It is no accident that Ropes & Gray's associate training program is ranked No. 2 in Vault's most recent survey of America's top 100 law firms. At Ropes & Gray, we know that our associates are our future. Investing in the professional growth of our associates is a key part of the culture of excellence that makes us one of the very best law firms in the country.

Our associate training program recognizes that a lawyer's development advances in many ways, including formal and informal training, mentoring and constructive evaluations. New associates are not required to specialize but have the chance to discover what they love to do by working on different assignments in different practice areas. We understand, too, the critical importance of assigning work in a way that aligns with your individual interests, career goals and developmental needs.

Ropes & Gray is at the cutting edge of law firms in providing career counseling for its associates.  Two career guidance managers are available for counseling to help associates take charge of their careers, set career goals, and navigate their careers at the firm.

The Work
The good judgment and legal skills needed to provide superb client service are best learned by working under the guidance of first-rate experienced lawyers. Hands-on training at Ropes & Gray is enhanced by our innovative work assignment system. Our associates' work assignments are coordinated by staffing managers who were practicing attorneys; they understand the close connection between work assignments and professional development. Our computerized assignment system provides the staffing managers with information about each associate's workload, current assignments, preferences, and supervising lawyers. The staffing managers use this information to distribute work fairly, to match assignments to each associate's professional development needs and to ensure that each associate has the opportunity to work with a variety of partners and associates.

The Training
Law school doesn't teach you everything you need to know about practicing law. Ropes & Gray provides extensive formal training from the very first day you arrive at the firm, designed to ease your transition from law school into real practice. More advanced formal training for midlevel and senior associates supplements the training they receive through the everyday practice of law.

The heart of the formal training program at Ropes & Gray is Department and Practice Group training. Each Department has a Training Committee devoted to developing the best possible training program. The majority of the training is provided by Ropes & Gray lawyers, and most classes meet CLE credit requirements.

Incoming associates are introduced to the firm during a one-day orientation attended by associates from all of the firm's offices. This gives you an opportunity to learn about the firm and to meet and socialize with other incoming associates. The orientation is immediately followed by two-day intensive Corporate and Litigation Training Camps, as well as half day camps for associates practicing in our Tax and Benefits or Bankruptcy and Business Restructuring departments.

Litigation Training Camp provides an overview of what it's like to practice as a trial lawyer, including classes on the Anatomy of a Case, the basics of discovery and e-discovery, privilege issues, witness interviews, legal research, and legal writing. New associates also have the chance to talk to second-year associates about their experiences and to hear from a panel of experienced trial lawyers.

Corporate Training Camp provides interactive training on the practical skills you will need as a junior associate, including corporate research, closings and due diligence. Associates also learn about the structure of the department and participate in small breakout sessions to discuss initial practice group assignments. The camp also provides new associates an opportunity to meet with second-year associates and learn about their first year at Ropes & Gray.

Formal training continues long after the Training Camps end. The Litigation Department offers practical skills classes in drafting pleadings and written discovery, taking and defending depositions, e-discovery, and drafting and arguing motions. The Corporate Department has a "Core Curriculum" consisting of thirteen classes for first year associates during their first three months. The curriculum provides an introduction to each of the firm's corporate practice groups and is taken by every new associate. After completion of the Core Curriculum, the department provides a second training camp, which includes courses on financial statements, legal writing and client service. Any associate can attend any class; opportunities abound for associates interested in inter-department and inter-practice group training. Most classes are videotaped, so if you are unable to attend a live class, you can usually view it later on your computer.

Department-wide training is supplemented in a variety of ways. Firm-wide training workshops and courses are offered on such topics as cogent writing, presentation skills, negotiation strategies, ethical decision-making, diversity, management skills, and dealing with clients. Many of the individual Practice Groups in both the Corporate and Litigation Departments offer specialized, practice-specific training courses, many of which are designed for first year associates interested in the practice group. Through a special arrangement between the firm and the Practicing Law Institute, associates can take advantage of a wide variety of external training, including hundreds of live seminars and webcasts. Senior associates may participate in one of the programs offered by the National Institute of Trial Advocacy (NITA). Associates also have many opportunities to keep abreast of current developments in the law during Practice Group lunches, which feature lively discussions of current legal issues relevant to our practice.

The Evaluation Process
Ropes & Gray's approach to associate evaluations is a unique blend of mentoring and constructive feedback. Each incoming associate is assigned to a member of the Firm's Associate Committee, a group of partners responsible for evaluating associates during their first five years. The Associate Committee partner is available to lend support and advice regarding evaluations and the review process. Associates are evaluated twice a year based on input from the partners and senior associates with whom they worked during the past six months. The evaluation is then reviewed in detail in a meeting between the associate and his or her Committee liaison and, in the year-end review, a department representative. Evaluations go in both directions here, with an anonymous and confidential upward feedback program through which our associates evaluate partners' mentoring and training of associates.