a conflict of interests

It is almost, but not quite, official. I am leaving my job. I will be following my super-specialized group and will make the move from one big law firm to another big law firm. The partner that I work with spoke to the powers that be yesterday and made it official. He is leaving... and the firm knows that if he leaves, then the rest of our super-specialized group will be leaving as well. I won't be giving notice for a few weeks (the partner has to give 60 days notice, I only have to give 2 weeks). It's just a matter of time before the word spreads. I don't think that people know what firm we will be going to. I've worked with them in the past and they seem like a good bunch--the new firm was even voted as having second best quality of life for associates in New York. Plus, they have a better bonus structure, so I'm pretty happy. That, and my commute will be shortened by a good 7 minutes.

The summer associates that are here have no idea about the impending mutiny. I feel guilty for having them help me on deals when I know that I will be leaving by the end of the summer. There is one in particular that has expressed interest in the area that I specialize in and I feel as though I am deceiving her (I think of her as "my summer associate" or "MSA"). It's a very competitive year for the summers. Their class has 27 people when we only expected about 21 or 22 to accept. This means that not all of them will be offered a job at the end of the summer. I think that the firm has been telling them that we want to extend offers to all of them, but that's a bunch of hooey. Really, the firm is looking to cut people for whatever reason and I don't want to give them any reason for axeing MSA. She is super smart and really fun and a cool person all around. I doubt that she'd stick around here for more than 3 to 5 years, but the firm would be a great place for her to put in her time, get some of the best training around, and pay off her loans. If she doesn't get an offer, it will really screw up her fall semester and it's really hard to find a firm job as a 3L (third year law student). What to do?? I am trying to encourage her to work with other people within the department and I hope she takes my advice.