EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE EVALUATION FORM
Law Firm Staff Evaluation
EVALUATION INFORMATION
| Field | Information |
|---|---|
| Law Firm Name | [________________________________] |
| Evaluation Period | [__/__/____] to [__/__/____] |
| Evaluation Type | ☐ Annual ☐ Semi-Annual ☐ Quarterly ☐ Probationary ☐ Special |
| Evaluation Date | [__/__/____] |
| Next Review Date | [__/__/____] |
EMPLOYEE INFORMATION
| Field | Information |
|---|---|
| Employee Name | [________________________________] |
| Employee ID | [________________________________] |
| Position/Title | [________________________________] |
| Department/Practice Group | [________________________________] |
| Date of Hire | [__/__/____] |
| Time in Current Position | [________________________________] |
| Employment Status | ☐ Full-Time ☐ Part-Time ☐ Temporary |
| Supervising Attorney(s) | [________________________________] |
EVALUATOR INFORMATION
| Field | Information |
|---|---|
| Evaluator Name | [________________________________] |
| Evaluator Title | [________________________________] |
| Relationship to Employee | ☐ Direct Supervisor ☐ Managing Partner ☐ HR Manager ☐ Other |
RATING SCALE
| Rating | Description |
|---|---|
| 5 - Exceptional | Consistently exceeds all expectations; role model performance |
| 4 - Exceeds Expectations | Frequently exceeds expectations; high-quality work |
| 3 - Meets Expectations | Consistently meets job requirements; satisfactory performance |
| 2 - Needs Improvement | Sometimes meets expectations; improvement required |
| 1 - Unsatisfactory | Does not meet minimum requirements; immediate improvement needed |
| N/A | Not applicable to this position |
SECTION 1: JOB KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS
| Competency | Rating (1-5) | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Understanding of job duties and responsibilities | [____] | [________________________] |
| Knowledge of law firm procedures and policies | [____] | [________________________] |
| Technical skills relevant to position | [____] | [________________________] |
| Legal software proficiency (case management, billing, etc.) | [____] | [________________________] |
| Understanding of legal terminology and concepts | [____] | [________________________] |
| Continuing education and skill development | [____] | [________________________] |
Section Average: [____]
Comments:
[________________________________]
[________________________________]
SECTION 2: QUALITY OF WORK
| Competency | Rating (1-5) | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Accuracy and attention to detail | [____] | [________________________] |
| Thoroughness of work product | [____] | [________________________] |
| Proofreading and error detection | [____] | [________________________] |
| Document formatting and organization | [____] | [________________________] |
| Compliance with firm standards | [____] | [________________________] |
| Quality of client-facing work | [____] | [________________________] |
Section Average: [____]
Comments:
[________________________________]
[________________________________]
SECTION 3: PRODUCTIVITY AND TIME MANAGEMENT
| Competency | Rating (1-5) | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Volume of work completed | [____] | [________________________] |
| Meeting deadlines consistently | [____] | [________________________] |
| Prioritization of tasks | [____] | [________________________] |
| Efficient use of time | [____] | [________________________] |
| Ability to handle multiple tasks | [____] | [________________________] |
| Timely completion of assigned projects | [____] | [________________________] |
Section Average: [____]
Comments:
[________________________________]
[________________________________]
SECTION 4: COMMUNICATION
| Competency | Rating (1-5) | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Written communication skills | [____] | [________________________] |
| Verbal communication skills | [____] | [________________________] |
| Telephone manner and professionalism | [____] | [________________________] |
| Listening skills | [____] | [________________________] |
| Communication with attorneys | [____] | [________________________] |
| Communication with clients | [____] | [________________________] |
| Communication with opposing counsel/courts | [____] | [________________________] |
Section Average: [____]
Comments:
[________________________________]
[________________________________]
SECTION 5: PROFESSIONALISM AND RELIABILITY
| Competency | Rating (1-5) | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Attendance and punctuality | [____] | [________________________] |
| Professional appearance and demeanor | [____] | [________________________] |
| Dependability and reliability | [____] | [________________________] |
| Adherence to confidentiality requirements | [____] | [________________________] |
| Ethical conduct | [____] | [________________________] |
| Representation of firm to clients and public | [____] | [________________________] |
Section Average: [____]
Attendance Record:
- Days Absent: [____]
- Days Late: [____]
- Unexcused Absences: [____]
Comments:
[________________________________]
[________________________________]
SECTION 6: TEAMWORK AND COLLABORATION
| Competency | Rating (1-5) | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Cooperation with coworkers | [____] | [________________________] |
| Willingness to assist others | [____] | [________________________] |
| Contribution to team goals | [____] | [________________________] |
| Respect for colleagues | [____] | [________________________] |
| Flexibility and adaptability | [____] | [________________________] |
| Conflict resolution skills | [____] | [________________________] |
Section Average: [____]
Comments:
[________________________________]
[________________________________]
SECTION 7: INITIATIVE AND PROBLEM-SOLVING
| Competency | Rating (1-5) | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Takes initiative without prompting | [____] | [________________________] |
