Topic: Practical Training Opportunities (June 8, 2009)

Practical training opportunities allow summer associates to view attorneys in their natural environment.  Summer associates sit in on client meetings, attend depositions, and observe closings and trials.  Quarles & Brady attorneys involve the summer associates as much as possible in the proceedings and regularly ask for suggestions.  After a summer associate completes a written project, the assigning attorney often invites the summer associate to attend future practical training opportunities regarding the case.  It is great to follow a case from beginning to end and to see my work-product in action.
--Brandon Gutschow, Milwaukee Office (University of Wisconsin Law School, Class of 2010)

The practical training opportunities presented to summer associates are as helpful as they are varied.  I've spent four hours watching and taking notes in a complex bankruptcy hearing, and five minutes attending the finalization of a pro bono adoption case.  Getting out of the office to see the practice of law in action is a learning experience that cannot be replicated through drafting and research.  Quarles recognizes that, and over the course of the summer we are encouraged to attend as many practical training opportunities as possible.
--Michael Leeman, Naples Office (University of Florida Levin College of Law, Class of 2010)