McCormick Barstow’s Summer Associate Program provides a unique, non-competitive atmosphere for Summer Associates. Our goal is to recruit the brightest law students, invest in their development during the summer and recruit from the Summer Associate Program to meet our associate needs for the upcoming year. Rather than force Summer Associates to compete for limited positions, our philosophy is to evaluate each Summer Associate based on his or her own performance. We hire our Summer Associates with the goal of offering each of them a position at the end of the summer. McCormick Barstow possesses high standards and we hope that those who are invited to join the summer program will demonstrate the commitment to excellence, teamwork and client service necessary for an associate offer.
Law Student Recruitment
Hiring Process
Generally, 2Ls who wish to be considered for the summer associate program in our Fresno or Las Vegas office meet with the firm during on-campus interviews organized by their law schools. In most cases, each student will meet one or two interviewers from the firm who will determine if the student will be invited for a call back interview in the office of interest.
CALL-BACK INTERVIEWS:
Students who are invited for call-back interviews in one of our offices will receive a telephone call from our Attorney Recruiting Coordinator to schedule a day of interviews as soon as possible. During the scheduling call, we will discuss the student’s particular areas of interest to ensure that the appropriate lawyers are included on his or her interview schedule. Call-back interviews take about three hours during which each candidate meets with partners and associates in different practice areas. The call-back interview process also includes breakfast or lunch, and we will discuss this with the student in advance. Our Attorney Recruiting Coordinator will send a copy of the preliminary interview schedule prior to the interview day, though there may be last minute changes to your schedule that occur the day of.
TRAVEL:
At the student’s request, we arrange travel and hotel accommodations related to call back interviews for out-of-town candidates. We encourage students to coordinate interview trips with other interviews, so that whenever possible the cost may be shared among the firms with whom the student is meeting.
HIRING CRITERIA AND OFFERS:
McCormick Barstow fills our summer associate classes with 2L students who are dedicated to developing careers based on professionalism, teamwork, quality, work ethic and client service.
Throughout the recruiting season, our Hiring Partner and Attorney Recruiting Coordinator meet regularly to review the interview files of summer associate candidates. Decisions are made on a rolling basis and candidates will receive a telephone call or a letter notifying them of the firm’s hiring decision. Additionally, all candidates who receive an offer will also receive a letter notifying them of the details of the offer. Candidates generally hear from us within one month of their call-back interview date. To comply with the NALP Part V: General Standards for the Timing of Offers and Decision, all offers will remain open for at least 28-days.
Contacts
BEN T. NICHOLSON
Hiring Partner
Email: ben.nicholson@mccormickbarstow.com
Tel: 559.433.1300
Fax: 559.433.2300
DEANN ALEXANDER
HR Specialist
Email: deann.alexander@mccormickbarstow.com
Tel: 559.433.2271
Fax: 559.433.2300
McCormick Barstow is looking for associates who are dedicated to developing careers based on professionalism, teamwork, quality, work ethic and client service. The firm’s growth is balanced between hiring lateral attorneys as well as third year law school students. The firm is active in its recruiting of third year law school students from many of the major law schools in California and Nevada. The firm is always open to receiving resumes from qualified candidates from law schools in any state.
Every effort is made to place new associates in the practice group of their choice. McCormick Barstow associates are assigned a mentor and given considerable responsibility after passing the bar exam. Associates are afforded the opportunity to work on various types of projects and cases in their practice area. It is not uncommon for litigation associates to immediately begin making court appearances and taking depositions. It is also not uncommon for litigation associates to have had their first trial before the end of their fourth year of practice.
The hands-on experience, combined with the firm’s formal associate training program, allows our associates to evolve quickly into experienced attorneys. For that reason, as well as our desire to expand the flexibility of career options at McCormick Barstow, qualified associates with a demonstrated commitment to the firm’s goals are eligible for an income partnership position at the end of their fifth year of practice. After three years as an income partner, an attorney is eligible for consideration as an equity partner.
Hiring Process
Generally, 3Ls who wish to be considered for a Fall Associate position in one of our offices meet with the firm during on-campus interviews organized by their law schools. In most cases, each student will meet one or two interviewers from the firm who will determine if the student will be invited for a call-back interview in the office of interest.
CALL-BACK INTERVIEWS:
Students who are invited for call-back interviews in one of our offices will receive a telephone call from our Attorney Recruiting Coordinator to schedule a day of interviews as soon as possible. During the scheduling call, we will discuss the student’s particular areas of interest to ensure that the appropriate lawyers are included on his or her interview schedule. Call-back interviews take about four hours during which each candidate meets with partners and associates in different practice areas. The call-back interview process also includes breakfast or lunch, and we will discuss this with the student in advance. Our Attorney Recruiting Coordinator will send a copy of the preliminary interview schedule prior to the interview day, though there may be last minute changes to your schedule that occur the day of.
