Recruiting for Lawyers | Summer Associate Program | Associates at Phelps Dunbar
Available Attorney Positions | Pro Bono | On Campus Interview (OCI) Schedule
Legal Recruiting Contacts
Phelps Dunbar prides itself on the legal abilities and personal qualities of the attorneys who practice at the firm. As growth continues, we recognize the importance of maintaining both our standards of excellence and the congeniality we have always enjoyed.
Offers for employment are extended by practice groups depending upon a candidate's interests and the firm's needs. Within each practice group, new associates can expect to work with one or two partners and with other associates. The primary assignment to a particular practice group is to ensure that associates receive proper training, guidance, and advice in their specific legal field. Associates will, however, have opportunities to work with attorneys from different groups handling cases or transactions that cross our organizational lines. New associates are encouraged to quickly assume responsibility on assigned transactions and cases. To promote professional advancement, associates are encouraged to attend, at the firm's expense, selected seminars in their individual practice area. In addition, the firm offers an extensive in-house training program specific to particular practice areas.
Associate salaries at Phelps Dunbar are commensurate with other firms in our region. In addition to competitive base salaries, the firm has a bonus program that affords associates the opportunity to earn up to an additional 20% of salary. Participation in the firm's 401(k) deferred compensation program is offered to associates on the first of the month after their start date. The firm provides medical insurance; health insurance for family members is available at the associate's expense and is partially subsidized by the firm. In addition, the firm provides life insurance, long-term disability insurance, business-travel-accident insurance, an employee assistance program, and paid vacation. The firm pays license fees, bar association dues, bar review and examination fees, and provides an allowance for approved moving expenses.
Phelps Dunbar encourages all associates to participate in monthly in-house associate training seminars. Training topics can range from professionalism in the workplace to oral advocacy and writing skills. These training sessions are typically conducted by the most seasoned partners at the firm, as well as outside experts. They are designed to fuel the interests of associates and fit the needs of each office. The firm provides an allowance for approved attendance at Continuing Legal Education (CLE) seminars on an annual basis. Attorneys can attend programs in their areas of specialization in an effort to further develop their skills.
In addition, the firm now offers Westlegaledcenter.com, an internal web-based training service offered by Westlaw ® . This service allows attorneys to participate in CLE programs on-line from their desktops, and acquire CLE accreditation for their participation in these programs.
In March 2004, the firm added West km(TM) to its suite of electronic resources and research tools to further advance the capabilities of the lawyers at Phelps Dunbar. Developed by Westlaw ® and implemented by a select group of law firms nationwide, West km(TM) provides technology and searching capabilities to the internal work product of Phelps Dunbar. Lawyers are allowed to search for documents that have already been archived on the firm's internal database. In addition, the software subsequently searches the Westlaw ® information database. Phelps Dunbar became an early adopter of West km(TM) because this service fits seamlessly into the firm's commitment to associate training and mentoring.
Phelps Dunbar seeks the same qualities in its associates that it requires from its partners. Consequently, we would hope and expect that those qualities will lead the associate to ultimate favorable consideration for partnership. Associates receive formal, annual evaluations advising them of their progress based upon comments from partners with whom an associate has worked. Associates are currently hired on a minimum of a seven-year track to partnership; some credit may be given for judicial clerkships and other legal experience. The firm also offers non-traditional attorney positions, such as counsel, and staff attorney. Additional information about these positions is available upon request. |
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