Interns are replaceable... There's always someone who is willing to do a better job... It's not our job to teach you how to do it, figure it out...

From what I have gathered, this is what most of the Partners/SA end up thinking of interns. But honestly, if you are treating the interns as expendable resources that if deemed 'not worthy' within the first week... how am I, as an intern, supposed to improve? Please understand that I am coming from a perspective of a 4th year student who has done an internship ata few big firms. Unfortunately, I am unable to see any big improvement in the work I am presenting to my partners.

At best, my work is given a few words review of 'fine', 'good' or 'thanks'. Whenever I have actively asked for feedback I have recieved very minnimum feedback or with blatant but polite 'sorry i dont have time'. It might be a unique situation but at this point if i do not imrpove my work to the level of an A0 atleast, i do not see how i can secure a PPO.

The little improvement i have seen is by comparing my drafts with my senior co interns, or at times when i have been able to get my hands on the drafts made by the assosciates.

Dear Sir,

I trust this message finds you in good health. I would like to sincerely thank you for your invaluable feedback on my recent post. In retrospect, it is clear that while I was seeking advice on a separate aspect, it was indeed the far more pressing matter of my spelling that demanded urgent attention. I am grateful that you were able to identify this critical gap in my professional development.

Please rest assured that, going forward, I shall exercise greater vigilance while drafting messages for an internet forum, so as to not attract unwanted people, such as your honourable self, ever again. Your timely guidance has served as a reminder that linguistic precision is paramount, even when soliciting help on a casual basis. I sure would love to see your WhatsApp messages and learn and punctuation(s) next!

Warm regards,
OP

People need to understand that sometimes there isn't much difference between associates and interns. Max difference could be a year or so. This is something many newly minted associates would never admit openly: Sometimes even they don't know stuff. They are new in the profession and learning too. Plus anyone who has even an iota of intent to teach you stuff would do it regardless of you asking, provided you too, would have to demonstrate sincerity. Those who don't either don't know things that well themselves or simply swarmed up with so much work that they wouldn't be able to mentor you even if they want to. Then there is another category of individuals:This holds true for both associates and senior associates- they will try to extract work out of you without giving two hoots about your learning trajectory. Also, please don't let such people get to you and mess up your sense of worth in that process. I have seen senior associates- individuals who are supposedly senior and are supposed to know a thing or two about the law not knowing basics or relying on an intern for client sensitive work when in fact they shouldn't have relied upon an intern for the same. Just know one thing in this profession: you are responsible for your own learning. If you find a mentor-well and good, if not then observe, read, keep your ears and eyes open. I have come to this realisation that most often than not hirings in these vaunted law firms is not necessarily a measure of how hardworking or smart you are. While those are certainly factors, there are extraneous considerations like 'fit' or vibes as some people call it ( which to me is a fuzzy proxy for class, social status etc.), your ability to be pliant (because if you can think for yourself, you will not be easily manipulated and wouldn't hesitate to leave if mistreated), syncophancy ( because your boss needs to be validated and you can't be right in that process) and lastly looks ( this more or less ties in to fit point- pretty privilege is real and applied to both men and women- as a woman who does not invest too much in her looks, I have seen women/men who are more pleasing to look at being given promotions while everyone around them covered up for the mess they created- including but not limited to not delivering on time, shoddy work.etc.) Also, OP remember: Anyone who yells or shouts at you or refuses to guide does not know their ish well. They are shouting or bringing you a peg down to cover their own incompetence. I often liken it to teachers who don't know how to teach so they target someone in class and waste the entire class's time. These are some realities of this profession. Not that it doesn't happen in other professions as well, but in our line of work things are worse. I wish you best of luck! Be open to learning and stop putting these seniors on a pedestal.