Drinker Biddle’s First Year Development Program Featured in New York Times

Drinker Biddle’s innovative First Year Associate Development Program was featured on the front page of the New York Times Sunday, Nov. 21, 2011.

The article, “What They Don’t Teach Law Students: Lawyering; Schools Leave Practice Training to Firms,” discussed law schools’ emphasis on the theoretical and clients’ unwillingness to pay “on the job” practical training. The firm’s First Year program was highlighted as a solution to the problem.

The program embraces the belief that, while the best learning comes from doing, our clients should not bear the cost associated with the early learning of new associates. Because of that, our first years are not expected to bill work during the program. Led by our partners, the training emphasizes the need for associates to understand the business contexts related to client problems and teaches the skills needed to solve them effectively.