Corporate Fellows.

I read with interest the recent article about Greenberg Traurig's new policy to allow recent law school graduates to work for their firm as "corporate fellows," at reduced pay, and to meet "up to one-third" of their billing target through work as a "resident in training."

FordHarrison began its "Year One" associate development program in 2007. The program is a 15-month, on-the-job training program for new lawyers. Year One associates do not have any minimum billable hours requirement. Instead, they have a clinical hours requirement.

Similar to the medical internship model, the primary purpose of clinical hours is to learn through hands-on work assignments, direct observation, and mentoring. The program includes a six- to 12-week full-time secondment to a client's legal department, classroom training, and independent self-study.

Unlike Greenberg's program, our new...