Training and Development

New associates have the opportunity to participate in an orientation program that begins with a series of discussions and ends with a social event. The program is held sometime shortly after all the new associates arrive. It is designed to enable our newest lawyers to become acquainted quickly with WolfBlock's internal policies and administrative operations, as well as with our lawyers.

The first-year orientation program continues with periodic meetings to discuss basic legal practice, lawyering techniques such as negotiation and client relations, and individual office and practice management. Each new associate is paired with an advisor who meets with him or her on a bi-weekly basis during the new associate's first year with the firm. The advisor helps the new associate transition to life as a WolfBlock attorney and will monitor workload and aid with training.

Our commitment to training and development continues beyond a lawyer's first year, and does not end until a lawyer stops practicing. WolfBlock recognizes that lawyers at all levels need to grow and stay current in their substantive legal knowledge, that they need to be knowledgeable concerning the business of the firm, and that they need to possess the skills necessary to advance the goals of the firm. Substantive law is primarily the responsibility of departments and practice areas. At the same time, there is much interdisciplinary training and development relating to the building of knowledge and skills that will advance the goals of the firm as a whole.

WolfBlock's training and development of its lawyers after the first year is embodied in its Attorney Development Program, which has three primary elements. First is the New Associates Orientation program described above. The second element of training takes place within each practice area. Practice areas have their own training programs designed specifically for that area's needs. For example, the Real Estate Practice Area sponsors luncheon training sessions on the nuts and bolts of real estate practice such as negotiating loan transactions or understanding particular types of real estate transactions. On a regular basis, the Litigation Practice Area conducts "hands-on" training sessions in which associates practice various litigation skills, such as taking depositions or arguing motions, in small groups. The Employment Services and Employee Benefits Practice Areas hold informal training sessions at their weekly department meetings approximately once a month over pizza. These sessions provide very practical knowledge regarding specific aspects of the particular practice area. In addition, all practice areas strive to provide "on-the-job-training." New associates are asked to observe the more senior attorneys at court appearances, closings and in all other aspects of day to day practice.

The third element of training is firm wide. Periodically a lawyer from the firm or an outside speaker makes a presentation to the entire firm on a specific area of the law or on ways to improve our practices. Topics have included negotiation skills, jury selection, estate planning, and writing seminars. One goal of the firm-wide component of the training program is to expose lawyers to other areas of practice; another goal is to get all of the lawyers to get to know more about one another and what they do.