Professional Development and Training for Lawyers

Building on the skills our attorneys bring to the firm, we offer comprehensive training on legal knowledge, ethics, and professional skills. Long-term growth is key. We tailor our training to the needs of lawyers at each stage of their careers. In addition to formal training, we have a strong culture of teaching and mentorship, part of our commitment to carrying forward the firm’s legacy of excellence.

Practice-Specific Technical Legal Training

Our programs are developed and taught by senior attorneys and reflect lessons learned over years of practice. In practice-specific workshops around fact witness depositions or launching a private credit fund, lawyers learn in the classroom and then do simulations that are connected to the skills they need to build for their specific practice. In total, our departments and practice groups offer more than 1,000 technical legal programs every year.

AI Training and Fluency

The legal profession is transforming, and Ropes & Gray is defining what elite law looks like on the other side. AI fluency is an essential component of our lawyers’ professional development. Through our innovative TrAIlblazers program, first-year associates are encouraged to spend as much as 20 percent of their creditable time learning and innovating with AI. Lawyers receive additional AI training as the firm adopts new tools and best practices.

Our AI training model structures development around three dimensions: capability awareness, craft, and judgment. In other words, our lawyers know what the firm’s AI tools can do, how to leverage them effectively, and when to do so.

Professional Skills Development

Our high-impact professional skills training includes programs on client development, commercial awareness, emotional intelligence, managing others and giving feedback, negotiation, networking, brand-building, personal effectiveness, presenting and presence, and writing. This training is offered in both department-specific and cross-department settings, providing opportunities to develop skills and deepen relationships with colleagues in other practice areas. Over 400 skills programs are offered each year in classroom, small-group, and one-on-one formats. Peer learning and coaching through which lawyers learn from each other is a foundation of our strong learning culture.

Internal Writing Coach

As part of the firm’s commitment to professional growth, associates have access to an in-house writing coach, who offers personalized guidance and detailed feedback on drafts and completed assignments. Associates who take advantage of this resource consistently report improvements in their writing, attributing their progress to the coach’s thoughtful edits and practical suggestions.

Asynchronous Online Training

Lawyers are busy professionals. We offer asynchronous online training, like high-quality short videos and materials, so lawyers can review them whenever their schedules allow.

Accreditation and Continuing Legal Education

Ropes & Gray is an accredited provider of continuing legal education (CLE) in California, Illinois, New York, and Texas. We are also an accredited provider of continuing professional development (CPD) in Hong Kong. Nearly 1,000 of our annual training programs allow participants to accrue CLE, CPD or England & Wales credit, meaning our high-quality programs meet relevant jurisdictional standards on the training of legal professionals. 

Our associates have access to professional development resources from day one, with training offered through new associate orientation, practice-specific new associate training camps, and a first-year summit. Associates participate in department and practice group core curriculum training over the next several years.

Associates in all departments and practices also participate in a multi-year program called Foundations for Junior Associate Success, which includes seminars on topics such as presenting and presence, time management, collaboration, delegation and feedback, and building connections. Additionally, junior associates participate in our award-winning Thrive program, which provides practical resilience skills and tools to help our newest colleagues flourish in their legal careers. 

In addition to attending the first-year summit, associates in their third and sixth years convene at a global summit for two days of professional development and networking opportunities. These events give associates space to step back and think about the next steps in their careers, in a structured and supportive environment.

When our attorneys enter more senior roles, we provide further resources to ease the transition into life as counsel or a partner at the firm. 

At Ropes & Gray, our lawyers and professionals work at the intersection of innovative business developments and complex legal challenges. Explore the careers and opportunities available.