In what circumstances do you give advanced standing to incoming associates? Cooley grants advanced standing based on a candidate's relevant education or experience, such as certain judicial clerkships, advanced degrees and/or work experience.
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How does Cooley compensate associates?
Associate compensation is, in part, evidence of Cooley's commitment to excellence. We compensate associates at the highest levels of any law firm in our respective markets, and we review and adjust those levels each calendar year or more as circumstances dictate. In addition, associates are eligible for annual, year-end bonuses based on their overall contribution to the Firm in the previous year. We have also from time to time granted additional bonuses during the year in recognition of outstanding individual or firm-wide performance.
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What is the current first-year associate starting salary?
The current salary for first-year associates is $160,000 (excluding annual bonus) for all our offices.
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What kind of training will I receive as an associate at Cooley?
We supplement the on-the-job training associates receive from working on complex cases and deals with Cooley College, a unique training program for both business and litigation associates. Widely recognized as one of the most comprehensive and effective law firm training programs in the country, Cooley College uses a combination of lectures, mock negotiations, trial workshops and deposition training sessions presented by Cooley partners, associates and paralegal specialists. In addition to Cooley College, many practice groups hold regular training sessions open to all attorneys, which offer them the opportunity to appreciate the breadth of the Firm's specialties and to develop more depth in particular practice areas
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How do associates receive assignments?
Our associates participate in determining which matters they work on and the partners with whom they work. To facilitate the assignment process, we assign associates to small teams of partners and associates in the associates' primary practice area. These teams meet frequently to discuss workloads and assignments. This approach provides each associate the opportunity to gain a wide variety of experience and the chance to work with a variety of attorneys.
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What is your office dress code?
In the office, most attorneys favor business casual attire five days a week. Business suits may be required for courtroom appearances or client meetings. As a general policy, we expect our attorneys to be suitably attired as dictated by the circumstances.
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What is Cooley's approach to pro bono work?
We accord pro bono work the same credit as billable hours and view it as an integral part of practicing law. The Firm's long tradition of community service and commitment to pro bono work is alive and well, with our attorneys serving in a wide variety of civic, charitable and educational organizations, including:
- Serving in local and national leadership positions in a broad range of legal and nonlegal contexts
- Working in clinics that provide free legal services to low-income families, represent enterprises formed by people in disadvantaged communities and help form and represent not-for-profit organizations
A pro bono committee consisting of members from each of our offices coordinates our pro bono assignment intake.
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What is the track to making partner?
There is no preset length of time before an associate can become a partner. Our experience shows that it takes approximately eight years for new law school graduates to develop and demonstrate the full range of skills necessary for Cooley to consider them for partnership. Absent special circumstances, we want lateral associates to have three full years at the Firm before considering them for partnership.
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Do I need to have a science or engineering degree or background to work at Cooley?
Most of our work does not require a science or engineering degree or background. However, attorneys who intend to practice in our Life Sciences Transactions or Patent Counseling & Prosecution groups should have relevant background for those areas. In all cases, the desire and ability to learn quickly about new technology is important given the nature of our practice and clients.
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One-firm approach, what does that mean?
This philosophy is one of Cooley's fundamental values, and our commitment to teamwork and mutual support is reflected in every aspect of firm management and practice, such as:
- We staff cases and deals across offices
- Cooley College, department and practice group training sessions are firm wide
- Cooley offices do not compete with one another for candidates, our goal being to meet the geographic and practice needs of our candidates and offices
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What percentage of Cooley's attorneys are women?
As of February 1, 2012 approximately 42 percent of our associates and 22 percent of our partners are women.
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What does Cooley do to help associates balance work and life outside of work?
Partners actively monitor associate workloads to ensure that assignments are not given to attorneys who already have a full set of responsibilities. We expect partners and associates alike to take vacations and provide many benefits to help attorneys find a balance, including work/life referral programs, dependent care referrals, employee assistance programs, dependent care spending accounts, health club membership subsidies and, in some offices, backup child care.
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Does Cooley have a retirement plan?
Yes. Shortly after start date, an associate is eligible to participate in the Firm's 401(k) plan.
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What does Cooley pay for in connection with taking the bar?
For associates who are not already members of the state bar they will be practicing in, we pay a stipend while they study for the exam. The amount of the stipend varies by office and is generally six weeks' salary for first-year associates who have just graduated from law school. We also cover the costs of the bar exam and an approved bar exam review course.
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Does Cooley pay bar membership dues?
We pay the mandatory dues for an associate's membership in the state bar association where the associate practices.
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Will Cooley pay for training courses and seminars?
Yes. In addition to the highly regarded Cooley College program and other Firm-sponsored training initiatives, we pay the fees for approved continuing education courses.
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Are there any investment opportunities for associates?
Yes. We invite eligible associates to participate in GC&H Investments LLC, a limited liability company formed to take advantage of investment opportunities (in startup and emerging companies) that become available to Cooley LLP attorneys. Each calendar year, a new fund in GC&H Investment LLC is formed and partners, special counsel and eligible associates are invited to participate.
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Will Cooley pay for my relocation?
Yes. Within certain guidelines, we pay for the moving and travel expenses of attorneys and their families who live more than 50 miles from the office in which they will be working.
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How many holidays does the firm provide a year?
At least nine.
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How much sick time do associates accrue?
Associates accrue ten days per year, up to a maximum accrual of six weeks.
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How much vacation time can I expect?
Associates accrue paid vacation time at the rate of four weeks per year. We encourage associates to take vacation time, and therefore, do not permit them to accrue more than six weeks of vacation.
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