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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. 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. |
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