We offer our new law clerks training, mentoring, and feedback. We also encourage participation in our Partnering Process.
We train our associates through on-the-job experiences, in-house seminars and established outside programs such as the National Institute of Trial Advocacy. Our associates also participate in bar association programs, national and regional seminars and our active pro bono program.
Our senior associates and partners take time to teach new lawyers. It is part of our culture. Our partners and senior associates are evaluated upon their willingness to act as mentors to newer lawyers.
Associates progress and training are monitored by advisors in their practice group and by our Lawyer Personnel Committee. Advisors meet regularly with their advisees to assure that mutual expectations are being met and that they are challenged and satisfied in their work life. Mentoring is also provided by the practice group leaders. Practice groups meet regularly for lunch to talk about current topics and particularly challenging client matters. Most of our practice groups also hold retreats each year to review developments in the law and to share new methods for serving our clients.
There are few things as important to a new law clerk's development as feedback. Our system maximizes a lawyer's opportunity to be evaluated on a meaningful basis. First, we conduct mid-year evaluations during a new law clerk's first year with the firm. Second, we conduct a formal evaluation annually that consists of written evaluations, oral evaluations and meetings between an associate and his or her advisor. Our partners and senior associates provide constructive reviews that recognize success and suggest areas for improvement. Customized individual development planning is created for each associate based on their evaluation feedback and their own goals and objectives, which are established annually.
Representatives of the firm also hold annual meetings with all associates to address policies or issues that may be of concern to the associates and law clerks. The firm created a unique new program in 2000 called the "Annual Associate Partnering Program." This partnering process gives associates an opportunity to revel in what is going well in the firm, as well as provide feedback and suggestions to the partnership on how the firm could better advance its major goals of providing excellent service to clients, attracting and retaining the best people, unifying the firm, and improving profitability.
We believe this continuous improvement process demonstrates the depth of the firm's commitment to our associates and law clerks, which in turn allows the firm to retain the best people.