A first-year associate’s career at Simpson Thacher begins with STBReady, a comprehensive orientation program that introduces associates to how the Firm works, how its practices serve clients and how junior associates contribute on matters. STBReady provides a common foundation for all first years and helps prepare them to contribute meaningfully, creatively and efficiently from the outset. Learning continues beyond orientation through additional training opportunities, including:
- Practice-specific bootcamps offering hands-on, process-oriented training through realistic simulations, exercises and mock assignments tied to the types of work first-year associates perform.
- A Continuous Development Program that helps associates build wide range of core professional skills including financial literacy, business acumen, effective communication, relationship-building, organization and productivity.
As associates become more senior, their roles change in important ways. STBAdvance supports associates in their third and fifth years as they move from executing assignments to managing workstreams, developing others and building the judgment and leadership skills needed to succeed at the next level.
STBAdvance combines an off-site conference with education, mentoring and coaching throughout the year. The program gives associates practical tools they can use immediately on matters and with their teams. Topics of focus include:
- How to take ownership of matters and workstreams, communicate clearly, anticipate issues and build the judgment needed to lead effectively at Simpson Thacher and in the legal industry.
- How to develop effective management skills and a personal leadership style, including managing up and down, delegating effectively, providing feedback, handling challenging conversations and supporting the development of junior team members.
- Working and supervising in an AI-enabled practice, including how to evaluate source grounding, identify unsupported overreach, assess reliability and understand the process used to produce the work.
- How to set practical short-, medium- and long-term goals tied to leadership behaviors, matter management, client service, mentoring and professional relationships.