Standout Statements

A second installment from Alé Dalton

A few weeks ago I shared some advice from my friend Alé Dalton here on SSA. And here she is again this time with 7 things great summer associates say that make them memorable (in all the right ways) from LinkedIn.

The “best” summer associates are the ones who show curiosity and a willingness to engage beyond the surface.

1. “Can I help with [next step in the lifecycle of the project we worked on]?”
💡 The summer associate who offers to help see the assignment through to its next step signals that she understands her work product isn’t just a one-off task for a grade but that it will live a life long after it leaves her hands. Keeping the next step in mind while drafting the original work product will naturally result in better work product.

2. “Thank you for the feedback. Could we walk through some of your edits when you have time?”
💡 Attorneys notice who wants to get it right, not just turn it in. When you ask to understand the reasoning behind a redline (especially when you run your own redline and ask for feedback!), it shows receptiveness, growth mindset, and teachability. I can teach you how to be a lawyer. I can’t teach you to have a good attitude.

3. “Could I sit in on [client call / internal meeting / etc.]?”
💡 Law is a learn-by-watching profession. Asking for exposure to real-time work shows curiosity and initiative. Even if the answer is “not this one,” you’ll be remembered for wanting to see beyond your inbox.

4. “I noticed your team does a lot of [X] work. If anything’s coming up, I’d love to get involved.”
💡 Strategic interest > vague enthusiasm. This kind of comment shows that you’re paying attention to who does what and thinking about where you might fit best as an associate. It makes it easy for people to loop you in.

5. “Here’s what I understood from your instructions…”
💡 When you reflect back what you’ve heard, you avoid misunderstandings. It’s a surprisingly uncommon habit that makes you look organized, thorough, and self-aware.

6. “I’m currently at capacity, but I’d love to help if the timing is flexible.”
💡 It’s much better to speak up about your workload than to disappear or underdeliver. The best associates are candid about their bandwidth and committed to doing good work when they take it on. (⚠️ Artfully turning down work and knowing when it's "appropriate" to do so is, well, an art, and a great topic to discuss with your jr./associate mentor.)

7. “Thanks again for letting me work on this. I particularly enjoyed/appreciated [XYZ part of the project].”
💡 Never underestimate the impact of a thoughtful thank-you. Looping summer associates into work is time-consuming, especially for the mid- to senior-level associate who’s assigning it, revising the work, and answering questions (as well as writing a review for your file!). The truth is, the attorneys supervising you could do the task much faster, but they have decided to invest in your development by including you. A note acknowledging this (and doing your part to make the most of it!) goes a long way.

Thanks again to Ale for providing such excellent advice!

Keep standing out,

Jonah