Our practice is divided into three sections: Corporate/Estates, Commercial Finance/ Commercial Real Estate, and Litigation. Summer clerks and associates are generally hired to work in one of these sections, with a director/mentor from the section. Summer clerks typically perform some work outside the section, so that as many of the firm members as possible have exposure to the clerk and vice versa. Although their work usually arises out of assignments in their given section, clerks and associates work with attorneys and paralegals throughout the firm.

With respect to credentials: the firm prefers to hire summer clerks and associates with credentials comparable to those of the other members of the firm, i.e. law review, other journals, moot court, trial team, or prior experience and expertise in a given area. Historically, the firm has placed a premium on CPA credentials for the corporate practice. Prior banking or commercial lending experience has been helpful in the commercial finance department. The litigation section is seeking applicants in the top 1/3 of the class, with law review, moot court or trial team experience.

Compensation and Benefits Compensation for summer clerks and our compensation package for associates is competitive with other similarly-situated firms in the area. Our new associates receive a signing bonus and (after satisfying a short eligibility period) a 3% of compensation employer contribution to our 401(k) plan. The firm also maintains and pays for a substantial part of the costs for comprehensive group health, dental, life and disability insurance plans covering each of its associates, and pays for all continuing legal education seminars and state bar and bar association membership and section dues. In addition to base salaries, the firm maintains a discretionary bonus program for associates.

Directorship is offered to attorneys when, in the judgment of the directors, the attorney in question is ready to become a director. Although the track to directorship has been presumptively seven (7) years, the firm has in recent history made exceptions and has accelerated advancement to partnership for specific individuals after as few as five (5) years based on exceptional merit and maturity as evidenced in quality of legal work, judgment, contribution to the firm, and production.