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DAVIS, BROWN, KOEHN, SHORS & ROBERTS has been providing high quality legal service to its clients for 75 years. To continue that tradition, the Firm devotes considerable time and energy to attracting and retaining outstanding attorneys. If you are interested in joining the Davis, Brown, Koehn, Shors & Roberts, P.C. attorney team, please send your credentials (resume, class rank, references) to: Barb Hardy Associates In hiring associates, the Firm looks for individuals who have excellent personal and academic records and the creativity, integrity and motivation to become outstanding members of the Firm and the community. Each new associate is assigned a shareholder-mentor who serves as an informal sounding board and a formal advisor. Throughout their tenure, associates are given regular informal feedback from the members of the Firm. In addition, the Firm formally evaluates each associate bi-annually to monitor progress and to focus on practice development. The Firm is dedicated to providing significant associate training opportunities. Toward that goal, the Firm assists associates with the cost of attending local and national continuing legal education programs and shareholders provide on-site formal and informal training at regularly-held meetings. Recent Litigation Division and Business Division meetings featured presentations on such topics as business development practices, insurance regulation, utilization of jury selection services, technology for trial attorneys, and strategies for working with in-house counsel. It is our hope that every associate will develop the skills and qualities necessary to assume a position as one of the Firm’s shareholders. To accomplish that goal, associates are provided a collegial working environment that emphasizes open communication between shareholders and associates. By encouraging open communication and by providing significant training opportunities, the Firm is able to allow associates to assume extensive responsibility for client matters quickly and to consider them for the position of shareholder after less than 5 1/2 years. An example of open lines of communication is the Firm’s governing structure. The Firm is a professional corporation governed by a Board of Directors. An associate representative, elected by the associates, attends each Board meeting and serves as a liaison between the Board and the associate group. Associates also have access to a significant portion of Firm information and are included in the annual strategic planning retreat. The Firm has and continues to invest in new technologies that assist attorneys with the delivery of quality legal services in an efficient manner, including the deployment of advanced document database and electronic document systems, on-line research systems and state-of-the-art communication tools. Incoming attorneys receive personal laptop computers along with a docking station at their desks and access to firm IT personnel for ongoing education and support. Compensation and Benefits Associate compensation compares favorably with that of other attorneys in the City of Des Moines and the State of Iowa. The Firm provides associates health insurance, life insurance, long-term disability insurance, and retirement plans. The Firm, in accordance with established policies, procedures and limitations, reimburses associates for bar exam and moving fees, bar dues, continuing legal education fees, client development expenses and other approved work-related expenses. Hours The Firm recognizes the importance of a well-rounded life. To that end, the Firm maintains staffing levels that allow associates to bill less than many other firms. First year associates are required to bill 1800 hours and second-year associates are required to bill 1825 hours. Over the first two years with the Firm, associates are credited for up to 50 hours spent in approved training endeavors, either internally or externally, thereby reducing required client hours. Summer Associates Each year, the Firm hires first and second year law students as summer associates. The summer associate program serves as the Firm’s primary source of new associate attorneys. Therefore, a considerable amount of resources are devoted to the program. Summer associate compensation is $1,400 per week. Summer associates assist shareholders and associates on challenging, sophisticated and complex cases and transactions. Shareholders and associates involve summer associates with client meetings, depositions and court appearances, as well as arbitration and mediation sessions. Summer associates also gain experience and contribute to the community through working on pro bono projects. To assist summer associates with the transition from the classroom to the law office, each summer associate is assigned a mentor who monitors workflow, acts as a sounding board and offers advice. This informal training is supplemented with formal training sessions on matters relevant to the summer associates’ duties. Beyond orientation and training, activities for the 2007 summer associates included a tour of the court house, lunch with firm leaders (division and committee chairs, the Board of Directors, name partners), an Iowa Cubs outing, participation in the annual Firm summer social, numerous informal socials with the associates, participation in the Golden Circle games, an overview of bar exam content and scoring, and a presentation on legal ethics. Feedback for summer associates is regular and constructive. Shareholders and associates are strongly encouraged to submit written evaluations for each project assigned to a summer associate. These evaluations are then compiled, reviewed and discussed with each summer associate twice during the summer. Finally, summer associates interact with everyone at the Firm and with members of the local legal community. To that end, summer associates are regularly invited to Firm events and all relevant state and local bar association functions. Des Moines Des Moines is a thriving metropolitan area with nearly 500,000 residents. It offers affordable housing, superb public services and outstanding schools. These and other items have made Des Moines stand out among the nation’s other metropolitan areas and caused Forbes Magazine to name Des Moines as one of the top ten places for business and careers in 2003. In short, Des Moines is a wonderful place to live and to work. For more information on Des Moines, see the following: |
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