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| INFORMATION | | Click on the icons below to print, view the employer questionnaire and add to your list. Click on FAQ at left for definitions of terms. |
 EMPLOYER INFO |
| Employer Name: |
MICHAEL BEST & FRIEDRICH LLP |
| Address: |
ONE SOUTH PINCKNEY STREET, SUITE 700 |
| |
P. O. Box 1806 |
| City: |
MADISON |
| State, Zip: |
Wisconsin, 53701-1806 |
| Country: |
United States |
| Phone: |
(608) 283-2253 |
| Fax: |
(608) 283-2275 |
| Web: |
www.michaelbest.com |
|
| Hiring Attorney: |
Ms. Amy O. Bruchs |
|
| Recruiting Contact: |
Ms. Tracy L. Dati |
| Title: |
Attorney Hiring Manager |
| Employer Name: |
MICHAEL BEST & FRIEDRICH LLP |
| Address: |
One South Pinckney Street, Suite 700 |
| |
P. O. Box 1806 |
| City: |
Madison |
| State, Zip: |
Wisconsin, 53701-1806 |
| Country: |
United States |
| Phone: |
414-271-6560 |
| Fax: |
414-277-0656 |
| Email: |
tldati@michaelbest.com |
| OFFICE/ORGANIZATION SIZE |
| Multi Office Form: |
N |
| Multi Office Form Reporting For: |
|
| Specify: |
|
| # Offices On Form: |
1 |
| Total # Offices: |
5 |
| Employer Size Range: |
101-250 |
| Office Size Range: |
26-50 |
| Total Attorneys In This Office: |
57 |
| DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION |
| 24 |
15 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 8 |
10 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 32 |
25 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 23 |
15 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 8 |
9 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| PRIMARY PRACTICE AREAS |
|
| Business, Securities, Tax | 7 | 5 | | Employment, Benefits, Immigration | 2 | 1 | | Intellectual Property, Patent, Trademark | 6 | 6 | | Intellectual Property Litigation | 1 | 4 | | Land & Resources | 6 | 4 | | Litigation, Tort, Product Liability | 7 | 5 | | Wealth Planning | 3 | 0 |
| COMPENSATION & EMPLOYMENT DATA |
| 2 |
(0) |
2 |
(0) |
2 |
| 0 |
(0) |
0 |
(0) |
0 |
| 115000 |
$/yr |
2 |
(0) |
1 |
(1) |
5 |
| 0 |
(0) |
0 |
(0) |
0 |
| 0 |
(0) |
0 |
(0) |
0 |
|
$/wk |
0 |
(0) |
0 |
(0) |
0 |
| 2200 |
$/wk |
5 |
(2) |
3 |
(0) |
0 |
| 2200 |
$/wk |
1 |
|
1 |
|
0 |
| STUDENT EMPLOYMENT INFORMATION |
| # 2009 entry-level attorneys who were former interns: |
|
| # 2009 Summer 2Ls considered for associate offers: |
4 |
| # offers made: |
1 |
| Hire school term clerks? |
N |
| Prefer significant prior experience in area? |
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| 1Ls hired? |
Y |
| For attorney hires, require: Bar admission? |
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| For attorney hires, require: Prior practice experience? |
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| If yes, # of years? |
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| U.S. citizenship required? |
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| When after 12/1 should 1Ls apply? |
12/1 |
| Split summers allowed? |
CBC |
| If yes, minimum weeks: |
3 |
| 1Ls considered for interns? |
|
| Comments: |
|
|
Accept applications for the 2011 Summer Program from: |
| Joint degree students graduating in 2013 or later? |
Y |
| Evening students graduating in 2013? |
Y |
| Judicial Clerks? |
Y |
| Students at non-US law schools? |
N |
What % of legal staff has been with the organization: |
| less than 2 years? |
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| 2-5 years? |
|
| 6-10 years? |
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| more than 10 years? |
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Application Process: |
| Date applications first accepted for summer interns: |
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| Date applications first accepted for attorneys: |
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| Deadline for applications from summer interns: |
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| Deadline for applications from attorneys: |
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| Date offers are made to summer interns: |
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| Date offers are made to attorneys: |
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| Average length of hiring process (months) for summer interns: |
|
| Average length of hiring process (months) for attorneys: |
|
|
| Do you hire domestic LL.M.s? |
N |
| In what practice areas: |
|
|
| Do you hire foreign LL.M.s? |
N |
| In what practice areas: |
|
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| When should LL.M.s submit applications? |
|
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| Preferred application materials: |
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| Hiring Criteria: |
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| Demonstrated academic success; strong verbal and interpersonal skills; business development potential; proficient legal writing ability; extracurricular/community involvement. |
| ATTORNEY HOURS |
| Average annual associate hours worked: |
1850 (2008) |
1850 (2009) |
| Average annual associate billable hours: |
1850 (2008) |
1850 (2009) |
| Is there a minimum billable hour expectation? |
Y |
|
| If "Yes", number: |
1850 |
|
| Hours policy details: |
|
