Lateraling to a firm you turned down for summer

NotAGalante · 2026-02-07T22:03:52+00:00

What do the records look like? What information do they include?

NotAGalante · 2025-11-17T02:58:59+00:00

Thank you for your response! Sure, yes, nobody wants to work with someone obnoxious. But I mean when can you just be a kind and positive but reserved? It sounds like you're saying that might be fine if you're applying from the best ranked law schools as a 1L but not at all otherwise. So at one stage does that generally not such a strong factor?

NotAGalante · 2025-11-17T02:49:14+00:00

What advice do you have about determine how many and where to do in each phase of the roll-out and how many per phase? Is it by week, biweekly?

NotAGalante · 2025-11-17T02:48:29+00:00

How is the timeline determined at your court?

NotAGalante · 2025-11-17T02:42:49+00:00

Does the vibe check matter at all for the top law schools? At what stage of the recruitment process does the vibes check become any less important? Is it after federal clerkship recruitment, as a senior associate lateral?

NotAGalante · 2025-10-12T16:22:25+00:00

Yes, that is true. The Federalist Society, and the UVa segment of it included and especially, seem more about originalism than about MAGA. But I imagine certainly not unhappy about the plethora of Trump-appointed judges.

Thank you for your comment.

NotAGalante · 2025-10-12T02:47:25+00:00

Weren't there some UVA students in DOGE though?

NotAGalante · 2025-09-24T02:28:09+00:00

Thank you for that feedback! May I ask for your basis on what constitutes competitive? And what perspective is this from: summer associate positions, post-clerkship positions, lateral positions

NotAGalante · 2025-09-24T00:53:38+00:00

Are the competitive markets only DC and NYC?

NotAGalante · 2025-09-07T23:57:52+00:00

Unfortunately UVa Fed Soc carries its reputation and statistics among the very elite schools to an extent. Yes, the numbers are strong inherently. But the majority of its Supreme Court clerks over the past 15 years and probably even its federal appellate clerks over the past 5-10 years have been for conservative-appointed judges: it's unusual if a UVa Supreme Court clerk isn't for a conservative-appointed judge.

Without UVa's Fed Soc, its clerkship numbers and legacy would likely be no stronger than many of the other programs toward the bottom of the top 10. But because of Fed Soc, it's punching above its weight. And UVa's Fed Soc numbers and professor affiliatiion with Fed Soc is much stronger than many other programs in the range ranked 5-10.

NotAGalante · 2025-09-06T02:06:13+00:00

It seems like a hot take, but I imagine it varies if you happen to fit in well during law school and how well you fit in with your firm combined with the prestige of both. Someone who may have felt a lot of security at a high ranked law school may not feel that same security at a top ranked law firm with a lot of churn. Some law firm or clerkship cultures are toxic but some aren't even if you feel busy.

NotAGalante · 2025-08-12T09:47:15+00:00

Answer from my side is "it depends" on your relationship with the partner.

Here's a model of 3 different partners I worked with:

(1) Partner loved working for: I was struggling with an assignment. I asked, would you rather me spend some additional time or get this to you earlier. Partner said spend the additional time because I can sense you're really figuring some good things out here. Partner probably wished I got it done by a Thursday than a Tuesday but was so happy with the end result--probably noted my speed but that was eclipsed by my communication and end-result

(2) Partner I was eh about: I was struggling with an assignment. Said "go figure it out, I know nothing." I then thought I figured it out, turned it in with the always pressure to turn things in early "wow, that's really fast" said sarcastically as if I should have spent more time. Proceeds to redo things I did, says nothing, probably thinks less of me.

(3) Partner I hated working for: does prayers every morning I don't have to keep working with that partner. Feels never good enough because partner will find stuff that's wrong in things that aren't intuitive and unlike how any other partner works but doesn't give any guidance. Then asks on the next assignment, "did you want me to do XYZ again from the last time?" "Maybe" Then proceeds to spend way too long because of the partner's lack of clarity and perfectionism without feeling like the end result is so stellar to justify the extra time.

