Am Law Highlights Akin JUMP! Associate Development Program
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The American Lawyer has quoted Akin hiring partner David Botter in the article “New Akin Gump Program Lets Lawyers ‘Jump’ to Other Offices,” discussing the new Akin JUMP! initiative that lets associates and counsel at the third-year level and above spend time in offices other than their own in order to become more acquainted with other lawyers across the firm. The goal is to help advance the lawyers’ career development.
The program, which grew out of a midlevel associates hackathon held earlier this year, allows participants to “jump” from their home office to another Akin Gump location. Once there, they will have a sponsor in that office, and the firm will cover travel expenses. Proposals are required outlining the business case for the visits, most of which will last one to two weeks.
Botter said the program will be particularly useful for lawyers who work in practices spread out among multiple offices, as well as for those who work with clients in other cities.
“People have done this somewhat on an ad hoc basis and have found it to be very useful, getting to spend time with people they’re working with across a computer or a phone constantly,” Botter said. “For the midlevel associate who is looking to take their career to the next level, it’s a great opportunity.”
Botter said the proposals that led to Akin JUMP! came from two of the three winning ideas from the April hackathon, part of the firm’s annual training and development program for fourth-year associates. A third winning proposal—10 weeks of paid parental leave for all parents—was also implemented this year, he said.