Career Prospects at K&L Gates

Being a clerk/paralegal/graduate, it is easy to move up the ranks as you progress with each year. Following this, I think most junior lawyers progress at a steady rate.

I have no idea what the career progression and opportunities are for me. So can't comment, but also fairly unsatisfied. Already planning on next firm.

There is a lack of transparency regarding the promotion process/what is desired in performance reviews

Usually, the progression is Paralegal, Graduate, Lawyer (1-5 yrs), Senior Associate (5+ years), then Partner. It is clear what experience is needed to progress.

Lawyers are made senior associate after about five years. I think it would be good to have a tier in between (ie associate).

Moving up the ranks at K&L is a smooth process. However, it appears to be team dependent and needs dependent as well.

We start to get information about promotions early, but this is not something I have considered yet.

Promotition opportunities are formalised in firm policies. This provides transperancy.

The firm runs sessions of career progression and provides mentors who can inform us of the career progression opportunities

Moving up the ranks appears to be mostly about time. Being good only helps you progress a little faster, but it's mostly time based.

Like any good firm, progression takes experience, an interest in the work and a real talent for it, and most of all, a great attitude.

The firm has begun to educate us on the development and promotion opportunities available to us but it remains more high-level and less specific than I would prefer. There are no specific, discernible metrics by which I can measure myself against to ensure I am within the ambit of a promotion or development opportunity that has been shared with me yet.

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After the graduate year we have quite clear targets for billable hours and other KPIs that are taken into account with regard to career progression.

This will simply be a matter of gaining experience and developing BD skills.

There's not much transparency or information on how to move up the ranks made publicly available - onus is put on individuals to speak to their supervisors to find out paths forward.

Promotion requires consistently high quality work over a long period of time, and an evidenced ability to deal with added responsibility. Promotion possibilities from lawyer are to Senior Associate (~5 years PAE), and then to Special Counsel or Partner depending on your expertise and client base.

Haven�t had enough experience to know

I see good career prospects of making it to Senior Associate here, however I don't see any other sustainable career prospects for my long term future