Akin Gump’s goal is to develop well-trained, successful lawyers who have a high degree of career satisfaction and add value to the firm. We work toward this goal using a competency-based approach to professional development which provides our lawyers with clear expectations, the opportunity to develop their skills and the benefit of receiving the most meaningful evaluation of their progress. Our professional development program is anchored by four core competencies – ownership, professional excellence, service and teamwork, and client focus. In addition to the core competencies, our framework includes practice-specific benchmarks to guide our lawyers’ professional development, a fair and effective assignment process, hands-on opportunities and experiences, training programs in the skills that enable lawyers to excel, and practice-specific training to give our lawyers the tools to become outstanding practitioners in their chosen field. 

Professional development requires more than training and defined expectations, and the firm supports a culture of mentoring our associates and providing feedback and evaluations on both an informal and formal basis. The firm’s real time feedback system, Akin Thrive, allows supervising lawyers to provide feedback at the conclusion of an assignment, matter or project and the system allows associates and counsel to request feedback at any time. Our attorneys receive the benefit of our partners' and senior attorneys' experience through formal training programs, participation in firm committees and through formal and informal mentoring. Each first year associate is assigned a Peer Advisor and Partner Advisor to assist with the transition into firm life. Additionally, the firm has established an annual Partner Recognition award to recognize a partner in each office who excels at mentoring and the professional development of associates and counsel.

In addition to the ongoing mentoring and feedback received throughout the year, each attorney participates in an interactive formal evaluation process on an annual basis. The formal process includes a self-evaluation, evaluations completed by supervising lawyers, and an annual performance conference. The firm also provides training for lawyers related to all aspects of the evaluation process.