At Corrs, we provide opportunities for outstanding graduates to become exceptional lawyers.
Mentoring is again very dependent upon the team, but it is easy to find mentors who are willing to be generous with their time.
I am very satisfied with training programmes in my role. All graduates have mandatory training sessions through the graduate program in general skills and substantive law. We also have the benefit of specalist training sessions at the beginning of new rotations. All graduates are also assigned a mentor and supervising partner in each rotation, who provide formal mentoring and feedback throughout their time with that team. Each year there is a formal 'performance development review' meeting between each staff member and their mentor/supervisors. Aside from formal training opportunities, my experience is that many supervisors are very generous with their time and performance feedback. For example, I had a fortnightly mentoring catch up scheduled with my mentor which gave me the opportunity to seek informal feedback.
The firm runs a "Legal Excellence" learning and development program for juniors' first few years in the firm. This structured learning gives all graduates important foundational technical and professional skills (including, besides legal knowledge, important soft skills like professional networking, and effective time management and recording). Graduates are also assigned supervising mentors and partners who regularly provide feedback on work and performance reviews, as well as on-the-job training and instruction.
The training is beneficial but the timing can sometimes impact on matter work. It covers a wide range of both transactional and litigious areas of knowledge as well as more practical skills. I like that there are opportunities to attend training both as a graduate about general things, about my team specifically, and also through our committees like CorrsNOW which assists to build skills that people have expressed an interest in.
Corrs provides excellent mentoring opportunities to 1st and 2nd year lawyers. The firm also emphasises the importance of continuing the learning and development of its lawyers through programs such as its advocacy program and its learning development program.