Momentum is White & Case's revamped professional skills training program for associates. We launched the initiative last year, with Americas and EMEA in-person "summits" for third- and fifth-year associates.

The curriculum is developed almost entirely by our lawyers—both partners and senior associates—and the Firm's Learning & Development team. Our lawyers also lead the program's facilitation.

"This is all about 'from my desk to your desk,'" says Kathrin Schwesinger, a New York M&A partner and key contributor to the redesign of the Momentum program. "It's the concept of apprenticeship. It's learning on the job, as close as we can get to that in a classroom setting."

Momentum summits are designed to support third- and fifth-year associates as they begin shifting from being individual contributors to managing people and leading matters. A newly developed associate skills framework underpins the curriculum, which covers nine core skills relating to people, clients and execution, such as effective communication, client industry knowledge and workstream management.

This translates into third-year training sessions such as "Delegate to execute and empower," "Innovate for impact" and "Manage matters from the middle," while fifth-year associates see topics including "Rise into leadership," "Matter profitability" and "Planting the seeds of client development."

The three-day summits take place offsite—a new feature of the program—often at retreat-like properties in locations where the Firm doesn't have an office, such as Austin, Texas and Windsor, England. Evening social events round out the experience.

Chief Engagement & Development Officer Hedieh Fakhriyazdi says, "The fact that our lawyers' lived experience is what's driving Momentum's content and delivery marks a significant step in the Firm's professional skills training. Having dedicated offsites also creates much-needed space, both physical and mental, for all White & Case associates to fully invest in themselves and their own professional development."

Each of the Firm's regions—Americas, EMEA and APAC—will have one third-year and one fifth-year summit every year. The rest of the Momentum curriculum, which will eventually be available to associates at all levels, is currently being developed. Beyond this, White & Case offers foundational training for junior associates and a senior development program for partner-track associates.

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