Attorney Development Committee

Nothing is more important to ArentFox Schiff than our people. From coast to coast and across our practices, everything we do depends on the strength of our team. The Attorney Development Committee’s mission is to invest in that team. We help AFS lawyers be their best and reach their full potential.

Investing In Our People

The ADC focuses on seven key areas — our building blocks of professional development and enrichment. We encourage all our attorneys to take advantage of these offerings and provide feedback on how we can better serve you.

Our Pillars

Training AFS University provides best-in-class professional training, working hand in hand with our practice group leaders, partners, and industry teams.

Leadership Groundbreaking opportunities for personal growth and leadership development in the AFS Fellows Program.

Wellness Programs, discussions, and resources designed to help you keep a positive, healthy work-life balance.

Business Development Of all the skills needed in our career, none intimidates more than building a book of business - we can help.

Mentoring Ensuring you have a positive, helpful, and sensitive mentor to answer your questions and provide advice.

Coaching ArentFox Schiff has a professional career coach available to help you grow and improve in a number of vital areas.

Diversity, Inclusion & Empowerment Who we are as a firm must always celebrate, protect, and nurture diversity - it’s part of our DNA at ArentFox Schiff.

Spotlight: AFS University

We are committed to your learning and development journey. In 2022, the firm launched AFS University. Led by Paula Ketcham (Complex Litigation) and Alan Fishel (Corporate & Securities), AFSU provides best-in-class professional training, working hand in hand with our practice group leaders, partners, and industry teams.

New Associates Training Week Intensive in-person instruction for our newest lawyers on transactional, litigation, writing, and business and communication skills, law firm best practices, and introductions to key firm committees and teams.

Demystifying Partnership A seven-part series designed to educate mid-level and senior associates about the path to partnership and what happens “on the other side.”

Mid-Level Associates Retreat A program focused on helping mid-level associates move to the next level of responsibility, emphasizing networking, communications skills, business development, and wellness.

Fact & Expert Deposition Training A multi-day, in-person, hands-on program for associates in our litigation practices led by our litigation partners.

Contracts Program An interactive program to help attorneys recognize and find flaws in agreements, with follow-up meetings to further enhance learning.

Ongoing Presentations These presentations cover a wide variety of topics, such as negotiating mistakes and how best to avoid them.

Spotlight: Wellness

As a signatory to the American Bar Association’s Well-Being Pledge, ArentFox Schiff is dedicated to addressing substance abuse and mental health challenges within the legal profession, providing education, policies, and resources that promote well-being for all firm professionals. Our ADC’s wellness arm, led by Annie Lee (Health Care), offers a holistic approach with training and discussions on a broad spectrum of topics, from mental health and substance abuse to mindfulness and financial wellness. In 2022, we hosted Paula Davis, founder of the Stress & Resilience Institute, for a series of talks on dealing with burnout and creating resilience, emphasizing team-building concepts. In spring 2023, best-selling author Cassie Holmes joined us to discuss time management and how small changes can enhance our lives. We are also recruiting Wellness Ambassadors across the firm to further our mission of creating a healthier, happier workplace.

“Attorney wellness and mental health is an important aspect of the ADC, and we are committed to creating a more healthy and supportive environment at AFS. This includes de-stigmatizing the concept of seeking help from professionals, colleagues, or both. AFS is a proud signatory of the American Bar Association’s Well-Being Pledge Campaign, and we welcome any and all ideas to improve the well-being of our AFS colleagues.”

Annie Chang Lee

Partner & ADC Member