LAUNCH – Onboarding and Introductory Program
LAUNCH is an immersive two-week experience to help incoming first-year associates accelerate the transition from law school to practice. Combining interactive workshops, hands-on training and direct engagement with partners and associates across practices, LAUNCH helps participants develop the professional and legal skills needed to serve clients and manage complex matters. Participants gain practical experience in legal research, business fundamentals, corporate structures and private equity while building relationships across the firm. Through substantive training, mentorship and collaboration, LAUNCH gives new associates the skills, knowledge, and connections they need to begin their careers with confidence.
As part of LAUNCH, litigation associates and corporate and tax associates attend four-days of department-specific training led by partners and other senior lawyers. Corporate and tax associates participate in sessions on drafting and negotiation of acquisition documents and the art of shepherding a transaction from initial negotiations through closing. New litigation associates participate in hands-on workshops covering various aspects of the life cycle of a litigation matter, and sessions on information management, research and fact development.
Departmental Level Training
Each year, we offer several hundred training programs for associates, giving you the opportunity to build deep expertise from day one. All professional training is based on our Development Model, which was created internally by a team of senior partners and professional development staff to ensure a systematic and comprehensive approach to lawyer development.
The litigation department hosts practical skills trainings across its individual practices, and conducts writing workshops, deposition workshops, and an in-house trial workshop for more senior litigation associates to build stand-up advocacy skills.
The Corporate and Tax Departments host a series of sessions for second-year associates designed to convey practical, substantive information that every associate should know about various corporate practice topics.
Throughout the year, the firm’s departments and individual practice groups conduct focused, advanced training programs designed to help our lawyers enhance substantive knowledge (of the law and of the industries in which our clients do business), stay ahead of the curve and refine technical skills. Many of our training programs are recorded and available in an online library for the convenience of “just-in-time” or “refresher” training.
Professional Skills Program
Success as a lawyer requires more than technical legal excellence. The Professional Skills Program helps associates develop the broader competencies that drive success in a client-service environment.
The program complements practice-specific training by focusing on the skills that enable lawyers to lead teams, build trusted relationships, communicate effectively, and understand the business context in which legal advice is delivered. Through a combination of workshops, interactive discussions, and practical exercises, associates develop capabilities that become increasingly important as they advance in their careers.
Leadership Conferences
Our Leadership Conferences help associates navigate important transitions in their careers.
By your third year, you will be taking on greater responsibility — managing others and beginning to drive the work on your matters. Our Third Year Leadership Conference equips you with the skills critical to succeeding in this expanded role.
As a fifth-year associate, you will be advising clients, driving legal strategy, and leading legal teams. Our Fifth Year Leadership Conference explores the leadership behaviors and skills needed to navigate the challenges that come with this stage of your career.
Continuing Education for Partners
Our investment in your growth does not end when you become a partner — it is the beginning of a new stage of development.
New partners participate in an orientation program covering governance, economics, risk management, and mentoring. Our Partner Masterclass program then provides ongoing advanced programming on topics such as executive presence, leadership, client relationship management, and business development — ensuring that our lawyers continue to grow throughout their careers.
CLE Accreditation
Debevoise is an accredited provider of continuing legal education (CLE) in New York and California, which means our lawyers can satisfy most or all of their mandatory CLE requirements through the firm's in-house programs. Our lawyers also participate in outside CLE programs, including those sponsored by NITA, the City Bar Center for CLE, the Practising Law Institute (PLI) and ALI-ABA, among others.