Evaluations and Professional Development

Evaluations

At Dorsey we believe that regular, meaningful feedback is imperative to the success of our attorneys.  All of our attorneys are evaluated at least once annually based on criteria relating to several facets of lawyering.  

Dorsey has competencies for associates at each level that are the basis for associate recruitment, evaluation, and promotion.  Our associates are divided into three levels: level one (first and second years), level two (third through fifth years), and level three (sixth year and above).

• In level one, associates are expected to demonstrate a solid mastery of basic legal concepts and skills such as written and oral communication, legal and logical analysis, and organization and problem solving.  Additionally, associates are expected to have strong work management skills, ethical integrity, dependability, and interpersonal skills.
• In level two, associates are expected to further master these basic legal skills and capabilities and to develop a thorough understanding of legal concepts and bodies of law.  Level two associates are also expected to initiate and lead team efforts, manage their own work and that of junior attorneys and legal assistants, and begin to build client relationships.
• In level three, associates are expected to continue to build on level one and two competencies, demonstrating a broad understanding of important and relevant legal concepts and an ability to respond independently to complex client needs.  Moreover, associates are expected to demonstrate leadership in client service (through direct client contact) and an ability to successfully develop new business.
  

• Five days of New Lawyer Training to help incoming lawyers hit the ground running.
• Core Substantive and Skills Training to pass on the building blocks of professional excellence.
• Up-to-the-Minute Training on new developments to keep our lawyers on the forefront of practice.
• Programs aimed at enriching our personal and professional lives, including those promoting our health and welfare, supporting career development and satisfaction, work-life balance and diversity.

Dorsey U programs are taught by our own lawyers and the best outside instructors. We train in our state-of-the-art conference room facilities with technology links to all offices. Programs are digitally recorded, providing a ready archive of just-in-time training.

Dorsey U is an accredited continuing legal education provider in New York and California and an accredited continuing professional development provider in the United Kingdom. Eligible programs are also regularly accredited in Minnesota, Washington, Iowa, Utah and other key states. To supplement Dorsey U, we encourage our lawyers to attend and teach at external CLE programs, both locally and nationally, through tuition and travel reimbursement.

"The goals of professional development are at the heart of this firm's core values of excellence, unity, professionalism, community and investment in the future.  We seek to achieve and maintain cutting-edge professional excellence in all areas of practice throughout the firm and to promote a culture and community of continual teaching and learning to perpetuate that excellence."

 - Bryn Vaaler, Professional Services Partner