New York Law Firms Offer Incoming Associates Crash Courses in Judaism

As recent law school graduates begin their stints at New York law firms, they are being asked to attend a variety of trainings ranging from proper research techniques to refreshers on document management systems. After receiving comments from past 1st years, firms have added a new series of classes which will acclimate new employees to one of the starkest transitions associated with law firm life: the incredible number of Jewish people.

"While law school begins to expose students to the legal world's abundance of Jewishness, it doesn't go nearly far enough," remarked Davis Polk & Wardwell hiring partner Daniel Weinstein. "That's why we decided to mandate a Judaism crash course for all our new gentile associates."

Weinstein related that the attempt to get non-Jewish employees familiar with Jewish customs and traditions starts from the very first day.

"It's basically, pick up your Blackberry, get settled in your new office and then proceed to conference room 38A where the 60% of our partners who are Jewish will introduce themselves," said Weinstein.

New York firm White and Case has followed David Polk's lead and has developed a Jew-centered educational program for its first year goys.

"We start with a session explaining holidays like Rosh Hoshanah and Yom Kippur," mentioned White and Case recruiting coordinator Julianne Chase. "We want these new associates to understand why all of sudden in the fall a majority of the firm wasn't at work."

Chase mentioned that another important training involves explaining to confused new associates the strangely harsh sounds sometimes uttered by their colleagues of Jewish backgrounds.

"It's so cute how some 1st years haven't even heard of Yiddish before," said Chase, barely concealing a smile. "After explaining to them that those noises are indeed part of a cognizable language we proceed to introduce key vocabulary such as shvitz, kvetch and chutzpah."

Considering that Jewish culture is considerably food-centric, many firms have been sure to include a session on Jewish cuisine such as bagels and lox, latkas, matzah ball soup and gefilte fish. Similarly, Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy has even dedicated 20 minutes to explaining that yes Manischewitz is technically considered a wine and yes Jewish people actually enjoying drinking it.

Of particularly relevance to uninformed, non-Jewish first years is an explanation of the sometimes complicated notion of keeping kosher.

"As a non-Jew I really appreciate the tutorial on what it means to be kosher," said Milbank associate Tricia Bryant, a 1st year in real estate. "Now I understand why 3/4 of the department don't eat cheeseburgers, bacon, shrimp and whole host of other awesome, delicious foods."

Bryant added that she is also grateful for explanations of when it's funny to make Nazi jokes, how suffering plays such an important role in Jewish life and why some associates wear "those funny little hats all the time."

Perhaps the most useful insight firms provide during their crash courses concerns the enigmatic figure known as the Jewish mother.

"It is absolutely crucial that we underscore to new associates that Jewish mothers are a unique brand that have a singular impact on their children," stated Weinstein, the Davis Polk partner. "They need to comprehend why so many of their male Jewish colleagues regularly visit psychologists, have women issues and can be guilted into doing almost anything."

Asked whether he thinks these sessions have helped, Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson 1st year Paul Christiansen was non-committal.

"Oy, I don't have time to talk," said a clearly frazzled Christiansen. "I am absolutely meshuga with work, still need to grab a pastrami sandwich at the deli downstairs and must call my mother back before she starts to worry."