The Pandemic Threatens Summer Associate Programs—Again

Law.com, Pandemic Puts Summer Associate Programs Into Question—Again:

Am Law 200 firm leaders say they’re capable of adapting their summer associates program to a virtual format in 2021, many for the second time, if too few people have received the COVID-19 vaccine by the end of the summer to allow a safe return. But virtual is not their first choice.

Some large firms have committed to holding at least part of their program in the office. Others are still waiting to make a decision on format, and one large firm committed to holding no summer program at all. ...

The White House has estimated that there will be enough vaccines, 600 million, for the entire U.S. population by the end of July. That has firm leaders holding out for the possibility for hosting at least part of their summer programs in-person. Still, the efficacy of the vaccine rollout and the emergence of new coronavirus strains have tempered their optimism and has them seeking alternatives for recruiting associates.

Prior TaxProf Blog coverage:

• 2019 Summer Associate Offers (98%) Hit All-Time High, But Coronavirus Casts Shadow Over 2020 Summer Programs (Mar. 25, 2020)
• BigLaw Starts Cancelling Summer Associate Programs, Delaying First Year Associate Start Dates, And Cutting Salaries (Apr. 9, 2020)
• A Firm-By-Firm Guide To BigLaw Summer Associate Programs During COVID-19 (May 18, 2020)
• Law Schools Simulate Firm Summer Associate Programs Amid COVID-19 Cutbacks (June 3, 2020)