| Bonus consideration at 1850. |
|
| Is billable hour credit given for pro bono work? |
N |
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| Is there a maximum that will be credited? |
N |
|
| If yes, what? |
|
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| For bonus consideration, is a pro bono hour equivalent to a billable hour? |
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|
CLERKSHIP/CREDIT/SUPPLEMENTAL
COMPENSATION |
| Do you have a Loan Repayment Assistance Program (LRAP)? |
|
| If yes, describe: |
|
| Judicial Clerkship Bonus: |
CBC |
| Compensation/progression credit for judicial clerkship? |
Y |
| Compensation/progression credit for other advanced degrees? |
Y |
| Other Compensation: |
|
| Year-end bonuses based on performance, tenure and firm profitability. Reimbursement of Bar Review course and Bar Exam expenses; moving allowance; payment of Bar Association dues; payment of CLE expenses. |
| BENEFITS |
| Benefits: |
401(k)/IRA/Other Ret. Plan w/Employer Contribution
Bar Association Fees
Business Casual Dress Code
CLE
Dental Insurance
Domestic Partner Benefits
Employee Assistance Program
Family/Dependent Care Leave
Flexible Spending Account/pre-tax Option
Life/AD&D
Long-term Care Insurance
Long-term Disability Insurance
Medical Insurance
Medical Spending Account
Parental Leave
Parking/Transportation
Relocation Expenses
Vacation Leave
Vision Insurance |
| Benefit Package Comments: |
|
Provided above is a listing of the types of benefits currently offered to our attorneys. The benefits package is both comprehensive and among the very best offered by Midwestern law firms.
Special attention is given to the family needs of women attorneys and to accommodate this, we provide an unlimited amount of vacation to all attorneys (associates, of-counsel, and partners), a generous paid maternity leave (with aspirations of increasing the amount of paid weeks in the near future), and a thriving women's group that meets monthly to address both professional and personal needs of women attorneys. |
| WORK/LIFE INFORMATION |
| Average weekly hours per attorney: |
|
| Usual scheduled working day: |
|
| Part-time allowed? |
CBC |
| Part-time available to entry-level? |
CBC |
| # of part-time associates: |
0 (m) 1 (w) |
| # of part-time partners/members: |
3 (m) 1 (w) |
| # of part-time other lawyers: |
0 (m) 0 (w) |
| Do you have a written part-time policy for associates? |
Y |
| Do you have a written part-time policy for partners? |
Y |
| What is the impact of working part-time as an associate, if any, on an associate's progression toward partner? |
|
| Can an associate be promoted to partner while s/he is working on a part-time schedule? |
Y |
| Can a partner work on a part-time schedule? |
Y |
| Eligibility for alternative work schedules determined by: |
Work load needs of practice group. |
| Paid non-medical parental leave? |
CBC |
| Comments: |
|
|
| TRAINING AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT |
| Coaching/mentoring program? |
Y |
| Evaluations: |
Annual |
| Upward reviews: |
Y |
| Professional development staff: |
Y |
| Billable hours credit for training time: |
N |
| Rotation for junior associates between departments/practice groups? |
N |
| Is rotation mandatory? |
N |
| Comments: |
|
| Michael Best understands the importance of our attorneys' career and professional development. As such, we strive to cultivate professional excellence in each of our attorneys. Our investment in the growth of our attorneys begins as soon as the attorney becomes a member of the firm. The firm offers a series of professional development programs designed to hone the legal and practice skills, such as research and writing, as well as client communication and relationship skills. Many of our Practice Groups also offer programs regarding trends and new developments in the law, offering interested attorneys the opportunity for discussion and dialogue. Michael Best believes in the importance of offering our attorneys the tools and resources necessary to build a successful legal practice. |
| PARTNERSHIP DATA |
| Does the firm have two or more tiers of partner? |
Y |
| If no, how many years is the partnership track? |
|
| If yes, how many years is the non-equity track? |
8.0 |
| How many years is the equity track? |
|
| Additional partnership progression information: |
|
| Our partnership track is eight years. This may be adjusted up or down based on attorney performance. |
DIVERSITY RECRUITMENT & RETENTION
EFFORTS |
| Activities to increase the presence and retention of under-represented groups: |
| Minority job fairs: |
 |
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Bar sponsored Programs: |
|
| Outreach to law student groups: |
|
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Firm Diversity Committee: |
|
| Directed Mentoring Effors: |
 |
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Rec. at schools w/ large min. pop.: |
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| Comments: |
|
Michael Best fosters an inclusive environment that benefits from diverse cultures, knowledge, viewpoints, skills and backgrounds. We’re committed to diversity, ensuring equality and representation across all levels of the firm.
