In 2009, Drinker Biddle & Reath launched its First-Year Associate Development Program. Many viewed the program as a creative solution to the dip in the demand for legal services during the financial crisis. While the program certainly helped to occupy incoming associates fully and productively, it also provided a way to further the firm's commitment to associate training and client service. Notwithstanding the uptick in the demand for legal services since 2009, the program's momentum has continued unabated.
The program creates a training ground that enables newly minted lawyers to transition effectively from the study to the practice of law. The goal is to position participating associates such that they add immediate value to client work when they begin their practices. During the program, the associates have abundant opportunities to tackle sophisticated assignments in a risk-free environment as well as to shadow experienced lawyers in ongoing client matters.
