The Unofficial Curriculum: What Summer Associates Should Learn That No One Teaches

The summer associate experience is filled with formal training sessions, structured assignments, and carefully planned social events. But many of the most important lessons—those that separate high performers from the merely competent—are not taught explicitly. These insights often form an “unofficial curriculum” of BigLaw: soft skills, strategic positioning, and cultural navigation that attorneys must learn on the job. For law students looking to make the most of their summer, identifying and internalizing these unwritten rules can offer a significant advantage.

Learn How to Read the Room—Literally and Figuratively

One of the most valuable skills in legal practice is emotional intelligence, particularly the ability to read a room. Whether in a team meeting, client call, or social event, observe dynamics closely. Who leads the conversation? Who gets interrupted? What topics make people uncomfortable?

A 2023 report by the Center on the Legal Profession emphasized the growing importance of interpersonal sensitivity, especially for junior associates working in hybrid or virtual teams (Harvard CLP Report). At one firm, a former summer associate described realizing that a junior partner’s quiet deference wasn’t due to lack of input—but a strategic deference to a client’s preferences, which paid off in building rapport.

Understand What Really Matters to Partners

Partners rarely spell it out, but what they value in juniors isn’t just diligence—it’s anticipation. Are you thinking a step ahead? Are you making their life easier without being asked? A partner at one firm once told a summer, “You don’t get extra points for asking what to do next. You get extra points for doing it.”

According to the American Lawyer’s 2024 mid-level associate survey, associates who learned to “own” their workstreams early were more likely to receive substantive assignments and early client exposure.

Practice Email as an Art Form

No one trains summers in the politics of email, but tone, structure, and timing matter enormously. Use clear subject lines, a professional yet warm tone, and anticipate the reader’s next question. If you’re copying multiple attorneys, be thoughtful about hierarchy—who should be addressed directly?

A former summer at one firm learned this the hard way when a partner chided him for omitting a client’s name in a forwarded chain. “It made me look sloppy to the client,” the partner explained. These micro-details often shape perceptions more than substantive memos do.

Watch How Junior Associates Navigate Workload and Burnout

Summer associates often get the “best version” of firm life, but the cracks can show if you’re observant. Pay attention to how junior associates manage stress, negotiate deadlines, and speak about their hours off-script. The Institute for the Advancement of the American Legal System found in 2023 that burnout is most acute in the first three years of practice, particularly in high-billable departments.

One summer associate shadowing an M&A team noticed that one junior worked every weekend, while another protected her evenings by proactively communicating deadlines. Learning those tactics early can help you set boundaries before expectations become fixed.

Learn the Difference Between Mentors and Sponsors

You’ll likely be assigned a mentor during the summer, but few firms explicitly explain the difference between mentors and sponsors. Mentors offer guidance; sponsors use their political capital to advocate for your advancement. According to a 2022 McKinsey & Company report, employees with sponsors are 23% more likely to advance into leadership roles.

For instance, a summer at one firm made a strong impression on a senior associate who later advocated for her inclusion in high-profile projects. That “unofficial” sponsorship ultimately opened doors to a secondment and early promotion.

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The summer associate program is as much about what’s unsaid as what’s presented. Those who learn to listen carefully, observe quietly, and act intentionally will absorb lessons that no orientation manual covers. Understanding the unofficial curriculum equips law students not only to thrive in their summer but to build habits that accelerate long-term success.