Attorney training and development

Vinson & Elkins has comprehensive attorney training and career development programs for its attorneys, with special emphasis on programs for new attorneys. 

Attorney Development Office

V&E established the Attorney Development Office to coordinate all attorney training and career development efforts. Betty Owens, a partner who formerly practiced litigation, devotes full-time to the position of Director of Attorney Development. The Associate Development Committee has overall responsibility for the training and development of V&E attorneys. 

Training for New Attorneys

New attorneys participate in orientation when they first arrive at the firm, and in a New Attorney Retreat a few weeks later, where they learn firm policies and procedures, receive instruction in the firm’s technological capabilities, and begin substantive legal and practice management training that will continue throughout their careers. New attorneys also participate in general training, and depending on their practice areas, either business lawyer training or litigation training, and, when appropriate, regulatory training. The firm also offers business development training. Each section in the firm conducts training specific to its practice area as well. 

In addition to a wide variety of traditional Continuing Legal Education (“CLE”) courses, beginning attorneys participate in a number of workshops that provide hands-on experience, such as mock trial workshops and negotiation skills workshops. These workshops are led by such renowned outside teachers as James McElhaney, Bryan Garner, Martin Latz, and David Sonenshein, and are assisted by a number of firm partners. Each year the firm also sends midlevel litigation associates to the National Institute of Trial Advocacy Trial Skills Workshop or to the International Association of Defense Counsel Trial Academy. 

Accredited CLE Courses

The firm offers over 250 CLE courses year, ranging from elemental subjects (such as "How to Take a Deposition" or "Basic Fundamentals of Bankruptcy Law for the Business Lawyer") to advanced or specialized courses, as well as courses covering new developments in the law. V&E is accredited as a CLE provider by Texas and New York, and all our programs are available for California CLE credit as well. We also apply for CLE credit in Virginia for each program. 

A wide array of CLE programs is available to all attorneys in all offices; many programs are taught by our own partners and associates. Programs originating in one office, such as Houston, are typically broadcast via teleconference or videoconference to other offices. Most training programs are videotaped, and DVD copies are distributed to all attorneys who were unable to attend, but wish to view the program. The David T. Searls Courtroom & Conference Center ("Courtroom"), located in the firm's Houston office, hosts many of our training programs. The Courtroom is a 4,500 square foot multi-purpose training facility featuring state-of-the-art technology, including audio-video feeds to and from a projection room and four adjacent deposition/jury rooms, portable videotaping equipment, rear screen video projection, and a computer-based control network. It can be adapted to suit all training and client needs, and can hold up to 150 people for a conference. In addition, the Courtroom has a removable judge's bench, jury box and bar, creating the perfect environment for such events as mock trials and deposition workshops.

The firm’s Attorney Training Calendar is available on the firm’s intranet. Training and CLE courses are advertised in VE News, which is posted every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Notices of upcoming training programs are sent to every attorney via email monthly and one week prior to each program. In addition, several CLEs are open to clients each month. The Client CLE Calendar is located on the firm website. 

The firm gives special emphasis to training on current ethical issues, and every "all attorney" meeting begins with a comment on an ethical issue of current relevance. The firm regularly participates in Attorneys’ Liability Assurance Society (“ALAS”) Regional Loss Prevention Seminars and the Annual Meeting Loss Prevention Program.

Vinson & Elkins is a privileged member of the Practicing Law Institute (“PLI”), which is a CLE provider in most states. All firm attorneys can take a variety of PLI courses live, on-line, or by video, generally at no charge to the attorneys. The firm also has an agreement with the American Law Institute and American Bar Association (ALI-ABA) allowing firm attorneys to receive a discount for attending ALI-ABA programs either live, on-line, or by video.

Career Development

In addition to formal training programs, V&E has instituted other career development initiatives to assist its associates in developing into excellent attorneys. We have adopted core competencies, which articulate what a V&E attorney should strive to achieve as he or she develops. The firm has also implemented a New Attorney Mentoring Program for first year attorneys and is implementing a Career Development Mentoring Program for second and third year attorneys to provide guidance and direction to our attorneys.

Vinson & Elkins is proud of its attorney training and development programs. We have been informed by knowledgeable persons at ALAS that it is one of the best law firm training programs in the United States.