The tax department also houses an employee benefits practice that handles a full range of corporate, regulatory, and legislative work. Caplin has strong connections with the government, particularly the U.S. Treasury Department. In 1999, the firm successfully recruited three lawyers who were leaving policy-level tax positions at the Treasury. Caplin's ability to attract these top tax lawyers was noted in an article by the Wall Street Journal shortly thereafter. The office will, however, accommodate new associates who wish to practice in a specific area.
Work is assigned to associates on an informal, ad hoc basis.
Once associates have worked closely with several partners, the partners will likely come back to the associates with new assignments. Those in the tax department will initially spend their time doing legal research and writing memos or letters on specific issues. As time progresses, they will spend more time on the phone directly advising clients. Litigation associates in their first two years will perform legal research, write briefs, draft written discovery, take and defend depositions, and maybe even examine witnesses at trial. It does, however, encourage and fund training through outside resources.