We engage in broad and diverse recruitment practices to seek out the best candidates for employment. We have an established committee focused on diversity to support recruitment and retention efforts. Its members identify opportunities to promote diversity-based initiatives both in the legal field and in the communities we serve.
We maintain and have put in place state and federal affirmative action plans for minorities and women, and for disabled individuals and veterans. The Managing Partner, Management Committee, Office Managing Partners and Practice Group Chairs make sure these plans are carried out.
We are also a member of the Chicago Committee on Minorities in Large Law Firms. |
| CAMPUS INTERVIEWS |
| Selected Campuses: |
American University, Washington College of Law
Boston College Law School
Boston University School of Law
George Washington University Law School
Georgetown University Law Center
Howard University School of Law
Loyola University Chicago School of Law
Marquette University Law School
Northwestern University School of Law
University of Iowa College of Law
University of Michigan Law School
University of Minnesota Law School
University of Notre Dame Law School
University of Texas School of Law
University of Wisconsin Law School |
| Job Fair/Corsortia Attended: |
Loyola Patent Law Interview Program
State Bar of Wisconsin Diversity Clerkship Program
The Law Consortium Chicago Walk-Around Program |
|
| CAMPUS INTERVIEWS FOR PRIOR YEAR |
| # of Schools Visited in 2009: |
16 |
| # of Job Fairs / Consortia Attended in 2009: |
3 |
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| PRO BONO INFORMATION |
| Pro Bono Contact Information |
| Pro Bono Contact: |
Ian A. Pitz |
| Title: |
Partner |
| Phone: |
608.283.2253 |
| Fax: |
608.283.2275 |
| Email: |
iapitz@michaelbest.com |
| |
| The information indicated here is: |
| Firm-wide: |
|
Office Specific: |
|
| |
| %Firm Billable Hours last year: |
1.8 |
|
| |
| Average Hours per Attorney Last Year: |
Associates
Partners/Members
Other Lawyers
|
| |
| Participation last year: |
51% Associates
58% Partners/Members
20% Other Lawyers
|
|
| What percentage of attorneys performed more than 20 hours? |
28.6 |
| What was the number of actual pro bono hours contributed by the organization in the prior calendar year?
7214 |
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| Does the organization maintain a formal pro bono policy that sets forth the organization's commitment to pro bono? |
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How does the organization define what constitutes pro bono legal work?
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| Does the organization set annual goals regarding the minimum number of pro bono hours to be contributed by the organization? |
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| If yes, what is that annual goal? |
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| Does the organization set individual attorney goals regarding the minimum number of pro bono hours to be contributed? |
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| If yes, what is that annual goal? |
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| Is an attorney's commitment to pro bono activity considered a favorable factor in advancement and compensation decisions? |
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If yes, to what extent?
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| Are full-time support services (word processing, online research Lexis/Westlaw, out of pocket costs) available for pro bono representation? |
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If so, are there any limitations?
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| Are associates provided written evaluations of their work on pro bono matters? |
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| Does the organization employ one or more of the following structures to manage its pro bono program and to provide training and guidance to participating attorneys? |
| Full-time attorney in a dedicated pro bono coordination/oversight role |
| An attorney who coordinates pro bono projects as an ancillary duty to other work |
| Pro Bono Committee |
| Non-attorney administrator |
| Other: |
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How is pro bono work assigned/distributed?
