A first-year associate’s career at Simpson Thacher begins by attending
STBReady, an in-depth orientation program that is designed to help prepare associates to meaningfully contribute to their matters from day one and form the foundation of knowledge and context on which new associates will base their professional development. Using actual transactions and disputes as case studies, STBReady provides first year-associates with:
- Business and financial literacy training led by Columbia Business School faculty and supplemented by Simpson Thacher partners, to demonstrate how business and financial contexts impact the Firm's legal practice, advice, and decisions
- Experiential practice-specific sessions led by Simpson Thacher partners and associates, designed to help associates understand the broader context for, and practice, the tasks that will be required of them on their matters through hands on exercises, mock assignments and real-time feedback. Litigation associates attend workshops introducing them to the life cycles of litigation, investigation and deal advisory matters, demonstrating how junior associates contribute at each stage. Corporate associates participate in workshops for their initial practice groups. These workshops provide an overview of the practice group and teach practical skills needed for the practice group (e.g. performing a form check for Capital Markets, due diligence for M&A, reviewing subscription agreements for Funds).
- Industry-specific knowledge sessions led by Firm partners and key business partners of the Firm, designed to introduce associates to industry-specific issues, deal structures, financing techniques and other matters faced by our clients
- Sessions focused on teamwork, efficiency, knowledge sharing and technology
There are also many informal opportunities for new associates to get to know their colleagues throughout the orientation during STBReady "homerooms" and various activity-based social events.