Associate Development

We believe that a new associate's professional development is enhanced by combining early opportunities for significant responsibility with appropriate guidance. New associates can expect to assume a great deal of responsibility and independence early on in his or her career at the firm.  Ball Janik LLP offers a significant opportunity for interaction between new associates and partners and senior associates, and encourages all associates take advantage of the expertise, legal knowledge, and wisdom of the partners and senior associates.  New associates who intend to practice predominantly in litigation can expect to argue motions in court, take depositions and draft pleadings in their first year, while new associates in the business practice areas participate in analyzing and structuring transactions and drafting the documents to implement them.  All associates have the opportunity to work directly with clients from the beginning of their careers.  In line with our business-oriented approach to handling clients’ problems, specific projects are rarely staffed by more than two attorneys, and more experienced associates commonly take overall responsibility for particular matters, with only limited supervision by a partner.

We encourage senior associates and partners to provide ongoing training and feedback to new associates working with them on client projects.  In addition to this informal feedback, Ball Janik LLP conducts semi-annual progress reviews and annual performance reviews as part of a more formal review process.  Partners and senior associates with whom the associate has worked complete written evaluations which are then summarized into one compilation and discussed at a formal evaluation meeting with the attorney’s practice group leader.  This serves as another opportunity for the associate to discuss his or her concerns and goals, and for the practice group leader to discuss the associate’s ongoing development.

Client service is of utmost importance to the firm and the continuing education, training, and development of our attorneys is key to ensuring client service.  The firm pays for continuing legal education programs outside the firm as part of an attorney’s ongoing development and education in his or her particular practice areas.  In addition, regular training opportunities and professional development through firm meetings or CLEs, practice group meetings, and firm retreats are available.  The firm also maintains an in-house CLE tape library for specific practice area needs and attorney skill sets.  Attorneys may check out the tapes to listen at their convenience and obtain MCLE credits.