire into pract...
Abusive frum gas station private investor
  09/02/10
My firm didn't "hire into" a practice group. They...
dull therapy
  09/02/10
Again, there is no "typical", sport. Just call up...
Abusive frum gas station private investor
  09/02/10
This. Protip for associates: Recruiting chicks, HR chicks...
Wonderful Shaky School Corn Cake
  09/02/10
ty. I made an edit to my post above, so feel free to weigh ...
dull therapy
  09/02/10
You didn't ask this when you received your offer? I was t...
Sable appetizing bawdyhouse
  09/02/10
Yes, we were told something similar, but the date has passed...
dull therapy
  09/02/10
Lol @ your tiny pink non-mandatory rotation non-Cravath syst...
Curious impressive foreskin
  09/02/10
...
dull therapy
  09/02/10
Corporate is corporate, bro. Only so many ways to copy/paste...
Curious impressive foreskin
  09/02/10


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Date: September 2nd, 2010 8:53 AM
Author: dull therapy

How long before the start date are new associates assigned to practice groups? And how are those decisions made? Is any weight given to the person's interests and relationships with partners/associates (from the summer program) or is it all based on which groups are busiest around the time of the start date (and will be busy for the foreseeable future)?

EDIT: Another related question: to what extent is the practice area assignment negotiable? I was talking to a friend of the family the other day who is a BigLaw partner (a Chambers band 1 guy, actually), and he said that if I end up in corporate, I should "make myself available" to do the occasional litigation assignment, and vice versa. I was sort of like, LOLWUT, because I've never heard of anyone at my firm doing that, but this advice was coming from a trusted source. Any thoughts on that? If he's correct, should I explicitly mention to people at my firm that I want that kind of flexible arrangement?

tyia

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1412314&forum_id=2#15946373)



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Date: September 2nd, 2010 8:58 AM
Author: Titillating mother stain

Probably more the latter than the former, though both play some role. But I think there's only a narrow subsection of firms that have specific practice groups and don't let you have control over which group you join. E.g., Sidley Chicago.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1412314&forum_id=2#15946385)



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Date: September 2nd, 2010 9:01 AM
Author: dull therapy

ty. plz see my edit above...

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1412314&forum_id=2#15946395)



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Date: September 2nd, 2010 8:58 AM
Author: Abusive frum gas station private investor

There is no "typical". Some firms hire into practice groups, others don't assign you officially to a practice group until after you've been working a year for them...that's the range...

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1412314&forum_id=2#15946386)



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Date: September 2nd, 2010 9:00 AM
Author: dull therapy

My firm didn't "hire into" a practice group. They gave us "standard" offers, and we had to fill out a form listing our top choices. Presumably they are taking our interests/summer work into consideration...

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1412314&forum_id=2#15946392)



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Date: September 2nd, 2010 9:03 AM
Author: Abusive frum gas station private investor

Again, there is no "typical", sport. Just call up the recruiting chick and ask her.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1412314&forum_id=2#15946399)



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Date: September 2nd, 2010 9:05 AM
Author: Wonderful Shaky School Corn Cake

This.

Protip for associates: Recruiting chicks, HR chicks, etc. have almost no meaningful interaction with decision making lawyers. You can ask them as many dumb questions as need be.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1412314&forum_id=2#15946403)



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Date: September 2nd, 2010 9:05 AM
Author: dull therapy

ty. I made an edit to my post above, so feel free to weigh in on my additional question. much appreciated.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1412314&forum_id=2#15946406)



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Date: September 2nd, 2010 9:22 AM
Author: Sable appetizing bawdyhouse

You didn't ask this when you received your offer?

I was told that the firm I summered at makes these decisions in mid-September.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1412314&forum_id=2#15946451)



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Date: September 2nd, 2010 9:28 AM
Author: dull therapy

Yes, we were told something similar, but the date has passed and not a word.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1412314&forum_id=2#15946470)



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Date: September 2nd, 2010 9:34 AM
Author: Curious impressive foreskin

Lol @ your tiny pink non-mandatory rotation non-Cravath system.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1412314&forum_id=2#15946494)



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Date: September 2nd, 2010 9:38 AM
Author: dull therapy



(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1412314&forum_id=2#15946507)



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Date: September 2nd, 2010 9:39 AM
Author: Curious impressive foreskin

Corporate is corporate, bro. Only so many ways to copy/paste.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1412314&forum_id=2#15946511)