Substantive law is primarily the responsibility of departments and practice groups. At the same time, there is much interdisciplinary training and development relating to the building of knowledge and skills that will advance the goals of the Firm as a whole. Wolf Block's training and development of its lawyers after the first year is embodied in its Attorney Development Program, which has three primary elements. First is the New Associates Orientation program described above. The second element of training takes place within each department.
Departments have their own training programs designed specifically for that department's needs.
For example, the Real Estate Department sponsors luncheon training sessions on the nuts and bolts of real estate practice such as negotiating loan transactions or understanding particular types of real estate transactions. The Corporate Department has a bi-weekly breakfast program, referred to as Project smart, on a discrete corporate practice topic presented by a senior attorney. The Labor Department holds informal training sessions approximately once a month. The presentations are made over an early dinner and provide all who attend with very practical knowledge regarding specific aspects of the labor, employment and benefits practice. The third element of training is firm-wide.