The Morgan Lewis Institute (MLI) was created to reflect the firm’s belief that professional development is a career-long process requiring both structure and opportunities to be successful. Toward that end, the firm has designed a number of developmental programs housed in the MLI that foster our attorneys' professional growth throughout their careers with the firm. These programs include:
- The Associate Professional Development Program that guides attorneys through the fundamental stages of their careers;
- The New Partner Development Program designed to support newly elected partners as they take on roles and responsibilities unique to being a partner at the firm; and
- The Upward Review Process that provides feedback to the firm's partners and of counsel from more junior attorneys regarding their roles as leaders, managers, and supervisors.
Associate Professional Development
The Associate Professional Development Program (APDP) is a comprehensive, integrated system that provides our associates with the tools, opportunities, and support to excel in the legal profession. It has three primary components—the Associate Development Expectations, the Professional Development Plan, and the Annual Evaluation Meeting. These components are supported by a formal Mentoring Program, standardized firm and practice group (PG) Training Programs, and PG-based Assignment Processes.
Click here for more detailed information about this program.
New Partner Development
The New Partner Development Program guides newly elected partners through the transition from associate to partner. The program begins with an orientation featuring “partnership survival skills” and provides ongoing support over the next few years through the assignment of mentors, a self-assessment focused on the roles of Morgan Lewis partners, and a training curriculum to provide the knowledge and skills critical to those roles.
Upward Review
Morgan Lewis believes that professional development is a continuing process for all of our attorneys. We recently instituted an Upward Review process to determine the effectiveness of our senior attorneys and their impact on those with whom they work. As part of the review process, partners and of counsel are reviewed by the associates with whom they work, while practice group leaders are rated by their partners, and Management Committee members are reviewed by PG leaders and other partners. The attorneys take the results seriously, and their efforts to improve are widely noted by associates.