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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: |
Davis Brown Law Firm |
| Address: |
215 - 10th Street |
| |
Suite 1300 |
| City: |
Des Moines |
| State, Zip: |
Iowa, 50309 |
| Country: |
United States |
| Phone: |
515-288-2500 |
| Fax: |
515-243-0654 |
| Web: |
DavisBrownLaw.com |
|
| Hiring Attorney: |
Mr. David VanSickel |
|
| Recruiting Contact: |
Ms. Barb Hardy |
| Title: |
Assistant to Board of Directors |
| Employer Name: |
Davis Brown Law Firm |
| Address: |
215 - 10th Street |
| |
Suite1300 |
| City: |
Des Moines |
| State, Zip: |
Iowa, 50309 |
| Country: |
United States |
| Phone: |
515-288-2500 |
| Fax: |
515-243-0654 |
| Email: |
BarbHardy@DavisBrownLaw.com |
| OFFICE/ORGANIZATION SIZE |
| Multi Office Form: |
Y |
| Multi Office Form Reporting For: |
All Offices |
| Specify: |
|
| # Offices On Form: |
2 |
| Total # Offices: |
2 |
| Employer Size Range: |
51-100 |
| Office Size Range: |
51-100 |
| Total Attorneys In This Office: |
77 |
| DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION |
| 29 |
8 |
10 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
| 15 |
11 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
3 |
| 44 |
19 |
10 |
2 |
2 |
5 |
| 0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 29 |
8 |
10 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
| 15 |
10 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
3 |
| 0 |
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 |
| 0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| PRIMARY PRACTICE AREAS |
|
| Transactional, Corporate, Tax | 13 | 12 | | Real Estate, Bankruptcy | 12 | 4 | | Litigation, Personal Injury, Appellate | 20 | 6 | | Telecommunications, Utilities | 5 | 4 | | Health, Professional Licensure | 6 | 1 | | Immigration, Governmental Relations | 3 | 3 | | Intellectual Property, IP Litigation | 2 | 1 | | Employment, Employee Benefits | 8 | 5 | | Estate, Probate, Trusts | 7 | 1 | | Finance, Banking, Public Finance | 13 | 4 | | Administrative, Agriculture, Cooperative | 12 | 5 | | Construction, Green, Environ., Franchise | 12 | 5 | | Securities, Emerging Growth & Venture Ca | 3 | 3 |
| COMPENSATION & EMPLOYMENT DATA |
| 3 |
() |
|
() |
0 |
|
() |
1 |
() |
0 |
| 85,000 |
$/yr |
2 |
() |
2 |
(2) |
0 |
|
() |
2 |
() |
0 |
|
() |
|
() |
0 |
|
$/wk |
|
() |
|
() |
|
| 1,400 |
$/wk |
3 |
() |
2 |
() |
1 |
| 1,400 |
$/wk |
1 |
|
4 |
|
2 |
| STUDENT EMPLOYMENT INFORMATION |
| # 2009 entry-level attorneys who were former interns: |
|
| # 2009 Summer 2Ls considered for associate offers: |
2 |
| # offers made: |
1 |
| Hire school term clerks? |
CBC |
| Prefer significant prior experience in area? |
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| 1Ls hired? |
TBD |
| 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? |
when grades availabl |
| Split summers allowed? |
CBC |
| If yes, minimum weeks: |
4 |
| 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? |
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| Judicial Clerks? |
Y |
| Students at non-US law schools? |
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What % of legal staff has been with the organization: |
| less than 2 years? |
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| 2-5 years? |
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| 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: |
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| Average length of hiring process (months) for attorneys: |
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| Do you hire domestic LL.M.s? |
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| In what practice areas: |
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| Do you hire foreign LL.M.s? |
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| 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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| The Davis Brown Law Firm seeks to hire exceptional students with excellent academic credentials as well as outstanding research, writing, and interpersonal skills. Preference is given to students ranking in the top 20% of their law school class with law review or journal experience. Consideration is also given to those who have demonstrated a commitment to improving their communities through civic and charitable activities. |
| ATTORNEY HOURS |
| Average annual associate hours worked: |
2000 (2008) |
2000 (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: |
|
| 1825 requirement for first year; 1850 thereafter |
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| Is billable hour credit given for pro bono work? |
Y |
|
| Is there a maximum that will be credited? |
CBC |
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| If yes, what? |
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| For bonus consideration, is a pro bono hour equivalent to a billable hour? |
CBC |
|
CLERKSHIP/CREDIT/SUPPLEMENTAL
COMPENSATION |
| Do you have a Loan Repayment Assistance Program (LRAP)? |
|
| If yes, describe: |
|
| Judicial Clerkship Bonus: |
N |
| Compensation/progression credit for judicial clerkship? |
Y |
| Compensation/progression credit for other advanced degrees? |
CBC |
| Other Compensation: |
|
|
| BENEFITS |
| Benefits: |
401(k)/IRA/Other Ret. Plan w/Employer Contribution
Bar Association Fees
Business Casual Dress Code
CLE
Domestic Partner Benefits
Employee Assistance Program
Family/Dependent Care Leave
Flexible Spending Account/pre-tax Option
Life/AD&D
Long-term Disability Insurance
Medical Insurance
Medical Spending Account
Parental Leave
Parking/Transportation
Profit Sharing
Relocation Expenses
Short-term Disability Insurance
Technology (Laptop, PDA, etc.) |
| Benefit Package Comments: |
|
| The firm pays for fees relating to the Iowa Bar application, review (two courses) and exam fees. Also provided are funds for client development, fees for admission to practice before all necessary courts, and annual dues for bar associations, Paid time off is flexible assuming the hours' requirement is met. |
| WORK/LIFE INFORMATION |
| Average weekly hours per attorney: |
|
| Usual scheduled working day: |
|
| Part-time allowed? |
Y |
| Part-time available to entry-level? |
CBC |
| # of part-time associates: |
1 (m) 0 (w) |
| # of part-time partners/members: |
0 (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? |
N |
| What is the impact of working part-time as an associate, if any, on an associate's progression toward partner? |
Being developed; not yet determined |
| Can an associate be promoted to partner while s/he is working on a part-time schedule? |
CBC |
| Can a partner work on a part-time schedule? |
