Associate decision-making is not limited to the locale of happy hour, but extends to professional training and recruiting and formulation of certain firm goals and attorney guidelines. The recruiting committees, for example, generally are composed of equal numbers of partners and associates. The firm tries to avoid inflexible rules or requirements with respect to associate practice or development. Associates are treated as responsible individuals and are expected to do whatever is necessary to represent the firm's clients promptly and effectively. There are no fixed policies regarding associate vacations or minimum billable hours, although an annual average of 1,950 hours is considered an appropriate goal.
Most associates find the time for one to three weeks of vacation each year.
If an attorney is fortunate enough to have the time during the week, a game of golf or tennis would be viewed with envy, not disdain. In essence, the associate-partner relationship is built on a basis of mutual respect and trust that everyone is doing what needs to be done in a conscientious and professional manner. Associates are treated as professionals and each is permitted, and indeed expected, to manage free time in accordance with his or her workload. Every partner of the firm is surveyed on at least an annual basis regarding the progress of each associate within his or her area of practice. One or more partners are assigned to a number of associates and are responsible for communicating the results of the survey to each associate.