Associate Career Development Program

Our Career Development (CD) Program assists associates in the development of their professional skills and goals. In addition, the Firm employs a full-time Director of Professional Development whose responsibilities include creating a personalized career development program and establishing formal and informal mentoring relationships for each associate.

Each of our practice groups gives a presentation which introduces new associates to the basic state and federal laws that govern its area of practice and the substantive legal concepts and regulatory structures that apply. Experienced attorneys advise our new lawyers about researching in the area and explain the benefits and drawbacks of a practice in that area. These presentations help newer associates make informed decisions when the time comes for them to choose their areas of concentration.

In addition to the practice group presentations for new associates, the CD Program offers seminars for all of our attorneys on a wide range of topics. These programs are taught by partners and associates and supplemented by nationally known presenters. Programs offered recently include:

• Advocacy and Pretrial Skills
• Basic Financial Planning
• Billing Practices
• Citation Forms
• Community Trusteeship
• Corporate Entities
• Drafting an Agreement
• Due Diligence
• Electronic Research
• Ethics and the Business of Law
• File Management
• How an Hour Becomes a Dollar
• How to Effectively Utilize a Paralegal
• How to Give an Electronic Presentation
• How to Read and Understand Financial Statements
• How to Work Effectively With a Legal Secretary
• How to Write a Brief
• Information for First-Time Home Buyers
• Legal Research and Bluebooking
• Negotiating
• Networking in the Various Bar Associations
• Opinion Letters
• Organizing Your Practice
• Personal Insurance Needs
• Personal Investment Planning
• Principles of Client Service
• Public Speaking
• Rainmaking and Practice Development
• Robert's Rules of Order: How to Run a Meeting
• Taking and Defending a Deposition
• Who Are Our Clients?
• Writing

For more information on the Firm's training programs, please contact:

Carin L. Ojala
Director of Professional Development
Warner Norcross & Judd LLP
900 Fifth Third Center
111 Lyon Street NW
Grand Rapids, Michigan 49503-2487
Toll Free: 1 (866) 533-3018 (x 2173)
Direct Line: (616) 752-2173
Fax: (616) 222-2173
E-mail: cojala@wnj.com