Market Areas > Practice Management >Rethinking Associate Compensation

Rethinking Associate Compensation: Building Loyalty, Fairness and Firm Profitability

Course Description:

What does it take to keep associates happy and committed to your firm? Wads of cash, right?  Not necessarily. 

According to AmLaw’s annual associate satisfaction survey, most firms are still dishing out bonuses like candy, yet the sweet stuff that once kept associates happy and loyal has lost some of its stickiness.  In fact, associate satisfaction is down and money doesn't buy loyalty or happiness.

CoursE highlights:

During this information packed audio conference on CD, our expert faculty will examine key factors in attracting, retaining and compensating associates with an eye towards loyalty, fairness and firm profitability.

They’ll also address: 

• Why bonuses are losing their luster for associates,
• Why compensation is no longer the key carrot for winning associate loyalty, and
• Which types of bonus programs are actually working now and where we may be headed in 2012.

Plus, they’ll delve into examples of effective bonus programs, and why merits, productivity and creativity count more than ever before, including:

• What’s wrong (and right) about traditional lockstep bonus packages
• How to use creativity, rather than conformity as a criteria for  non-salary rewards
• Specific methods firms are using to create firm-building bonus structures, based on client development work, pro bono and committee service, etc.
• How associate self-evaluation figures in, and why it matters
• How bonus program transparency (or lack thereof)  affects collaboration and cohesion
  
  

FACulty:

Cynthia Thomas Calvert, Principal of CT Calvert & Associates

Cynthia is a consultant, speaker, writer and researcher with over 25 years in the legal industry. Cynthia founded the Project for Attorney Retention with Joan Williams in 2000, and served as its co-director until 2010; she remains a senior advisor to PAR.  PAR, based at UC Hastings College of the Law, is a nonprofit that studies law firms.  She led major research projects at PAR, including studies of part-time work in law firms and law departments, advancement of women lawyers, and part-time partnership.  She co-authored with Joan Solving the Part-Time Puzzle: The Law Firm’s Guide to Balanced Hours (NALP 2004), and Flex Success: The Lawyer’s Guide to Balanced Hours (WLL Press 2011).  She speaks and writes frequently about the retention and advancement of women, nonstigmatized flexible work arrangements, and family responsibilities discrimination. She was a partner at the Washington, D.C. litigation firm of Miller, Cassidy, Larroca & Lewin (now part of Baker Botts).  Cynthia is a 1985 honors graduate of the Georgetown University Law Center and a former clerk for the Hon. Thomas Penfield Jackson (D.D.C.).  Her blog and additional information can be found at www.ctcalvert.com, and you can follow her on Twitter (CTCalvert). 

Diane Downs, Director of Attorney Development, Akin Gump

Diane Downs has worked in Professional Development for lawyers since 1999.  She is currently the Director of Professional Development at Akin Gump Strauss Hauer and Feld.  Prior to joining Akin Gump, she served as a Manager in the Global Attorney Development department at Paul Hastings, as the Associate Dean for Career Planning & Placement at the University of Pennsylvania Law School, and as Assistant Dean at the University of Chicago Law School.  She is an active member of the Association for Legal Career Professionals (NALP) and is currently on its Board of Directors.   She is interested in all aspects of attorney career development.  Diane is a graduate of the State University of New York at Buffalo and the Harvard Law School

MONEY-BACK GUARANTEE:

We're so confident you'll get what you want out of this conference that we'll refund every penny if you're not completely satisfied. No questions asked! It's 100% risk-free!

Pricing:

Your CD recording includes the complete audio conference presentation, audience Q&A and presentation materials.

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