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Putting off summer associate programs amid the coronavirus pandemic doesn't always mean a big cost savings for firms.

Cahill Gordon & Reindel announced it was suspending its summer associate program but will offer jobs upon graduation in 2021 to would-be participants and still pay the 30 summer associates "in full for the summer."  The New York-based firm pays summers $3,600 per week, meaning the firm is still on track to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars to summer associates stuck at home.

In a statement, Cahill said it would give the class a chance to assist remotely with the firm's pro bono work over the summer, and if risks abate enough to make in-person work possible, it would "find appropriate ways" to resume the program for "some portion of the summer."

"We made this decision because of the continuing uncertainty around the coronavirus pandemic and the ongoing shelter at home directives from governmental and health authorities," the firm's statement said. "We wanted to give them peace of mind that the firm is supporting them in this difficult moment."

Vigorous debate in the legal industry persists about what firms should do with their summer associate programs, which often aim to immerse students in the life of a law firm, and are heavy on social interaction, which has been sharply reduced amid the pandemic. COVID-19 has also disrupted other rites of passage for rising lawyers, such as on-campus interviews and the bar exam.

Cahill's approach is similar to one advocated by Hugh Simons, a consultant and contributor to Law.com, although it left the door open to resuming the program as circumstances change. "I believe that canceling is simply prudent," he wrote.

The firm's move comes after it recorded a strong 2019, growing its revenue to $388 million and its profit per partner to $3.8 million. The firm is known for advising lenders on leveraged loans and junk bonds. According to Bloomberg data, its dominance in lender-side representations in leveraged finance persisted in the first quarter of 2020.

Some law firms are still contemplating what to do with their summer associate programs, which often start in May and run for about 10 weeks. Some firms have canceled summer associates due to cost concerns, among other factors. Boies Schiller Flexner and some other firms have indicated they will move forward with their programs as planned, but remotely if need be. Others, including Cooley, have said they will delay the start of their programs.

Nathan Peart, a legal recruiter in Major, Lindsey & Africa's associate practice group, said in surveys his firm conducted around late March and early April, over 50% of firms in New York and Southern California said they weren't thinking of canceling their summer associate programs. Another 42% in each market said they were unsure and 5% to 6% said they were considering canceling.

Chicago respondents were more negative, with 29% not considering cancellation, 59% unsure and 12% thinking about canceling their program.

"There's still a lot of positivity in making this happen," Peart said. "There's still a lot of uncertainty over how they're going to make it work, but I think the majority of them are still going to do something."