SUMMER ASSOCIATES

Training And Evaluation

The firm's training and evaluation programs are closely related. Both programs are designed to develop attorneys' legal skills and to provide associates with timely feedback regarding their performance. It is the firm's policy to treat new associates as professionals who should quickly learn a wide range of skills with the guidance and supervision of more senior lawyers. Associate training begins with the firm's practice of providing new associates with substantial responsibility in connection with ongoing litigation and transactional matters. First-year associates routinely interact directly with clients and opposing counsel. Associates receive direct feedback from supervising lawyers. This feedback occurs both through informal, oral discussions between the attorneys and through more formal, written evaluations. The oral discussions are particularly helpful in providing associates with critiques of their writing and analytical skills. Hands-on training is augmented by in-house continuing legal education programs conducted by firm personnel and outside seminars, symposia, and similar programs presented by Mandatory Continuing Legal Education (MCLE) providers. Attorneys at all levels participate in these in-house and outside continuing legal education programs, both as students and instructors. The firm also has a policy of conducting a semi-annual formal review in which each associate meets with two partners from the associate's department to discuss the associate's work and professional development. This formal review procedure provides a more structured mechanism for communication between partners and associates, and for apprising associates of their progress toward consideration for partnership. Associates generally are considered for partnership after seven years of practice, although the firm reserves the right to change this policy. In evaluating an associate for partnership, the firm considers, among other factors, the quality of the associate's work, his or her work effort, business development potential, and ability to work with clients and co-workers. There is no fixed ratio of partners to associates, and no maximum number of partners.

Associate training begins with the firm's practice of providing new associates with substantial responsibility in connection with ongoing litigation and transactional matters. First-year associates routinely interact directly with clients and opposing counsel.

Associates receive direct feedback from supervising lawyers. This feedback occurs both through informal, oral discussions between the attorneys and through more formal, written evaluations. The oral discussions are particularly helpful in providing associates with critiques of their writing and analytical skills.

Hands-on training is augmented by in-house continuing legal education programs conducted by firm personnel and outside seminars, symposia, and similar programs presented by Mandatory Continuing Legal Education (MCLE) providers. Attorneys at all levels participate in these in-house and outside continuing legal education programs, both as students and instructors.

The firm also has a policy of conducting a semi-annual formal review in which each associate meets with two partners from the associate's department to discuss the associate's work and professional development. This formal review procedure provides a more structured mechanism for communication between partners and associates, and for apprising associates of their progress toward consideration for partnership.

Associates generally are considered for partnership after seven years of practice, although the firm reserves the right to change this policy. In evaluating an associate for partnership, the firm considers, among other factors, the quality of the associate's work, his or her work effort, business development potential, and ability to work with clients and co-workers. There is no fixed ratio of partners to associates, and no maximum number of partners.