Penn Law And Drinker Biddle Offer Students Innovative, Practical Training

Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP partners Scott Connolly and Matthew McDonald are joining with the University of Pennsylvania Law School’s Center on Professionalism to offer two transactional law “boot camps” during Penn Law’s Spring 2012 semester.

These four-day boot camps offer Penn Law students a unique opportunity to experience the legal and business issues that transactional lawyers face while receiving guidance and real-time feedback from practicing attorneys. The programs are based on modules and materials developed by Connolly and McDonald as part of Drinker Biddle’s nationally recognized First Year Associate Development Program.

“Our Center on Professionalism has been engaging topical experts to bring a series of skills training opportunities to students,” said Heather Frattone, Associate Dean for Career Planning & Professionalism at Penn Law. “This partnership with Drinker lawyers offers our students hands-on training in M&A and securities practice — skills that will be essential to successful practice as a new lawyer.”

The first boot camp is being held in early February and will focus on private mergers and acquisitions. The second program, to be held in late March, focuses on public securities reporting and compliance. Both sessions will challenge students with a series of practical exercises that simulate the experience of being transactional lawyers and will help students build the skills needed to succeed as associates in law firms.

“After three years of offering our new associates intense, experiential training through our First Year Associate Development Program, we’ve seen the difference it makes in the quality of their work and their ability to tackle new challenges,” Connolly said. “We are pleased to be working with Penn Law to offer its students the same training opportunities.”

Added McDonald: “Programs like this highlight Penn Law’s commitment to offering its students practical training. We have enjoyed being a part of this innovative program and look forward to continuing it in the future.”

Connolly and McDonald also have joined Penn Law’s Entrepreneurship Legal Clinic (ELC) as adjunct faculty members for the Spring 2012 semester. In that role, they are working with Practice Associate Professor of Law and ELC Director Praveen Kosuri to advise Clinic students in representing real-life clients — entrepreneurs and small business owners — on a variety of legal issues.