Associates' Forum

Sheppard Mullin's partners are some of the most approachable people in the profession.  But for some people, and under certain circumstances, approaching a partner can be somewhat intimidating—especially as a new associate.

Sheppard Mullin knows that its associates have great ideas and valid concerns, and the firm created the Associates' Forum to foster open communication between associates and partners.  The Forum consists of almost 40 associate representatives from most of our offices.  It meets with the firm's Managing Partner, Robert Beall, on a quarterly basis.

Prior to every Associates' Forum meeting, an e-mail announcement is sent to every associate in the firm asking for input on issues he or she would like to have the representatives raise.  The identity of those submitting topics is kept strictly confidential.  A meeting agenda is then created based on this input -- but any topic, whether it is on the agenda or not, is fair game.

Here is a sample of the range of topics covered at an Associates' Forum meeting:

• Evaluations, Salaries & Bonuses
• Partnership
• Work/Life Balance Issues
• Associate Development and Training Opportunities
• Benefits
• Client Development
• Furniture
• Technology
• Office-Specific Issues
• New Associate Checklist
• Additional Questions & Comments

Every representative in the Associates' Forum takes his or her job very seriously.  Representatives understand that they are advocates as well as facilitators of honest and constructive communication between associates and partners.  The discussions with the Administrative Partner are frank, and he in turn serves as a direct and unfiltered pipeline to the firm's Executive Committee.  He also brings others to Associate Forum meetings as necessary --- including the firm's professional Executive Director, the Chief Talent Officer, and/or members of the Executive Committee. 

The firm keeps its associates and staff completely informed of developments within the firm and the financial progress of the partnership through annual "state of the firm" meetings, to which every employee is invited.  The firm's Chairman of the Executive Committee and Executive Director visit all U.S. offices to make these presentations in person and to answer all questions.

At Sheppard Mullin everyone has a voice.  The Associates' Forum ensures that the voices of the associates are heard.