Orientation vs. Overload: 
Effectively Managing Your Summer Training Program

Christopher McKenna and Kelly McPhie wrote "Orientation vs. Overload: Effectively Managing Your Summer Training Program" for the NALP Bulletin. This article discusses how law firm professional development managers can improve summer associate training by addressing learning overload and retention barriers. It recommends focusing on timing (shorter sessions with breaks), delivery (repetition and varied teaching methods) and meaning (linking each session to clear skill goals). By applying these principles, firms can make training more engaging, effective and less overwhelming for new associates.

Reproduced from NALP Bulletin+. ©2025 National Association for Law Placement, Inc. (NALP). All rights reserved. For reprint permission, please contact the NALP office at 202-835-1001 or email info@nalp.org.