Attorney Recruitment & Development

The Gold Firm is known for its openness -- every lawyer, including the most senior, is willing to share expertise with a new associate.   From the first days of involvement with the firm, associates are given substantial responsibility and the resources necessary to do a good job.  They find collegiality and candor.  The new associate finds exceptional lawyers for colleagues, challenging assignment and a strong support staff -- three elements essential to launching a successful legal career.

The Gold Firm has grown and prospered because it has hired attorneys of intelligence, integrity, determination and maturity of judgment.   Open communication and  regular evaluation help associates and the firm understand both their relationship and the associate's progress.  The firm expects associates to become shareholders and directors in our professional corporation in six years, and to practice law at the Gold Firm for the duration of their careers.

At the Gold Firm the diversity of our practice of law reaches the entire community.  The firm has developed a broad client base that includes banks and utilities; hospitals and colleges; companies engaged in transportation, communications, manufacturing, agribusiness, high technology, food processing, construction and real estate development; municipalities; state government; regulatory agencies; families and individual citizens.

New associates are not required to select specialized areas of law initially, but are assigned work in areas of law compatible with their interest and the needs of the firm. This less structured method allows career choices to be made at various stages in the associate’s development and assures that they will have a broad background in the firm’s practice and methods.

The new associate is generally assigned to work primarily with one senior attorney.  The firm encourages the early assumption of responsibility by the new lawyer and favors direct client contact whenever appropriate.

New associates are expected to contribute in a significant way to legal assignments given them.  They are not banished to behind-the-scenes work. Instead they are exposed to a full range of legal experience and often have primary responsibility. Associates learn early to rely upon the firm’s considerable resources in advancing client interests. The Gold Firm has paralegals and other skilled support staff available to assist the newest associates in producing first-rate legal work.

The firm also takes particular pride in having one of the most extensive law libraries in the region and state-of-the-art technology resource aides.

The firm's greatest assets, however, are its experienced lawyers.  While some members of the firm are specialists, others are generalists with experience in the diverse day-to-day practice of law.  Several have specialized degrees in tax law and other fields.  New associates soon discover that the atmosphere at the Gold Firm is one of collaboration rather than hierarchy.   Associates are treated with fairness.  Experience is shared, and individual contributions count.

Associates are invited to firm meetings and to in-house seminars on a variety of topics ranging from law office economics to substantive legal questions.  These regularly scheduled meetings and seminars serve as valuable educational opportunities.

The Gold Firm relies on its summer program for first and second year law students as a primary tool for recruiting new associates.   In the course of typical four to six week summer experience, the law student is exposed to the adversarial and non-adversarial aspects of the firm’s practice. Summer associates receive assignments with rotations emphasizing trial, corporate and administrative law work. Ample opportunity for legal research and memo drafting are also part of the summer associate program.

The salary level for summer law students, as with associates, is comparable to those of other major Louisiana firms. Our summer program provides law students with a well-developed "snapshot" of what practicing law is like on a permanent basis with the Gold Firm.

We also try to have fun. Because we are individually going in so many directions, the Gold Firm makes sure that its summer clerks are included in social and recreational outings that give balance to the summer program experience.

New associates joining the Gold Firm following graduation from law school receive starting salaries comparable to those of other major Louisiana law firms, and enjoy rapid advancement in accordance with their individual professional development and performance. The firm pays associates a Christmas bonus and the following fringe benefits:

	Health insurance, including dependant coverage.
	Group term insurance in the amount of one year’s salary.
	Disability income insurance in the amount of 60% of salary for the full duration of disability.
	Bar Association dues (American, State and Parish) and associated expenses of   membership.
	Licensing fees.
	Continuing legal education expenses.
	Dues to civic organizations.

The firm has historically contributed 6 - 10% of each eligible associate’s salary to an account in our profit sharing plan. Attorneys are 100% vested after the two year eligibility period.

Professional and Civic Involvement

The Gold Firm actively supports and encourages participation by attorneys in a wide variety of professional and civic associations and organizations.  Attorneys in the firm are members of the Alexandria, Louisiana and American Bar Associations, and many are active in these Bar Associations.  In addition, attorneys are encouraged to join and participate in the professional activities of other professional organizations, such as the Louisiana Association of Defense Counsel, the Louisiana Trial Lawyers Association, Central Louisiana Association for Women Attorneys, Federation of Insurance and Corporate Counsel, Society of Hospital Attorneys, International Academy of Trial Lawyers, American Board of Trial Advocates, Louisiana Law Institute, National Health Lawyers Association, Louisiana City Attorneys Association and American Judicature Society.

Members of the firm are encouraged to be and are active in a number of civic clubs and organizations such as United Way, Chamber of Commerce, Rotary Club, Kiwanis Club, Lions Club, Industrial Development Board, and Louisiana Association of Business and Industry.

Charitable and support service for organizations such as YMCA, the Alexandria Museum, the Rapides Symphony, the Red River Opera and the Boy Scouts are also a part of our community life.

Growth

The Gold Firm, in order to meet the ever increasing needs of its clients, is seeking highly qualified and motivated applicants for professional positions.  Each year we establish a hiring goal based on anticipated needs and the expectation that most of our associates will remain with the firm.  The firm's recruitment of law students is generally limited to applicants within the top 30% of their graduating classes at LSU and Tulane.  If you would like to consider becoming a part of this growing firm please contact your law school's placement office to schedule an interview with a firm representative who will be on your campus this fall, or:

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