TRAVEL:
At the student’s request, we arrange travel and hotel accommodations related to call-back interviews for out-of-town candidates. We encourage students to coordinate interview trips with other interviews, so that whenever possible the cost may be shared among the firms with whom the student is meeting.
HIRING CRITERIA AND OFFERS:
McCormick Barstow fills our Fall Associate positions with 3L students who have demonstrated high academic achievement, excellence in related areas such as law review, moot court and mock trial, have a record of achievement and/or leadership in other types of extracurricular activities, and strong interpersonal skills.
Throughout the recruiting season, our Hiring Partner and Attorney Recruiting Coordinator meet regularly to review the interview files of Fall Associate candidates. Decisions are made on a rolling basis and candidates will receive a telephone call or a letter notifying them of the firm’s hiring decision. Additionally, all candidates who receive an offer will also receive a letter notifying them of the details of the offer. Candidates generally hear from us within one month of their call-back interview date. To comply with the NALP Part V: General Standards for the Timing of Offers and Decision, all offers will remain open for at least 28-days.
Training & Professional Development
All new associates participate in a local orientation program during their first week at the firm. The programs are intended to ease the transition from law student to lawyer for each new associate. Our annual New Associate Orientation & Training Day is held in Fresno in early November. Sessions introduce the new associates to the culture and history of the firm, as well as the substantive and practical issues that new associates face.
Throughout their first year, our new associates also participate in a series of training programs conducted by McCormick Barstow lawyers and our knowledgeable staff on a variety of topics such as Accounting Primer; Introduction to Billing; How a Law Firm Makes Money; Introduction to Conflicts, Confidentiality & Risk Management; Marketing; Professional Development, to name a few.
Most importantly, our new associates are able to get hands-on training by working closely with our lawyers on client matters, as well as observing closings, hearings, client meetings, negotiation sessions, depositions and trials, whenever possible.
Associate Mentoring
Each first year associate is paired with a mentor for their first two years at the firm. The mentor is typically a partner in their practice group. The mentor acts as a liaison for the first year associate, both socially and professionally, by facilitating introductions, providing guidance on work assignments, and monitoring the first year’s overall progress.
Benefits, Perks & Programs
Everything you would expect from the largest law firm in the Central Valley – and some things you wouldn’t. Our benefits, perks and programs demonstrate McCormick Barstow’s commitment to being a great place to work.
Your total compensation package is much more than just your pay. It also includes an excellent benefits package, a major portion which is subsidized by the firm and much more, featuring:
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Medical, dental, vision and life insurance
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Health Savings Account
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Supplemental life, accidental death and dismemberment insurance
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Health care and dependent care flexible spending accounts
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Employee Assistance Program
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Voluntary insurance options including disability benefits
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401(k) with employer contributions
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Bar Association Membership Program
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Bar Examination & Review Courses Fees
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Bar Licensing & Registration Fees
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In-House CLE Training
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Relocation allowance
Evaluations & Feedback
Constructive feedback from experienced colleagues is one of the most valuable learning tools you will ever encounter. To enhance the professional growth and development of our associates, McCormick Barstow has a performance evaluation system that is intended to provide associates with clear and specific feedback on their performance. Our evaluation system includes an associate self-evaluation questionnaire, written evaluation forms and training for partners on how to conduct meaningful performance reviews. We also provide training for associates on how to get the most out of their review session.
Associates receive two reviews: a mid-year review in April and a second review in October. We currently evaluate each associate’s performance based on the criteria set forth below:
- Professional Competencies
- Written and Oral Communication
- Research and Analytical Ability
- Creativity and Flexibility
- Judgment
- Professional Ethics
- Crisis Management
- Work Ethic
- Interpersonal Skills
- Client Interactions
Contacts
BEN T. NICHOLSON
Hiring Partner
Email: ben.nicholson@mccormickbarstow.com
Tel: 559.433.1300
Fax: 559.433.2300
DEANN ALEXANDER
HR Specialist
Email: deann.alexander@mccormickbarstow.com
Tel: 559.433.2271
Fax: 559.433.2300
McCormick Barstow LLP
7647 N. Fresno Street
Fresno, CA 93720
(559) 433-1300
(559) 433-2300 fax
McCormick Barstow LLP
1125 I Street, Suite 1
Modesto, CA 95354
(209) 524-1100
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Las Vegas, NV 89113
(702) 949-1100
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