FAQ: Careers at Bradley & Riley
- Q: What's different about our firm?
- A: Being one of the largest firms in Cedar Rapids/Iowa City has its perks, but we take great care to make it feel like a smaller firm. Our employees are our most valuable asset as they respect each other in their professional roles, support each other outside the workplace, and come up with new ideas or initiatives to keep the workplace fun and fresh.
- "Bradley & Riley stood out from other firms I was considering because of its values and culture. In my career search I was torn. I wanted to practice complex litigation typically found in the big firms in Chicago and Minneapolis, on the one hand. At the same time, I wanted to join a firm that was family-friendly, rooted to the community, committed to my growth as a lawyer, and invested in my success. In Bradley & Riley I found the best of all worlds."
- "One of the things I appreciate most about working at Bradley & Riley is the approach that clients are firm clients as opposed to clients of individual attorneys. If one of our attorneys has an estate matter come to him but he practices in litigation, he will pass the matter along to me because that is my area of concentration. It is beneficial to me as I develop my practice and beneficial to the client because I can handle the matter more efficiently. This is different from the approach of many firms and benefits both clients and attorneys."
- Adam Tarr, Associate
- Jessica Doro, Associate
- Q: What does Bradley & Riley do for the community?
- A: Our firm believes that taking an active role in the community is a vital part of becoming responsible citizens and better lawyers. From board positions to organizing teams to participate in fundraising events, our firm enjoys the opportunity to support the community that supports us in return.
- "The firm strongly encourages involvement in the community. In my case, they were supportive of my participation in the chamber leadership program in Iowa City, and that has opened the doors for me to more opportunities."
- Joseph Younker, Associate
- Q: Speaking of community, how does the firm build community within?
- A: Don't let the indoor mini-golf tournaments or whiffle ball games on our back lawn fool you. We are a professional firm. However, we like to let our fun sides take over on occasion in order to balance our work with play.
There are opportunities for everyone to get to know each other outside of work. Social events, both impromptu and scheduled, help develop and preserve informal relationships. Some events are firm-wide, others are just for associates, shareholders, or all attorneys.- "This can be a fun place to work. It's serious work, but there's also an opportunity to wear a chicken suit now and then, too."
- Joseph Younker, Associate
- Q: Who is behind the scenes making the firm tick like clock-work?
- A: We have high regard for our paralegals, legal assistants and administrative staff as they help us be the best professionals we can be. Many of our staff have been with the firm for more than ten years, and some for more than twenty years. They believe in the firm's team approach to practicing law and strive to help us provide timely and quality legal products and services.
- "At Bradley & Riley I enjoy the confidence of knowing that I'm surrounded by the best attorneys in their practice areas. The support staff is uniformly excellent. They bring a professional competence and efficiency to the firm that allows me to focus on developing my own practice."
- Adam Tarr, Associate
- Q: How important is technology to the firm?
- A: Our commitment to technology is not a recent fad. We understand that our employees need the most up-to-date tools to offer efficient, quality service to our clients. Notebook computers and secure remote access to our network are available to our lawyers and staff, enabling them to support client needs from anywhere and at any time. Our Manager of Information Systems is a Microsoft Certified Professional who works closely with our lawyers and staff to maximize the use of current technologies. Our technology infrastructure includes a number of tools at each desktop, including case management, electronic research, document and records management and production, automated document assembly, litigation support and trial presentation, and the use of Microsoft Office Professional® for the convenience of our clients.
- "It was a pleasant surprise to move from a large firm in Chicago to arrive at a firm that had invested heavily in the same technology infrastructure and resources I was familiar with."
Jeremy Hagan, Associate
- Q: How do you take care of your employees?
- A: Health and dental insurance options, life insurance, flex benefits and 401(k) plans .these are expected perks when you have a full-time career. Bradley & Riley has an excellent benefit package and is also excited to offer a Wellness Program for all employees. What's in it for the firm? A healthier, happier workforce which is more productive.
- The Wellness Program offers a variety of choices, so the employees can participate in what they feel comfortable. It may include taking part in a firm-sponsored walking program or water-drinking challenge, attending monthly health education sessions held during the lunch hour, participating in an organized community race or sports tournament, attending fitness classes at a gym, etc. As you can tell, our firm promotes an active lifestyle to benefit our employees.
- Q: What do the Iowa City and Cedar Rapids communities have to offer?
- A: We can't say it any better than our enthusiastic attorney below, but here are a few websites you will want to visit to learn more about the Cedar Rapids - Iowa City "Corridor".
- Cedar Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce
- Iowa City Area Chamber of Commerce
- Impact CR
- Cedar Rapids Receives Top Ranking in Next Cities List
- "When my family moved here from the West Coast we were immediately charmed by the historic neighborhoods, great schools, parks, restaurants, and cultural opportunities. As UNESCO recently recognized, Iowa City is truly an international city of culture. The economic diversity of the Corridor also provides a wide range of employment opportunities for spouses. One only has to spend a few days here to understand why Outside Magazine, Kiplinger's, Forbes, and other publications consistently rank this as one of the top places in the United States to live and start a career."
- Adam Tarr, Associate