2016 Bar Association of San Francisco Barristers Club Practical Skills Initiative (PSI) Survey

As the new lawyers division of the Bar Association of San Francisco (BASF), the Barristers Club is committed to creating opportunities for junior attorneys to develop the practical skills necessary to excel in the legal profession. Please take 2-3 minutes to answer the following questions regarding your professional development and the programs/policies/tools you have found most effective in building and sharpening your advocacy skills.

Thank you!

Question Title

* 1. What is the name of your law firm?

Question Title

* 2. Where is your office located (City, State)?

Question Title

* 3. How many attorneys are in your office?

Question Title

* 4. If your firm has multiple offices, how many attorneys are in your entire firm?

Question Title

* 5. How many years have you been practicing?

Question Title

* 6. How many years had you been practicing when you first did the following:

	2 years or less	3-4 years	5-6 years	7 or more years	Haven't done this yet
Took or defended a deposition	Took or defended a deposition 2 years or less	Took or defended a deposition 3-4 years	Took or defended a deposition 5-6 years	Took or defended a deposition 7 or more years	Took or defended a deposition Haven't done this yet
Argued a motion in court	Argued a motion in court 2 years or less	Argued a motion in court 3-4 years	Argued a motion in court 5-6 years	Argued a motion in court 7 or more years	Argued a motion in court Haven't done this yet
Examined a witness at trial	Examined a witness at trial 2 years or less	Examined a witness at trial 3-4 years	Examined a witness at trial 5-6 years	Examined a witness at trial 7 or more years	Examined a witness at trial Haven't done this yet
Gave an opening or closing at trial	Gave an opening or closing at trial 2 years or less	Gave an opening or closing at trial 3-4 years	Gave an opening or closing at trial 5-6 years	Gave an opening or closing at trial 7 or more years	Gave an opening or closing at trial Haven't done this yet

Question Title

* 7. How many times have you now done the following:

	1-2 times	3-5 times	6-10 times	10 or more times	Haven't done this yet
Taken or defended a deposition	Taken or defended a deposition 1-2 times	Taken or defended a deposition 3-5 times	Taken or defended a deposition 6-10 times	Taken or defended a deposition 10 or more times	Taken or defended a deposition Haven't done this yet
Argued a motion in court	Argued a motion in court 1-2 times	Argued a motion in court 3-5 times	Argued a motion in court 6-10 times	Argued a motion in court 10 or more times	Argued a motion in court Haven't done this yet
Examined a witness at trial	Examined a witness at trial 1-2 times	Examined a witness at trial 3-5 times	Examined a witness at trial 6-10 times	Examined a witness at trial 10 or more times	Examined a witness at trial Haven't done this yet
Given an opening or closing at trial	Given an opening or closing at trial 1-2 times	Given an opening or closing at trial 3-5 times	Given an opening or closing at trial 6-10 times	Given an opening or closing at trial 10 or more times	Given an opening or closing at trial Haven't done this yet

Question Title

* 8. How satisfied are you with the stage in your career at which your firm provided you with the above and/or other opportunities to develop your litigation skills?

Very Satisfied

Somewhat Satisfied

Neutral

Somewhat Unsatisfied

Very Unsatisfied

Question Title

* 9. Does your firm (or other firms where you have worked) have any programs/policies/tools to help junior attorneys develop practical skills (e.g., formal training; shadowing opportunities; mentoring; guidelines or checklists for goals based on practice level; pro bono opportunities; associate development committees, etc.)?

Yes

Not Sure

(Optional) Please list/describe these programs/policies/tools:

Question Title

* 10. If your firm has a minimum billable hour requirement, do you receive credit toward that requirement for time spent utilizing the firm’s professional development programs/policies/tools?

Yes, for pro bono hours

Yes, for other training hours

Not sure

N/A

(Optional) Please specify how the hours are credited

Question Title

* 11. If you receive credit toward your minimum billable hour requirement for that time, are those hours given the same value as hours billed to matters for paying clients?

Yes, for pro bono hours

Yes, for other training hours

Not sure

N/A

(Optional) Please specify how the hours are credited

Question Title

* 12. How satisfied are you with your firm’s support of your professional development, including the amount or type of practical skills training programs and the policies regarding billable credit?

Very Satisfied

Somewhat Satisfied

Neutral

Somewhat Unsatisfied

Very Unsatisfied

Question Title

* 13. (Optional) Please provide any additional information regarding the issues raised in this survey (e.g., programs or policies you felt were most helpful; suggestions for programs or policies to develop and sharpen practical litigation skills; issues you've encountered with partners, clients, and/or judges in seeking additional litigation experiences such as oral arguments)

Question Title

* 14. (Optional) Name:

Question Title

* 15. (Optional) May the Barristers Club Practical Skills Initiative (PSI) Task Force contact you with follow-up questions? If so, please provide your email address:

Thank you for taking this survey.