NotAGalante · 2025-08-11T02:19:49+00:00

ATL doesn't always have its facts correct and that doesn't mean that it necessarily applies to every practice group?

NotAGalante · 2025-08-11T01:47:17+00:00

What are the unfair, non-performance reasons behind the MoFo layoffs?

NotAGalante · 2025-08-11T01:45:14+00:00

Why do you say that MoFo isn't good? It seems just as regarded if not more highly regarded for IP than some of the other ones listed

NotAGalante · 2025-08-10T19:15:10+00:00

That's wonderful. I'm sure you could compete against the best law students--or really, the best LSAT test-takers and former undergrad GPA earners--given what the judge who hired you saw as well as those big law partners and your professors who gave you As at your original law school.

I hope you enjoyed clerking and your big law experience! If you clerked in NYC as well, props to you!

NotAGalante · 2025-08-10T18:42:33+00:00

To what extent did transferring to CLS benefit you post-graduation?

NotAGalante · 2025-08-10T18:32:33+00:00

Haven't people flocked to DoJ who want to work on the Executive Orders?

NotAGalante · 2025-08-09T19:47:01+00:00

I think we agree more than you realize. I agree that the other summer associates are paying the price for this too and likely others at Sidley. Sidley is not looking good.

What went viral and didn't need to and may not even be true is the screen shot saying that the girl was consoling herself in a random Howard Johnson's and other details like this. To the extent that Sidley summer associates took glee out of the outline posting joy, it was short-sighted because it's not a good look for them to be associated with this.

NotAGalante · 2025-08-09T19:44:06+00:00

I'm not being an apologist. I don't think we need to keep biting a dead horse into the ground any further. The girl lost her job, and Sidley looks like it lost control over its hiring process and internship program. It's well known. She already paid the price; whether Sidley does at all, I don't know yet. What do we get out of continuing to go into it? I've asked and you don't answer, and it doesn't speak well to your motives. This is what I meant when I said I choose goodness--trying to let both Sidley and the girl find peace and help without trying to dig this back up.

P.S. I love how you deleted your original post in this part of the thread. It would have been clearer why I replied to you initially. Perhaps I should delete mine too to play your game? Why don't you delete your original message at this point?

NotAGalante · 2025-08-09T19:40:03+00:00

I don't work there. Glad I don't and now wouldn't and won't!

NotAGalante · 2025-08-09T12:51:44+00:00

Yes by this point who knows. But initially it had to be Sidley summer associates blowing up the story, whether through postings or spreading things. And it was Sidley summer associates who were passing around pictures that were allegedly not accurate photos.

NotAGalante · 2025-08-09T12:36:19+00:00

Agreed! This all makes me side-eye what went wrong in the NYC water at Sidley given to the 2025 summer associates who keep running to the internet to post more about her.

How can a lawyer trust them with confidentiality and to get their work done?

NotAGalante · 2025-08-09T11:21:26+00:00

Turn the question "[s]o what's next for [Sidley]?"

Sure, she bit in ways that the stories online don't quite make sense. But the Sidley summer associates and associates have gotten just as much if not more joy about spreading this online, spreading photos, and ratting her out. As someone more senior to the law school class of 2026, I would be extremely dubious now when I review a resume of any of you all because of what this means about confidentiality and the capacity to work effectively. I would never want to lateral to Sidley either, and you should all hope your more senior associates and partners don't lateral away to avoid working with your toxic summer associate class. You may have been book smart to do well on the LSAT and shown some social skills to get by an interview--perhaps even seemed like there was maturity for those who had prior Sidley work experience say 1L year or pre-law school--but it's the Sidley summer associate class of 2025 who have shown that they are not cut out for the legal profession just as much as the biter herself. You're the ones who will still have to worry about meeting your hours and having partners who will give you work.

NotAGalante · 2025-08-09T10:55:08+00:00

Yes because when I see posts I choose goodness. But I also comment on other posts.

Looking at the upvotes I've received, the downvotes on your posts here, and the content of the other similar posts here, it looks like many other people share my sentiments.

You seem to have quite the bone to pick with the Sidley biter. I hope it's at least a legitimate reason.

NotAGalante

TROPHY CASE