Associates – Involvement. Success. Compensation/Benefits.


Involvement


At Briggs, new associates will find exceptional colleagues, challenging assignments and strong support staff―three elements essential to launching a successful legal career. Associates are exposed to all aspects of the legal community early in their careers. Experienced associates will often be directly responsible for a client or file. We ensure that associates receive all of the tools, resources and support needed to assist them in developing and furthering a legal career with Briggs.

Success


The success of an associate can depend largely on the opportunities and training provided by a firm. Briggs has developed an orientation program, firm-wide training, one-on-one training, mentoring, and an informative evaluation process.  Training emphasizes the development of strong, fundamental legal and technical skills, as well as personal and professional development.

Associate training includes, but is not limited to:

  • Oral presentation skills
  • Trial practice
  • Negotiation
  • Marketing
  • Client relations
  • Continuing legal education
  • Legal writing    
  • Technical skills
  • Fundamentals of business and finance          

Section Assignments


Each associate will be assigned to one of the following sections:

  • Business Law
  • Business Litigation
  • Financial Institutions and Real Estate
  • Labor and Employment
  • Public Finance
  • Trade Regulation
  • Estate Planning and Administration

*Section assignments are determined the summer before an associate starts at Briggs. Assignments are made based on firm needs and incoming associates' preferences.


Evaluation


All associates receive valuable feedback in several forms. Associates meet regularly with their section head and a member of the firm's evaluation committee to review written feedback as provided by attorneys with whom they work closely. Evaluation is a time for discussing and recognizing goals, strategies and opportunities for continuing development. Associates are also asked to complete a self-evaluation.


Compensation/Shareholder Eligibility

  • Starting salary of $120,000 (Effective September 4, 2007)
  • Annual salary adjustment
  • Year-end bonus eligibility
  • Shareholder consideration after seven years

Benefits

  • Bar review course and bar exam fees
  • Profit sharing
  • 401(k) eligibility after one year with a 100-percent firm match of up to four percent of salary
  • Medical and dental insurance
  • Spouse and partner benefits
  • Life insurance
  • Long-term care insurance
  • Short- and long-term disability
  • Family and medical leave
  • Pre-tax benefit programs (i.e. childcare and health care expenses)
  • Section 529 college savings plan

Opportunity/Growth


Briggs provides unlimited opportunities for bright, well-rounded and motivated attorneys who are committed to hard work and building a successful legal career. Our associates are encouraged to build practices and careers best suited to their interests and talents. There is no set mold associates must fit to be successful, no set path associates must follow to achieve their goals. We provide a professional, friendly work environment that is supportive, challenging and places an emphasis on maintaining a healthy life/work balance.