Update on Associate Attrition - 2007

This new report, covering law firm associate hiring and attrition during calendar year 2007, provides the most comprehensive examination of associate mobility in the past decade. Extensive data on law firm associate hiring; associate departures; comparisons by gender, ethnicity, and firm size; and new data characterizing associate departures as "wanted" or "unwanted." 48 pages. 2008. $75.

48 pages.
$75

Managing Law Firm Recruitment and Retention in a Downturn

Volatile economic cycles periodically punctuate the legal marketplace. The decisions firm leaders make during a depressed period – particularly those related to recruitment and retention – are far reaching. This report is about management of lawyer capacity during a downturn. Generated from the insightful contributions of practitioners, administrators and consultants, the report provides insight on the pragmatic business, policy and philosophical issues management faces when dealing with economic upheaval.

64 pages.
$75

Navigating the Bridges to Partnership – Nov. 2007

What does it take to become a partner in today’s law firms? Is it all about billable hours and profitability? Or does advancement depend on mentoring, pro bono activities, leadership or other qualities and characteristics. Those are among the questions underlying this new study. This report is filled with information that provides important insights from those who made partner on the factors that influenced their advancement. Learn the degree to which respondents report that mentoring, law school credentials, being hired as an entry-level associate, having judicial clerkship experience, taking leaves of absence, working part-time schedules, exceeding billable hour expectations, being a team player and many other factors may influence advancement. 130 pages, 73 charts and tables.

2007
130 pages, 73 charts and tables.
$75

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Update on Associate Attrition - 2006

This report provides comprehensive information on associate attrition for calendar year 2006. The findings offer detailed data on the rate at which law firms hired new associates and the rate of both entry-level and lateral associate departures, their destinations and reasons for departing. New this year is data indicating whether the associate departures were “wanted” or “desired” by the law firm employer. It is the sixth report in a decade-long series of research studies.

2006
44 pages.
$75

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How Associate Evaluations Measure Up

This national study of performance assessments provides quantifiable data that documents variances in the format and delivery media for evaluations; who is involved in developing, compiling, and analyzing the information provided by evaluators; how survey results are communicated to associates; the degree to which evaluations motivate associates; and measure the impact or influence of the evaluation process on individuals and the firm. In addition, the report contains detailed analysis of data from both law firm managers and associates on their perceptions about the role and value of evaluations and whether/how they influence associates.

2006
182 pages.
$125

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In Pursuit of Attorney Work-Life Balance

In Pursuit of Attorney Work-Life Balance: Best Practices in Management provides new data on the strategies utilized by employers to support attorney work-life balance and on the nature of the conflicts attorneys experience between their work responsibilities and personal/family priorities. This research report supports the evolution of attorney workplaces as great places to work for highly motivated, talented attorneys whether they practice in private law firms, corporate legal departments or government agencies.

205
135 pages.
$125

Toward Effective Management of Associate Mobility – A Status Report on Attrition

The findings of this report reflect associate departures from January 1, 2002 through December 31, 2004 as reported by a representative sample of law firms nationwide. The data provide updated statistics on associate attrition, and in addition, the report includes a comprehensive guide for tracking associate departures to gain management and competitive insight. The report also includes an attrition diagnostic for assessing the cost of attrition and an extensive section that reviews best practices in associate management -- all targeted toward improving retention.

2005.
112 pages.
$125

Loyalty by Design

The effectiveness of associate integration efforts will determine how quickly the new lateral and entry-level associates become productive lawyers — and quite possibly how long they stay. Integration then, is key to managing and developing associates. Among other topics, this handbook addresses making the case for an integration program; designing an associate integration program; and measuring the value of an integration program. 100 pages with many forms and worksheets.

2005.
153 pages.
$45

International Directory of Lawyer Qualification

The International Directory of Lawyer Qualification is a unique and valuable resource for anyone who hires foreign-trained lawyers, places U.S. trained lawyers in foreign offices, or considers foreign-trained lawyers for admission to law school graduate programs. Organized in six world regions, the 175 page directory features essential information on licensing requirements for 36 major world countries.

2003.
148 pages.
$125

Keeping the Keepers II

Why are they leaving? Where are they going? This report is a comprehensive study of entry-level and lateral associate hiring and attrition from 1998-2003. The study provides detailed comparative information on the departures of both entry-level and lateral associates. The new data offers information on the reasons for associate departures as well as their destinations. The comprehensive study also provides insights on the relevance of prior professional work experience, geographic ties, and age with associate departures. 128 pages.

2003.
128 pages.
$75

The Significance of Summer Programs
For both employers and students, summer programs are a key part of the recruitment and hiring process, requiring a tremendous investment of resources. This research study includes: acceptance rates and success criteria; impact of summer programs on students’ post-graduate job choices; factors that influenced students’ choices of employers and acceptances of jobs; employer strategies regarding split summers; productivity of summer associates; budget allocations; compensation and benefits; training experiences; mentoring; administration of work assignments; evaluation experiences; social activities and outings.

214 pages.
$75

Keeping the Keepers: Strategies for Associate Retention in Times of Attrition

The NALP Foundation broke new ground with this benchmark study of associate attrition in law firms nationwide. The data provided never-available insights on why associates leave their employers and what employers can do to better manage unwanted departures. The report includes detailed “best practices” for law firms, law schools and law graduates – all of whom are stakeholders in the increasingly important issue of retention of talent.

111 pages.
$75.

Perceptions of Partnership: The Allure and Accessibility of the Brass Ring
Are younger lawyers still interested in attaining partnership, or are they focusing their career aspirations elsewhere? This report is a must-read for managers who want to better understand partnership’s diminished power as an incentive for associates; perceptions of its availability to women and people of color and their counterparts; mentoring relationships, training and development opportunities, and appropriate practice group and work assignments affecting associates' access to partnership. The report includes over 130 action agenda items support law firm efforts to identify and influence associates' perceptions and attorney retention.

1998.
224 pages.
$75

Beyond the Bidding Wars

This is an in-depth look at associate departures from law firms, where they go, and what - if anything - firms can do to influence associates' career decisions. Beyond the Bidding Wars examines the rate of associate attrition and the retention-related incentives firms use. This report features three dozen charts and tables and offers insights on the most perplexing issues facing law firm management teams today, including associate compensation packages, associate training and development, associate mentoring, evaluations, practice group rotation and work assignments, and even alternative work schedules.

2001.
94 pages.
$75

The Lateral Lawyer: Why They Leave and What May Make Them Stay

This report is an essential reference for law firms, reporting on the length of time laterals expect to stay in their current jobs, the differentiated criteria law firms employ for hiring entry-level and lateral associates, and detailed data by firm size, gender, graduation year, minority status, and practice area. In addition, The Lateral Lawyer offers more than four dozen potential responses for firms to consider as they plan for lateral recruitment, retention and development initiatives.

2001.
167 pages.
$75

After the JD

This report documents the initial findings from the first wave of a 10-year longitudinal study of lawyer careers. The report provides data on the Class of 2000 related to their work experiences, mobility, satisfaction and the dimensions of satisfaction, the types of work associates do, their compensation and other variables. Detailed charts and tables, as well as thoughtful analysis of the issues provide new insight into many management and career issues.

2004.
96 pages.
$25