One of the hallmarks of a career at Davis Polk is the broad spectrum of work and professional development a young lawyer experiences. At the core of our efforts is the firm’s Associate Development Department – a team of full-time staff who work closely with individual associates across all of our practice groups and offices to define and facilitate the optimal progression of each associate in terms of work assignments, skills development, client and partner contact, and overall professional development. Associate Development also oversees the firm’s extensive training curriculum and our formal mentoring program.
We provide our lawyers with hundreds of training programs each year on topics that span our practice and the legal profession. The firm also encourages and financially supports lawyer participation in outside training courses, by such organizations as the Practising Law Institute and the National Institute of Trial Advocacy.
Through our mentoring program, all new associates are paired with associate and partner mentors. The program is designed to provide our lawyers with direct and personal support and guidance as they acclimate to life at the firm and throughout their careers at Davis Polk. In addition to our formal program, young lawyers at Davis Polk constantly benefit from the informal mentoring that is an essential part of our firm culture.
- In 2010, we held more than 300 training programs covering a broad range of practice and professional topics.
- Each year, the firm holds training sessions for first-, third- and fifth-year associates. These lawyers from all over the world gather in New York for intensive training sessions on key topics in the law, client service, as well as a variety of networking events.
- Our Associate Development team includes nine full-time professionals and oversees the development, mentoring and career progression of all of our associates.