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Tue, 29 Jul 2025 10:52:32 -0700
Andy from private IP, post #16023761

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On the ethics of hiring high schoolers

I want to pose this situation to the group and get some feedback. I've already asked a couple of people in my firm and outside the firm for their impressions,
and so far it's unanimous: the outcome has nothing to do with me and everything to do with the demanding gunslinger work that we do at the law firm. But I am
sensitive to this because I hate the feeling that something I have said or done is impairing my ability to work with awesome people. Let me just tell this from
my POV and we'll see if anyone can fill in the gaps:

1. I testified in the Ku v. Herchen trial and attended it, as well. I wasn't really looking in the gallery, but there was a rotating cast of interns who work
at the court who thought the trial would be interesting.

2. After the verdict, I was talking with the jurors and there was a large gaggle of court interns there observing the conversation.

3. One of the interns, a young woman, approached me and said my investigative work is amazing and she really appreciated it. She asked for a business card. I
told her I ran out of cards but I could provide my name and phone number, so I did. I asked if she was in college and she said she was in high school. I told
her essentially that she was seeing 10/10 trial advocacy from both sides and this would be a case to remember. I then turned back to the jury and went on with
the rest of the conversations, thinking nothing of this.

4. A few days later, I received a lengthy text from the young woman expressing interest in the law firm and my work, and asking for a tour of the law firm. I
initially brushed her off, telling her that I'm fully loaded on interns, but I would be happy to interview her with a view toward placing her at someone else's
law firm. I ask for her resume.

5. I Google her and there is not a single hit online, no LinkedIn, nor anything else. I think that is pretty unusual.

6. She sends me her resume and I am freaking blown away. She is a champion speech and debate student at a local high school, has a bunch of awesome
experience, perfect spelling and grammar, and has an encouraging set of skills. I get a little excited because interviewing and potentially hiring her means I
don't have to do the usual slog of posting on Handshake, getting 140 applicants, and having to screen and interview them, all of which is a complete waste of my
time when I have a perfect candidate right in front of me.

7. I invite her for an interview the next day. She enthusiastically agrees and says she will be there, and will send her best writing sample after an event
later that evening.

8. In the evening, I see a couple views of my LinkedIn from someone I presume is her mom, based on her last name. My portfolio of websites starts getting hits
from the same IP addresses within seconds/minutes of each other, which usually means someone is looking me up and evaluating my online presence.

8. At 11:15 p.m. that night, I get a text from her stating that her Dad will not let her go to the interview and that she appreciated my help. I text her back
saying I understand because she is a minor and the law firm does serious, heavy-hitting work, so it makes sense that my policy is that parental consent would be
required. I've never had a parent attend an interview, but if her Dad has concerns, perhaps we could address them. I ask her to let me know if anything
changes, because we have a position opening up in a few weeks, as well. I let her know that we talked internally about the challenges and ethics of exposing a
minor to serious, sometimes horrifying work, and we determined that the net benefit to her (great experience and top-of-market compensation) and the net benefit
to us (great candidate, avoiding screening 100+ applicants to a posting) both weigh in favor of considering her.

9. She thanks me profusely via text and says she will reach out if anything changes.

10. I learn that one of my employees is departing for a scholarship program and there will be a second position available. I post it on Handshake and send her
the job description, noting that it sure would save us a lot of effort if she just skips the line and interviews for it, since she has a wonderful resume and is
clearly gifted.

11. I get a text the next day saying thanks, but her family and she have decided she will not be pursuing any interviews or a job. She is going to focus on
school for now. I send her a thumbs up and archive the conversation.

My read is (1) she was very excited about the opportunity, (2) she told her parents about it, (3) her parents Googled me and saw whatever they saw, (4) her
parents became concerned and forbade her from interviewing at the firm. What I'd like to do is determine whether this is the work, or something about me. I've
been repeatedly told by several people that this is actually about a potentially fragile young woman being exposed to heavy-hitting legal work before it is
age-appropriate. But I remember being that age, and I was a freaking prodigy at real-world work who wanted to do high-level work instead of continuing to be
sheltered or protected from the truth. When I find someone like that who wants to work at the firm, why should I turn her down because of her age?

A poll seems appropriate. What say you all? Am I right, or am I too sensitive about what people think of my online presence? For God's sake, I have an extra
clean background and if there is one law firm this candidate should consider, it's my law firm where everyone is awesome and there are multiple hearts of gold
around the office.

#LawFirm

Tue, 29 Jul 2025 16:18:31 -0700
whiteguyinchina from private IP
Reply #16682247

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You're asking us to analyze their personal family decision. Hence I would say their socioeconomic status and ethnicity come into play here. To make a fully
analyzed decision I would need to know these generally. And even then would be guessing.

It could be that the dad is a big business owner and wants her in family business.
It could be dad wants her to be a doctor or engineer.
It could be they believe law firm work is too hard-core for this young girl. Nota bene I agree. I mean you were at a murder trial essentially. Not sure i would
want my high school kid to get into that world just yet.
It could be dad thinks she can do better because he has some big ass law firm connections.
It could be she needs a scholarship for college so she needs to focus on school.
It could be that dad is a drunk and fights with mom and just being an asshole.

Its such a complex family decision that you really don't need to read into it methinks.

I think what you are asking for is whether you should hire high schoolers. I don't think you should, as a general rule. A friend's daughter dissected a cadaver
at a public school biology class. That's mature stuff.

But when it comes to minors and exposing them to various topics which may involve profanity, sex, violence, drugs etc. Its just better to stay away from that.
Parents may get overly sensitive and blame you.

You do a simple risk reward analysis on this and take your emotions out of it and you will see that it is the right, if weak ass answer.

And no matter how mature you were at 17, were talking about emotional maturity. This girl is not there. Its her first job probably.

If I were the parent myself I would not tell my kid not to do it, but I would definitely discourage them from it.

@16682247 Andy 👍

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