Courses
A whole new level of higher education.
At Goodwin Procter you have access to a wealth of Continuing Legal Education programs. We cover all areas of the law and every level of expertise. We have live and pre-recorded online courses that can be accessed anywhere you have internet capability. Our internal training programs can also help you earn CLE credits. The following is a very small sample of what we offer:
Transition to Leadership Program
This program, developed through a partnership with Harvard Business School, provides 4th year associates with leadership training at this pivotal point in their careers as they begin to take responsibility for the daily management of cases, deals and other matters. Held over two days and led by Harvard professors, the program covers topics such as:
- managing projects more effectively;
- client service leadership;
- leading people and teams; and
- handling difficult conversations.
In addition, we offer programs in advanced leadership, executive leadership, communications training, and others. More details are available on these and other courses; contact Karen Febeo or Scott Westfahl for information.
First Year Information (FYI)
This annual program is held in Boston and is attended by first year associates and recent junior laterals from all offices, providing new associates the opportunity to meet colleagues from across the country. During the two days of FYI, associates are introduced to Goodwin Procter and participate in sessions designed to assist in the transition from law school or from another firm.
Business Law Department
Business Law Basics : A two-day workshop for all new associates in the Business Law Department Through case studies and other interactive exercises, associates review the foundational skills and key corporate documents that will form the basis of many of their early assignments and continuing training. During this program, associates will examine various stages of corporate transactions, with emphasis on conducting due diligence, working with business entities, drafting common transaction documents, and running a closing.
Junior Associate Training Series
During their first two years, all associates in the Business Law Department participate in a core curriculum designed to supplement the “on-the-job” training they receive. These programs are designed to develop the necessary skills and knowledge to be a successful junior associate and to provide a broad overview of Goodwin Procter's corporate practice.
Mid-Level Associate Series
The Business Law Department also offers a number of more advanced topics for mid-level associates. Topics will rotate over a period of several years so that during associates’ 3rd-5th years, they will have had a more in-depth and practical exposure to a variety of advanced corporate topics.
Litigation Department
Litigation Basics
This two-day workshop focuses on the aspects of litigation that associates will often encounter early in their career. In addition to covering the fundamentals of the most common litigation documents, associates will get practical strategies for handling their roles in factual investigations, taking and responding to discovery, motion practice, and trial preparation.
Deposition Skills Workshop
Held over several weeks, this interactive workshop for junior associates consists of both instructional sessions and practical exercises to provide the basics of taking and defending depositions. Participants will have multiple opportunities to receive critiques from partner faculty. The program ends with associates taking and defending a full mock deposition with a court reporter.
Mid-Level Trial Training – Mock Trial Program
This intensive interactive program provides associates with opportunities to conduct opening statements, direct and cross examinations, and closing arguments in the context of a case used by the National Institute of Trial Advocacy (NITA). The program culminates in a full-day mock jury trial in a real courthouse presided over by retired judges with jury deliberations broadcast over close-circuit television. Participants get a unique and first-hand perspective on how their arguments and performances affect the jurors.
Mediation Skills Training
Through a combination of lecture and practical exercises, this workshop for senior litigation associates is designed to improve the ability of Goodwin Procter attorneys to be successful advocates for their clients in mediation.
Firm-wide Programs
Practice Area Meetings
In addition to formal training offered by the Professional Development and Training Team, most practice areas conduct their own training sessions and meetings. These meetings range from formal CLE-eligible presentations on focused topics, to informal discussions on trends in the law, or interesting aspects of current Goodwin Procter cases. Although these meetings are aimed at attorneys in a particular practice area, any attorney is welcome to attend.
In-House Writing Seminars
We offer a variety of writing skills courses tailored to different constituencies within the firm, from three-hour seminars for summer associates, to highly focused topics such as Advanced Contract Drafting. The firm also works with writing coaches who are available to provide one-on-one feedback to associates on their writing.
Oral Communications Skills
We’ve created several highly interactive programs designed to help attorneys at all levels develop communication and presentation skills.
Summer Associate Training Programs
Summer associates are invited to participate in nearly all associate trainings and to attend practice area meetings held during their summer at Goodwin Procter. Most practice areas tailor at least one of their meetings for summer associates to introduce them to the type of work their practice group does and to highlight representative cases or deals. There are a number of programs designed specifically for summer associates, including a due diligence workshop and an introduction to the intellectual property practice. Some other summer associate programs:
Deposition and Trial Training
Summer associates will take and defend a mock deposition, and conduct an opening statement, a direct and cross examination, and a closing argument. Participants receive detailed feedback from partners at the firm.
Anatomy of a Corporate Transaction
In this course we examine a corporate transaction from an initial letter of intent through closing. Participants walk through each stage of an actual corporate deal and focus on important issues that commonly arise during each stage. Typically, the program concludes with a question and answer session with the clients involved in the original deal.