How to ask for days off as an intern

[friedpotato]

I'm currently a 1L intern at a big law firm. 

I have a couple days off officially according to HR, but I need to get it approved first by the partners. I want to take the days off (non-medical reasons). Is this appropriate? How do I start this conversation with the partner without pissing her off? 

Thanks. 

[luckycharm]

Give her at least a week advance notice. 

[luckycharm]

Just now, luckycharm said:

Give her at least 5 working days advance notice. 

 

[QueensDenning]

Does anyone know if 2L summer students get vacation time at the big firms? If so, how many days ? 

[Ben]

16 minutes ago, QueensDenning said:

Does anyone know if 2L summer students get vacation time at the big firms? If so, how many days ? 

You could check NALP to do more thorough research than I just did, but most firms that discuss vacation time at all only mention it with respect to articling students, which makes me think that the answer is no for 2Ls. Anecdotally, I have never heard of a summer student taking vacation days. 

[SlytherinLLP]

1 hour ago, QueensDenning said:

Does anyone know if 2L summer students get vacation time at the big firms? If so, how many days ? 

Unless something has changed since I summered, there is no vacation time for summer students at my firm or for colleagues at other Bay Street firms. 

 

Edited June 21, 2021 by SlytherinLLP

[Goblin King]

9 minutes ago, SlytherinLLP said:

 

As an articling student you are entitled to 1 vacation day per month according to LSO rules. 

Is taking the vacation day(s) offered by a firm generally discouraged? 

[SlytherinLLP]

15 minutes ago, Goblin King said:

Is taking the vacation day(s) offered by a firm generally discouraged? 

I've edited the above since what I said was not entirely accurate re: vacation days. 

Most Bay Street firms will provide 10 days of vacation. That is the maximum vacation entitlement allowed by the LSO (one day/month) to fulfil the articling placement requirement. 

Anecdotally from those who have finished articles last year, they took the whole 10 days at the end of their articling term. Otherwise, during the course of articling, I don't think it would be discouraged so long as it is timely, reasonable, and doesn't seriously interfere with major deadlines. 

[OzLaw16]

2 hours ago, QueensDenning said:

Does anyone know if 2L summer students get vacation time at the big firms? If so, how many days ? 

 

1 hour ago, Goblin King said:

Is taking the vacation day(s) offered by a firm generally discouraged? 

During my 2L summer at a Bay firm, we were given a small number of vacation days (I'd rather not reveal the exact number for anonymity's sake, but it was less than 5) and we were highly encouraged to use them, at least by our student director.

[Chief Keef]

1 hour ago, Goblin King said:

Is taking the vacation day(s) offered by a firm generally discouraged? 

I think its more discouraged by fellow students than the lawyers... the only people who seemed to care when I took my vacation days during my 2L summer were the other students, who couldn't understand how I could possibly do such a thing. "Aren't you afraid you'll look bad?" was what one of my coworkers said to me. 

When I got back the lawyers were nice and all genuinely asked how my long weekend was. Literally not a single negative vibe.

Ultimately I was the only student who took a single vacation day (and I used them all) and I guarantee you not a single lawyer will remember that the other students forewent their vacation when we return for articling. Sucks for them cause I got to go hiking and kayaking while they were stuck in the office. 

Edited June 21, 2021 by Chief Keef

[friedpotato]

Thanks everyone. 

Those of you who did use vacation days, how did you go about asking? 

@Chief Keef

@OzLaw16

[luckycharm]

On 6/21/2021 at 2:15 PM, Goblin King said:

Is taking the vacation day(s) offered by a firm generally discouraged? 

I won't mention that topic during interview.

[OzLaw16]

4 hours ago, friedpotato said:

Thanks everyone. 

Those of you who did use vacation days, how did you go about asking? 

@Chief Keef

@OzLaw16

Students at my firm just had to tell our student director a few weeks in advance. Like I said, we were very highly encouraged to take them - it was basically expected of us to use them before the end of the summer. So it was a very routine ask.

As for lawyers I was working with, I never ended up having any sort of issue there. I just gave the lawyers I was working with at the time ample notice that I was taking a vacation day on X day but that I'd have my work phone with me if they needed me for something urgent. They were all fine with it, and I never ended up having to do work on the days I took (although I do know that at least a few of the other students ended up having to work on their vacation days, so that experience wasn't universal).

[Rashabon]

On 6/23/2021 at 7:45 AM, friedpotato said:

Thanks everyone. 

Those of you who did use vacation days, how did you go about asking? 

@Chief Keef

@OzLaw16

Just speak to the people you work with, and as a student, the head of your student program.

[Chief Keef]

On 6/23/2021 at 7:45 AM, friedpotato said:

Thanks everyone. 

Those of you who did use vacation days, how did you go about asking? 

@Chief Keef

@OzLaw16

I emailed the student coordinator and said "I'd like to use my days off on X-date and Y-Date, thank you"