For Some Firms, An Extra Step For The Newest Recruits: Howrey The Latest To Adopt Associate-As-Apprentice Model

“After three years of law school, a hundred grand of debt and weeks sweating out a bar review and exam, it’s time to start practicing law in earnest, right?”

“At a handful of firms, the answer is fast becoming ‘not yet.’ These firms are putting new recruits through additional apprenticeship programs that they say will better train their attorneys for life at a law firm and for handling clients. Think of it as the equivalent of a medical residency, only with suits instead of scrubs.”

The latest—and so far largest—firm to move to an apprenticeship model, 659-lawyer Howrey, announced its program last week. Starting next year, first-years at the firm will get a pay cut—from $160,000 to $100,000 in base pay plus a $25,000 bonus to pay down law school loans—and they’ll spend a good portion of their time attending classes with partners and shadowing them on client matters. The apprenticeship period will last two years. Robert Ruyak, the firm’s managing partner, said associates will be doing far less client work, and when they do work on client matters it won’t necessarily be billed to clients. ‘We really want them to focus on learning the skill they need to be first-rate litigators,’ Ruyak said.”