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| If an attorney is permitted to bring a pro bono case
for possible consideration by the firm, who makes decisions about
whether the firm will handle the matter?
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| Pro Bono Coordinator |
| Pro Bono Committee |
| Department Chair |
| Other: |
| N/A |
| Does the organization provide any of the following to enable its attorneys to participate in pro bono activities or work in a public interest setting? (Check all that apply) |
| Externships |
| Sabbaticals |
| Fellowships |
| Part-time pro bono programs |
| Other |
| If so, please describe: |
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| Are pro bono opportunities available for summer associates? |
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| Additional comments (Please use this space to provide any additional information about your organization's pro bono program including any special recognition or awards the organization has received for its pro bono work.): |
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| What are some of the areas in which your firm has performed pro bono work in the past year? |
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| PUBLIC INTEREST FELLOWSHIPS |
| Do you sponsor split public interest summer and/or post-graduate fellowships? |
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| Public Interest Fellowship Comments: |
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| NON - DISCRIMINATION POLICY |
| Non-Discrimination: |
| We believe in equal employment opportunity for all individuals without regard to race, color, creed, ancestry, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, national origin, disability or status as a military veteran. |
| NARRATIVE |
OUR OFFICE: Michael Best & Friedrich LLP's Madison office has grown strategically and continuously since it opened in 1972, and offers a full range of legal services. Our lawyers have diverse backgrounds and interests, and are united by mutual respect for each other's talents and a shared desire to provide clients with high-quality, responsive legal services. We value academic excellence, but know that our lawyers must be more than intelligent. They are best described as enthusiastic, creative, curious, and well-rounded. Our lawyers have a strong commitment to our city and state, demonstrated by our involvement as leaders in government and community organizations. The Madison office combines the resources and economic stability of a large firm with the collegial atmosphere and practice opportunities of a small firm.
OUR PRINCIPLES: Michael Best is committed to providing superior client service. We are accessible to our clients and colleagues, and are in frequent communication regarding ongoing work. Our work product must be comprehensible, which means cutting away the "legalese" that often permeates legal documents. We take pride in understanding our clients' businesses so that we can provide proactive and innovative legal services, thereby achieving our clients' objectives through creativity and problem solving. Underlying these principles is a commitment to maintaining individual and Firm integrity.
OUR TRAINING: Our principles guide our training of associates. Both formal and informal training opportunities exist, ranging from in-house seminars, to mentoring relationships, to state and national seminars. Annual evaluations are also provided. Associates receive substantial responsibility early in their careers and are encouraged to view themselves as "stake holders" in the Firm. Associates are encouraged to participate in client development opportunities as well as pursue individual interests. Our open door atmosphere encourages associates to seek advice from partners and senior associates. Personalities aren't checked at the door; rather they are viewed as an integral part of each attorney's professional development, as well as instrumental to the success of the Firm.
OUR PRACTICE: To better serve our clients and to better train and develop our lawyers, we are organized into eight practice groups: Litigation, Intellectual Property, Land & Resources (Real Estate and Environmental), Business (Banking, Securities and Tax), Employment Relations (Employee Benefits and public and private sector labor relations), Wealth Planning, Intellectual Property Litigation and Health Care. Our practice has grown in response to the needs of our clients - a mix of private and public businesses, trade associations, pension funds, financial institutions and other entities. Our clients have businesses both national and international in scope, and range in size from small family-owned enterprises to some of the country's largest public corporations.
OUR SUMMER PROGRAM: We invite law students who we believe have the potential to become partners at Michael Best to join our summer program. Our nationally recognized Summer Associate Program is an important source of future partners, and is designed to provide participants with an experience that is nearly identical to life as an associate. The program is structured in concert with our legal practice areas and matches summer associates' interests with project assignments. It stresses direct contact with the assigning attorney at the time of assignment, during the project and at the time of feedback. We involve our summer associates in more than research, including them in preparation for and attendance at trials, depositions, hearings and closings and client conferences. Our summer associates have fun participating in golf outings, trips to baseball games, informal lunches, festivals and organized, as well as impromptu social gatherings. |
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