|
|
Associates who join us directly from law school or after having clerked for a year following law school are assigned to a department beginning their first year with the firm. We try to match individual interests with firm needs and emphasize exposure to a broad variety of experiences in the early years of practice. In determining departmental assignments, we balance associates' practice area interests with firm needs and our belief that the best lawyers develop from an exposure to a variety of projects and clients. |
|
Our low associate-to-partner
ratio assures that each associate receives responsibility early and
advances as quickly as skills develop. In larger departments like Corporate
and Litigation, each new associate has a mentor for the first year
and reports ongoing projects to one of the department heads. In smaller
departments, each associate works with all or nearly all the senior
associates and partners in the early years of practice. Each new associate's
work and development are reviewed semiannually by the Associates
Committee.
A partner from that group serves as liaison for each associate during
the first five years of practice.
New associates become involved quickly. First-year lawyers may have client contact immediately after joining the firm; litigators may find themselves speaking in court or at depositions during their first year, especially in a pro bono case; and transactional lawyers assume negotiating responsibility for certain agreements. |
 |
 |
|
After completing their unassigned year, Pam Rayne (Boston College Law School '06), left, and Andrew Sung (Harvard Law School '05), right, both joined the Corporate
Department. Pam practices in the DC office, and
Andrew practices in the Boston office. |
|
|
|
