Our award-winning professional development team offers guidance and resources to help you accelerate your career. We tailor our programs to each stage of your career, ensuring you become a more knowledgeable, confident and empowered lawyer. McDermott associates enjoy 75 billable equivalent hours annually to use on professional development activities, including shadowing partners on client matters.
Professional development highlights include:
PRACTICE GROUP TRAINING
The PD team collaborates closely with Firm partners to deliver 400+ substantive practice group training sessions each year, including live programs and innovative on-demand e-learning modules and exercises.
ATTORNEY CAREER ENRICHMENT SERIES (ACES)
These programs, covering foundational skills for associates and partners across the Firm, are tailored to specific levels; topics include management, communication, leadership, client service and business acumen.
IN-PERSON INTERACTIVE PROGRAMS
McDermott offers world-class practice-specific summits, workshops and mock trials designed to help you practice and refine your skills while receiving real-time feedback from your partners. McDermott won Chief Learning Officer strategy and innovation awards for their Healthcare Summit and Deposition Skills Program in 2024 and for their Transactions Drafting Program in 2021.
MENTORING
Every associate is paired with a formal mentor and assigned a peer cohort group. PD supports these relationships through training, suggested topics, articles and stipends for get-togethers. McDermott won a Chief Learning Officer award for its mentoring program in 2021.
PRO BONO OPPORTUNITIES
Provide legal and community services to those in need, with efforts viewed as billable equivalent hours.
