Associate Recruiting
Associates
Please refer to current openings for positions available.
In hiring associates, the Firm looks for individuals who have excellent personal and academic records and the creativity, integrity and motivation to become outstanding members of the Firm and the community.
Each new associate is assigned a shareholder-mentor who serves as an informal sounding board and a formal advisor. Throughout their tenure, associates are given regular informal feedback from the members of the Firm. In addition, the Firm formally evaluates each associate bi-annually to monitor progress and to focus on practice development.
The Firm is dedicated to providing significant associate training opportunities. Toward that goal, the Firm assists associates with the cost of attending local and national continuing legal education programs and shareholders provide on-site formal and informal training at regularly-held meetings. Recent Litigation Division and Business Division meetings featured presentations on such topics as business development practices, insurance regulation, utilization of jury selection services, technology for trial attorneys, and strategies for working with in-house counsel.
It is our hope that every associate will develop the skills and qualities necessary to assume a position as one of the Firm’s shareholders. To accomplish that goal, associates are provided a collegial working environment that emphasizes open communication between shareholders and associates. By encouraging open communication and by providing significant training opportunities, the Firm is able to allow associates to assume extensive responsibility for client matters quickly and to consider them for the position of shareholder after less than 5 1/2 years.
An example of open lines of communication is the Firm’s governing structure. The Firm is a professional corporation governed by a Board of Directors. An associate representative, elected by the associates, attends each Board meeting and serves as a liaison between the Board and the associate group. Associates also have access to a significant portion of Firm information and are included in the annual strategic planning retreat.
The Firm has and continues to invest in new technologies that assist attorneys with the delivery of quality legal services in an efficient manner, including the deployment of advanced document database and electronic document systems, on-line research systems and state-of-the-art communication tools. Incoming attorneys receive personal laptop computers along with a docking station at their desks and access to firm IT personnel for ongoing education and support.
Compensation and Benefits
Associate compensation compares favorably with that of other attorneys in the City of Des Moines and the State of Iowa.
The Firm provides associates health insurance, life insurance, long-term disability insurance, and retirement plans. The Firm, in accordance with established policies, procedures and limitations, reimburses associates for bar exam and moving fees, bar dues, continuing legal education fees, client development expenses and other approved work-related expenses.
Hours
The Firm recognizes the importance of a well-rounded life. To that end, the Firm maintains staffing levels that allow associates to bill less than many other firms. First year associates are required to bill 1800 hours and second-year associates are required to bill 1850 hours. Over the first two years with the Firm, associates are credited for up to 50 hours spent in approved training endeavors, either internally or externally, thereby reducing required client hours.