Associate Career Development Program
Our Career Development (CD) Program assists associates in the development of their professional skills and goals. In addition, the Firm employs a full-time Director of Professional Development whose responsibilities include creating a personalized career development program and establishing formal and informal mentoring relationships for each associate.
Training Programs
Many of our practice groups give a presentation to new associates which introduces them to the things they need to know about the various areas of practice. Associates are also invited to attend regularly scheduled practice group meetings. Among other benefits, these presentations and meetings help associates make informed decisions when the time comes for them to choose their areas of concentration.
In addition to the practice group program meetings for new associates, the CD Program offers seminars for all of our attorneys on a wide range of topics. These programs are taught by partners and associates and supplemented by nationally known presenters. Programs offered recently include:
Associate Bootcamp
Basic Financial Planning
Billing Practices
Bluebooking
Business Entities
Community Trusteeship
Drafting an Agreement
Ethics and the Business of Law
The Elements Involved in Developing an Effective Business Plan
Hillman Advocacy
How an Hour Becomes a Dollar
How to Read and Understand Financial Statements
How to Work Effectively With a Legal Secretary
Information for First-Time Home Buyers
Innovative Presentations
Legal Research and Bluebooking
Matter Management
Personal Insurance Needs
Personal Investment Planning
Principles of Client Service
Public Speaking
- Robert's Rules of Order: How to Run a Meeting
Transitioning to Partnership
Who Are Our Clients?
Practice Group Training/Benchmark for Associates
Once an associate has chosen his/her area of concentration, he/she will be provided with a detailed Training and Development Plan. The Plan will identify the training/seminars and benchmarks that an associate will need to succeed in his/her chosen area of law.
Associates Committee
Associates have an opportunity to help shape the firm policies and practices that impact associates by serving on the Associates Committee. The Committee is comprised of 10 members including a representative from each class and three "at large" appointees chosen to ensure diversity of gender, office location, practice group, etc. The Committee meets monthly and reports periodically to the firm's Professional Staff Committee and Management Committee.
For more information on the Firm's training programs, please contact:
Carin L. Ojala
Director of Professional Development
Warner Norcross & Judd LLP
900 Fifth Third Center
111 Lyon Street NW
Grand Rapids, Michigan 49503-2487
Toll Free: 1 (866) 533-3018 (x 2173)
Direct Line: (616) 752-2173
Fax: (616) 222-2173
E-mail: cojala@wnj.com