Foley’s New Associate Class Convenes in Chicago for First Week
On October 7, Foley welcomed its 2024 New Associate Class comprising 77 associates and law graduates as well as associates who recently completed judicial clerkships. This diverse and talented group is spread across 16 practices and 17 offices nationwide.
To help our newest colleagues jumpstart their integration into the firm, we brought them to Chicago for their first week — a fresh approach to orientation that allowed them to spend their initial days learning about Foley together, participating in a variety of training programs and fun activities, and getting acquainted with their peers.
This year’s New Associate Orientation program kicked off with a warm welcome from our Professional Development team, followed by an afternoon of learning about firm technology and resources as well as some of the basics like how to log in to their laptops and enroll in our comprehensive benefits offering. The day concluded with over a dozen small groups of associates enjoying dinner at different eateries around town so they could socialize with one another in a relaxed setting.
Over the next three days, the group heard from Foley’s chairman and CEO Daljit Doogal as well as several Foley attorneys and business professionals on things like career development, diversity, and community engagement initiatives at the firm; business development and marketing advice for new attorneys; firm operations and practice management tips; professional responsibility expectations; wellness in the legal profession; and more. They were also divided into three breakout sessions based on their departments — Corporate, Intellectual Property, and Litigation — giving them the opportunity to hear from department leadership and participate in more substantive training in their designated practice area.
Throughout their time in Chicago, our new associates also enjoyed several social events that facilitated networking with each other and their new Foley colleagues. These activities included invigorating workouts, a dinner cruise along the Chicago River, and department-specific dinners. But perhaps the best activity of all was creating literacy kits filled with books, pencil pouches and other reading supplies, and a personal note of encouragement for distribution to the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, the firm’s national philanthropic partner.
After four days of getting to know the firm, our people, and one another, the associates dispersed back across the country ready to hit the ground running. Throughout orientation, we heard what our newest attorneys are most excited about as they begin their legal career at Foley. These sentiments included everything from “The opportunity to work with talented attorneys and creatively problem solve” and “Gaining expertise in a niche practice area,” to “Developing my own work style/rhythm.” Next up, the group will participate in a New Associate Academy series that will continue to equip them with the insights, skills, and knowledge to acclimate to the practice of law throughout their first year. We look forward to seeing this group realize their hopes and grow in their careers at Foley.