Associate Life

Our vibrant, multi-discipline, nationally known practice reflects a shared purpose of excellence, community service, and a firm-wide commitment to justice. We are: 

• Ambitious, passionate and creative
• Invested in success for our clients and ourselves
• Proud of our work and of winning
• Committed to the families we adore, and
• Part of a team---camaraderie and ingenuity fuel our success at trial and we bring that same team spirit to the office

Formal and Informal Feedback
All associates participate in formal year-end evaluations. These evaluations provide feedback on projects undertaken throughout the year, while also assessing the progress of the associate’s career at our firm. Additionally, all supervising attorneys are encouraged to provide informal feedback on a regular basis and associates are encouraged to seek feedback from more senior associates and partners.

In 2010, our firm implemented Associate Competencies.  The 17 competencies describe what we expect our associates to be doing, and the skills they should be honing, as they advance their careers. Four Areas of Excellence form the foundation of our competencies: 

• Professional Excellence
• Personal Excellence
• Client Excellence
• Community Excellence

Associates are evaluated on their performance in the seventeen competencies areas. The associate training curriculum has evolved to incorporate specific programming to enhance the development of the competencies. 

Training
We develop training curriculums that align with our core competencies and guiding principles. Annually, partners or content experts present over 200 hours of educational programs to our attorneys and clients. And when appropriate, we seek CLE credit for every attending attorney, regardless of their state of licensure.

We are one of just a few law firms to have our own courtroom. This state-of-the-art practice center enables us to offer programs using varied delivery methods and to digitally archive each session. The investment made in this facility is representative of our firm’s commitment to attorney professional development.

Mentoring
Our informal mentoring program is designed to help new associates transition into the firm and stay on track with their professional development goals. Each new associate is matched with a mentor. Part ambassador, part tour guide, the Associate Mentor picks up where law school left off and answers questions you didn’t even know you had. They show you the ropes and serve as a resource for basic lawyering skills, administrative procedures, and firm culture.

Diversity
Robins Kaplan LLP has made a serious commitment to the recruitment, retention, and advancement of attorneys of color. We are also dedicated to recruiting individuals from the LGBT community. We were named a "Top 100" Law Firm for Diversity in 2012 by Multicultural Law (March 2012).

Compensation and Benefits
Associate compensation varies by geographic location and is competitive with peer firms in each market where we have an office. Additionally, we offer a comprehensive benefits package including:

• Three weeks of vacation annually
• Nine paid holidays
• Medical, dental and Life insurance (including same sex domestic partner coverage)
• Paid medical leave
• Long term disability coverage
• Medical care reimbursement account
• Dependent care reimbursement account
• Pre-tax commuter benefits
• Paid parental leave
• Annual Bar dues
• Annual attorney registration fees
• Profit sharing plan
• Employee assistance program
• Back-up/sick child care benefits
• Discounted transit cards
• CLE Reimbursement
• 401(k) plan
• Bar Exam preparation and test expenses

Pro Bono
We believe in justice, and our representation of those who would otherwise lack access to the court system serves as a profound source of personal and professional satisfaction. That is why we generously count all associate’s pro bono work toward their billable hour requirement without a cap. We believe that everyone deserves equal access to the justice system regardless of race, religious beliefs, nationality, or economic situation.  Our associates have the opportunity to help solve problems for people who might not otherwise have access to a lawyer. It also affords associates the chance to get into court, argue before a judge or other referee and otherwise participate in meaningful legal proceedings sooner.