It is hard to believe that my time as a summer associate is running out. This is my second to last week at the firm so I am trying to talk to as many attorneys and staff as possible in my remaining time. Many people often ask me what kind of events summer associates go to so I thought I would use this blog to talk about the events I have attended this summer.
In my previous entries, I told you about the Boston Pops dinner and concert and the Red Sox box. We actually kicked off our summer with a volunteering opportunity at a local co-op farm where we planted eggplants. It was so interesting because the farm actually employed local youth in the summer to do their planting and harvesting and at the same time use the work as an opportunity to teach them about sustainable farming and conservation of resources. They then sell the fresh locally grown vegetables to their members and a significant percentage of the proceeds go back to charity. The next major event was the softball tournament at Fenway Park. Enough said. Nothing beats seeing your name displayed on the jumbotron at Fenway Park. We also had smaller events such as bowling, Jazz night, and dinner parties at various partners' homes.
The most talked-about event of the summer is probably the hiking trip. Each year for the past thirteen years, my firm has organized a trip for summers, associates, and partners to camp overnight near the White Mountains and hike Mount Chocorua the next morning. It was wonderful because everyone brought their spouse, children, and dogs and got a real sense of each other, not just as attorneys but as people, and over camp fires and s'mores no less.
I know you must be wondering how we get any work done with all these festivities. Well, we apparently found a way. Our managing partner recently informed us at the monthly associate meeting that the billable hours of the summer associates increased fourteen percent compared to the summer class last year.