Y |
| Eligibility for alternative work schedules determined by: |
Board of Directors |
| Paid non-medical parental leave? |
Y |
| Comments: |
|
| 12 weeks FML allowed, 10 of which are paid |
| TRAINING AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT |
| Coaching/mentoring program? |
Y |
| Evaluations: |
Semi-Annual |
| Upward reviews: |
N |
| Professional development staff: |
Y |
| Billable hours credit for training time: |
Y |
| Rotation for junior associates between departments/practice groups? |
N |
| Is rotation mandatory? |
N |
| Comments: |
|
| Flexibility in choosing area of law. |
| 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? |
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| How many years is the equity track? |
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| Additional partnership progression information: |
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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: |
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| 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: |
|
| The Davis Brown Law Firm has been committed to promoting diversity in and outside of the workplace throughout its 80 years of existence. Twenty-seven of the firm's seventy-seven attorneys are women, fifteen of whom are shareholders in the firm. Davis Brown had the distinction of being the first large-sized Iowa law firm to elect a female President in 1998. Attorneys in the firm and staff members speak a variety of languages including Spanish, French, German, and Japanese. The firm's attorneys obtained their legal education from a wide array of universities, including Harvard, NYU, University of Michigan, Duke, Notre Dame, Iowa, DePaul University, University of Nebraska, Drake, Georgetown, University of Illinois, University of Georgia, University of Arizona, and George Washington University. Further, attorneys at Davis Brown occupy leadership positions in a range of professional clubs, community groups and boards, and charitable organizations, including the Volunteer Lawyers Project Hispanic Outreach, American Immigration Lawyers Association Iowa/Nebraska Chapter, Des Moines Human Rights Commission, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Iowa, Very Special Arts Iowa, and the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered Community Center of Central Iowa. Attorneys in the firm include the past chairs of the Iowa Democratic Party and the Iowa Republican Party. |
| CAMPUS INTERVIEWS |
| Selected Campuses: |
Drake University Law School
University of Iowa College of Law |
| Job Fair/Corsortia Attended: |
|
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| CAMPUS INTERVIEWS FOR PRIOR YEAR |
| # of Schools Visited in 2009: |
2 |
| # of Job Fairs / Consortia Attended in 2009: |
0 |
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| PRO BONO INFORMATION |
| Pro Bono Contact Information |
| Pro Bono Contact: |
Scott Brennan |
| Title: |
Shareholder |
| Phone: |
515-288-2500 |
| Fax: |
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| Email: |
ScottBrennan@davisbrownlaw.com |
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| The information indicated here is: |
| Firm-wide: |
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Office Specific: |
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| %Firm Billable Hours last year: |
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| Average Hours per Attorney Last Year: |
Associates
Partners/Members
Other Lawyers
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| Participation last year: |
% Associates
% Partners/Members
% Other Lawyers
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| What percentage of attorneys performed more than 20 hours? |
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| What was the number of actual pro bono hours contributed by the organization in the prior calendar year?
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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? Out of pocket costs limited.
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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: |
The Davis Brown Law Firm hires and promotes without regard to race, religion, color, creed, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability.
The Firm is committed to providing a workplace where there are equal employment opportunities for all. The Firm recognizes and respects all backgrounds, beliefs and experiences. The Firm is committed to strengthening its diversity through recruiting and retaining minority and women attorneys and staff personnel from all backgrounds. Our commitment is consistent with our recognition that it is the outstanding people within the Davis Brown Law Firm who have always been the source of our strength. We have long embraced the principles of equal employment opportunity. We further recognize that promoting diversity is an integral component of our continuing quest for excellence as individual attorneys and as a firm. |
| NARRATIVE |
The Davis Brown Law Firm is one of the largest firms in Iowa, offering comprehensive legal representation to clients ranging from private individuals to multi-national and Fortune 500 companies. Among our 77 attorneys are practitioners in virtually all areas of federal and state law, including litigation, appeals, corporate law, tax, employment, real estate, intellectual property, health care, public finance, banking, telecommunications, agriculture, construction, family law, environmental law, green law, immigration, insurance defense, and products liability. Davis Brown is the only Iowa member of Lex Mundi, the leading worldwide association of independent law firms, enabling us to connect our clients with outstanding attorneys in numerous countries around the globe. Our attorneys frequently speak at continuing legal education seminars and are regularly recognized in publications such as Best Lawyers in America and Chambers USA. The Firm has been acknowledged by the Des Moines Business Record as the Best Law Firm and one of the Best Places to Work in Central Iowa.
Last year the Firm's Des Moines office moved to the 13-story Davis Brown Tower located downtown amid the City's expanding western gateway. Des Moines is a thriving metropolitan area of nearly 500,000 residents. The City offers affordable housing, superb public services, and outstanding schools. It has been named by Forbes Magazine as one of the top ten places for business and careers. For more information, please visit our web site at www.DavisBrownLaw.com
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