Training & Professional Development

The firm believes that training and professional development are key to a successful summer associate experience.  Throughout the summer program, Kasowitz provides both formal and informal training, as well as professional development opportunities.  Summer associates are encouraged to attend these training programs, which are customized to assist in their professional development and the transition from law student to lawyer.

Summer associates participate in a series of weekly, classroom-style training programs.  These formal sessions are taught by experienced Kasowitz attorneys, cover a variety of topics and assist in familiarizing summer associates with “real-life” lawyering skills.  We offer three interactive workshops (legal research and writing, deposition and opening statements) which are often the most well-received training programs.

The legal research and writing workshop consists of three components.  The first is a comprehensive training session that covers the basics of legal research and writing at Kasowitz.  The second component provides each summer associate the opportunity for a partner to review his/her work product.  This partner provides immediate feedback and guidance, allowing the summer associate to make necessary edits in advance of submitting the final work product to the assigning attorney.  The third component is an informal “Q & A” session with firm partners.  Summer associates have found this workshop to be an invaluable experience.

The deposition workshop is comprised of two sessions.  The first session is a formal training program that provides an overview on how to successfully take a deposition, the second is a mock deposition.  Court reporters and videographers participate in the mock depositions to create a “real-life” lawyering experience.  Upon conclusion of the workshop, in addition to feedback, every summer associate is provided with a transcript and video recording of his/her deposition.

Our opening statements workshop is a two-part program that utilizes the same fact pattern as the deposition workshop.  The first portion of the workshop is a formal training program that provides an overview of the elements to prepare and deliver a successful opening statement.  During the second portion, summer associates present an opening statement.  Each summer associate receives feedback from experienced attorneys.  Opening statements are recorded and summer associates are provided with a copy of their presentation.

In addition to formal training, Kasowitz believes in informal or “hands-on” training and that most skills are learned “on the job.”  Prior summer associates attribute their success to immediate and ongoing feedback.  Therefore, we encourage assigning attorneys to engage in open and constructive dialogue with summer associates on a weekly basis.  

Additional aspects of our training program include associate mentors, work assignment coordinators and a professional activities coordinator.  Each summer associate is assigned an associate mentor to assist with their acclimation to the firm and to provide guidance and support throughout the summer.  Summer associates are part of a team, led by a senior attorney, referred to as the work assignment coordinator (“WAC”).  The WAC oversees the assignment process, manages workload and provides ongoing feedback.  The professional activities coordinator ensures that every summer associate has the opportunity to attend depositions, court appearances and client meetings.

As an accredited CLE provider in New York and California, Kasowitz offers several in-house CLE courses.  Summer associates are invited and encouraged to attend programs of interest.  These programs offer exposure to elements of legal practice not covered in the summer training curriculum, while providing opportunities to learn from and interact directly with our attorneys.

The firm makes every effort to provide a variety of professional development opportunities.  We offer in-house programs and sponsor attendance at third-party events hosted by organizations, including, but not limited to, the New York City Bar, New York County Lawyers Association and Vault.com, Inc.