Opportunities at the Vogel Law Firm

Vogel’s 47 lawyers practice in virtually all areas of law, including: civil litigation (including business litigation, personal injury, medical and legal malpractice defense, products liability, family law, construction litigation and media law), criminal defense, health law, employment and labor law, bankruptcy and collections, real estate, business/corporate practice, environmental, legislative and government affairs, estate planning and more. Following a carefully considered business plan, Vogel has doubled in size over the past ten years, adding offices and additional practice areas in Bismarck (merging with Kapsner & Oliver) and Moorhead (merging with the Gunhus Law Firm). Given the post-merger synergies and additional services we can provide to this broader base of clients, Vogel anticipates continued growth. While we typically do not post open positions for lateral hires, we are always interested in hearing from motivated attorneys with an interest in joining Vogel. Feel free to contact Recruiting Committee Chair, Rob Manly to discuss opportunities with the Vogel Law Firm.

FUTURE OPPORTUNITIES

Start your Legal Career as an Associate with Vogel

Vogel hires new associates every fall. While it is difficult to portray on a website just what its like to be an associate at Vogel, we hope this page will provide you with valuable information about our associate program and expectations for your work experience.

Unless the associate is hired for a specific position, new associates generally provide support for the needs arising in either the litigation or transactional areas. New associates attend both the Business Practice Group and the Litigation Practice Group during their first year. After one year, the associate may choose to work in either area, or continue to practice in both. Through the exposure to a variety of firm attorneys and practice areas, associates will gradually develop a niche practice of their own, whether that is becoming involved in an existing niche or something entirely new for the firm.

Vogel’s formal mentoring program and firm orientation program introduce our newest lawyers to the members of the firm, the members of the community and the Vogel philosophy. We strive to impart and adhere to our core values statement, which is “Excellence and integrity in an atmosphere of respect and cooperation.” At Vogel, you become part of a team of collegial people who truly care about their work, their clients and their colleagues.

One of Vogel’s most attractive attributes is the emphasis on work-life balance. Vogel encourages family and community involvement, marketing and pro bono work experience. Our attorneys’ profiles underscore this point. Among our attorneys, you’ll find people who run marathons, competitively race racecars, teach classes at undergraduate, graduate schools and law schools, win community service awards, are nominated for area Woman of the Year, serve on boards, go to their kids’ events, are Big Brothers & Big Sisters, co-host local radio shows and take vacations. We not only talk about work-life balance, we live it.

Associates are reviewed annually by the firm’s Management Committee to ensure that the associate is always aware of his or her progress. Areas discussed include: practice area interests and development, quality of work product, firm involvement, strengths and weaknesses, areas for improvement and progress toward partnership. Several particularly strong associates have been advanced a year or more on the partnership track due to stellar performance and reviews.

Vogel offers a very competitive compensation package, with full benefits including 401K and pension plan. Associates are also eligible for performance-based bonuses at year end.

Opportunities for Lateral Hires
We are always interested in hearing from motivated attorneys with an interest in joining Vogel. Feel free to contact Recruiting Committee Chair, Rob Manly at rmanly@vogellaw.com to discuss opportunities with the Vogel Law Firm.

Summer Associate Program
Vogel Law Firm's Summer Associate Program offers diverse legal experiences in a professional and collegial environment. In 2008, second year law students will be selected for Summer Associate positions in our Bismarck, Fargo, and Moorhead offices. The Fargo and Moorhead Summer Associates rotate every 3-4 weeks throughout the summer, so each will have a rotation in the Moorhead office, and on both the litigation floor and corporate floor in the Fargo offices. This provides a wealth of exposure to a majority of our attorneys and exposure to many practice areas.

Mike Andrews will coordinate the 2008 Summer Associate Program. The Coordinator conducts weekly meetings with Summer Associates throughout the summer. At these meetings, projects are distributed according to Summer Associate availability and interest area. The weekly meetings also give Summer Associates time to bond with each other and to discuss any difficult issues they confront in projects. The Program provides opportunities for Summer Associates to gain experience in their areas of interest, as well as be exposed to areas of law the Summer Associate may not have otherwise considered. Vogel's attorneys include Summer Associates in observation experiences, such as trials, depositions, motion hearings, client meetings and mediations.

Summer Associates are welcomed to see the social side of the firm as well. Attorneys include Summer Associates in many lunches, trips to the coffee or pastry shop, and an occasional round of golf. Past Summer Associates have been instrumental parts of volleyball teams, running groups, outings to the RedHawks, picnics and other family social gatherings throughout the summer. This provides the Summer Associate with a key view into one of the best attributes of the Vogel Law Firm: the friendly, collegial people who work here.