|  | |||||||||||||||||
| | |||||||||||||||||
 |
| | | |||||||||||||||
      |
Training & Development Cummings & Lockwood takes pride in the quality of its associates. While associates are challenged to expand their abilities, the firm also attempts to foster a supportive atmosphere. Although it is difficult to generalize about the life of an associate, certain experiences are common to all. The firm is committed to the training and development of our attorneys, and has established several programs to support this effort. First, an extensive orientation program has been designed to provide all associates, whether entry level or lateral attorneys, with information about the firm, including its management and operations, its various practices and its associate development programs. Through this program, an associate will attend numerous seminars dealing with a wide range of topics designed to equip the associate with information about the practice of law and the operation of the firm. Second, the firm is a state-accredited provider of Continuing Legal Education (CLE) credit and conducts a wide variety of internal CLE programs. The firm's CLE efforts are supervised by a Principal of the firm and are designed to keep all attorneys both constantly grounded in the basics of legal practice and in touch with the most sophisticated legal developments. Specialized seminars are also arranged on subjects of particular interest, such as tax developments, trial practice or negotiation methods. Associates are often given the opportunity to hone their own skills by leading these CLE programs. Where internal training is not available on a given topic, the firm also covers tuition and expenses for its attorneys' participation in continuing legal education programs presented by outside CLE providers. Finally, the firm encourages access to professional support and intellectual capital of more senior attorneys through formal mentoring programs, informal mentoring opportunities, and firm social functions. Similar to all law firms of comparable size and practice, Cummings & Lockwood promotes attendance of the firm's lawyers at functions designed to introduce our summer associates to the firm. These events allow all of the participants, summer and full-time associates and partners, to get to know each other. Such interaction helps to foster the sense of camaraderie and collegiality to which the firm is committed. To ensure that such opportunities continue to exist after the close of the summer program, C&L holds quarterly receptions at the firm for all of its lawyers. Performance Evaluations The ability and maturity to accept responsibility are important factors in an associate's success and progress at the firm. The progress of our associates' performance is monitored closely. Associates receive at least one "informal" evaluation during the first six months of employment to discuss feedback received from the attorneys supervising the associate, as well as to receive input from the associate regarding his or her experience and questions. The firm conducts annual performance evaluations for associates in the fall. These evaluations are based on written reviews of the associate's work by partners, or in certain circumstances senior associates, for whom the associate worked during the preceding 12-month period. An evaluation conference provides associates with an understanding of their progress and a constructive assessment of strengths and weaknesses. The firm strongly believes in the importance of this effort and devotes substantial energy to it.
| | | |||||||||||||||
|
| | ||||||||||||||||
 |  | |||||||||||||||||
