HEN ECONOMIC times were good, you could not open a legal periodical or visit a legal Web site without seeing the latest survey of associates. Mid-level associate surveys, summer associate surveys, and on and on. Unfortunately, many firms learned of their associates’ opinions and issues for the first time through these survey results (and frequently, the news was not good). Then, of course, there were the infamous Internet chat rooms where disenchanted associates slammed firms everywhere.
Understandably, associates are a lot quieter these days. Firms, however, should not let this temporary peace lull them into complacency. Experts are making favorable projections for economic recovery, and in no time, associates will be on the move again. Firms know the high cost of attrition (most experts estimate approximately $250,000 per associate), and this time around, some firms are being proactive. Rather than ignoring issues related to professional development and satisfaction, they are conducting formal evaluations of their associate programs. They no longer want to leave the surveying to someone else.