| Identifies problems proactively | [____] | [________________________] |
| Proposes solutions and improvements | [____] | [________________________] |
| Resourcefulness in finding answers | [____] | [________________________] |
| Judgment and decision-making | [____] | [________________________] |
| Willingness to take on new responsibilities | [____] | [________________________] |
Section Average: [____]
Comments:
[________________________________]
[________________________________]
SECTION 8: CLIENT SERVICE (If Applicable)
| Competency | Rating (1-5) | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Responsiveness to client needs | [____] | [________________________] |
| Client satisfaction | [____] | [________________________] |
| Professional interaction with clients | [____] | [________________________] |
| Handling of client inquiries | [____] | [________________________] |
| Client confidentiality maintenance | [____] | [________________________] |
Section Average: [____]
Comments:
[________________________________]
[________________________________]
OVERALL PERFORMANCE SUMMARY
Rating Summary
| Section | Average Rating |
|---|---|
| Job Knowledge and Skills | [____] |
| Quality of Work | [____] |
| Productivity and Time Management | [____] |
| Communication | [____] |
| Professionalism and Reliability | [____] |
| Teamwork and Collaboration | [____] |
| Initiative and Problem-Solving | [____] |
| Client Service | [____] |
| OVERALL RATING | [____] |
Overall Performance Level
☐ 5 - Exceptional
☐ 4 - Exceeds Expectations
☐ 3 - Meets Expectations
☐ 2 - Needs Improvement
☐ 1 - Unsatisfactory
ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND STRENGTHS
Key Accomplishments This Review Period:
-
[________________________________]
-
[________________________________]
-
[________________________________]
-
[________________________________]
Primary Strengths:
-
[________________________________]
-
[________________________________]
-
[________________________________]
AREAS FOR IMPROVEMENT
Areas Requiring Development:
-
[________________________________]
-
[________________________________]
-
[________________________________]
Specific Improvement Actions Required:
-
[________________________________]
-
[________________________________]
-
[________________________________]
GOALS FOR NEXT REVIEW PERIOD
Goal 1
| Field | Information |
|---|---|
| Goal Description | [________________________________] |
| Measurement Criteria | [________________________________] |
| Target Date | [__/__/____] |
| Resources/Support Needed | [________________________________] |
Goal 2
| Field | Information |
|---|---|
| Goal Description | [________________________________] |
| Measurement Criteria | [________________________________] |
| Target Date | [__/__/____] |
| Resources/Support Needed | [________________________________] |
Goal 3
| Field | Information |
|---|---|
| Goal Description | [________________________________] |
| Measurement Criteria | [________________________________] |
| Target Date | [__/__/____] |
| Resources/Support Needed | [________________________________] |
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN
Training/Education Recommended:
☐ [________________________________]
☐ [________________________________]
☐ [________________________________]
Certifications to Pursue:
☐ [________________________________]
☐ [________________________________]
Mentoring Opportunities:
[________________________________]
COMPENSATION REVIEW (If Applicable)
☐ Salary Increase Recommended: [____]% ($ [________])
☐ Bonus Recommended: $[________]
☐ No Change Recommended
☐ Promotion Recommended to: [________________________________]
Compensation Comments:
[________________________________]
EMPLOYEE SELF-ASSESSMENT (Optional)
Employee's Self-Assessment of Performance:
[________________________________]
[________________________________]
[________________________________]
Employee's Goals and Career Aspirations:
[________________________________]
[________________________________]
EVALUATION MEETING
Meeting Date: [__/__/____]
Meeting Duration: [____] minutes
Topics Discussed:
[________________________________]
[________________________________]
SIGNATURES
Evaluator Acknowledgment
I certify that this evaluation represents a fair and accurate assessment of the employee's performance.
Evaluator Signature: [________________________________]
Date: [__/__/____]
Employee Acknowledgment
I acknowledge that I have received and discussed this performance evaluation. My signature does not necessarily indicate agreement with the evaluation.
Employee Signature: [________________________________]
Date: [__/__/____]
Employee Comments (Optional):
[________________________________]
[________________________________]
[________________________________]
☐ Employee wishes to attach additional comments
Management Review (If Required)
Reviewed By: [________________________________]
Title: [________________________________]
Date: [__/__/____]
Comments:
[________________________________]
FOLLOW-UP ACTIONS
| Action Item | Responsible Party | Due Date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| [________________________________] | [____________] | [__/__/____] | ☐ Pending ☐ Complete |
| [________________________________] | [____________] | [__/__/____] | ☐ Pending ☐ Complete |
| [________________________________] | [____________] | [__/__/____] | ☐ Pending ☐ Complete |
This evaluation should be retained in the employee's personnel file. Performance issues should be addressed promptly as they occur, not solely during scheduled evaluations.
About This Template
Jurisdiction-Specific
This template is drafted for general use across all U.S. jurisdictions. State-specific versions with local statutory references are also available.
How It's Made
Drafted using current statutory databases and legal standards for practice management. Each template includes proper legal citations, defined terms, and standard protective clauses.
Important Notice
This template is provided for informational purposes. It is not legal advice. We recommend having an attorney review any legal document before signing, especially for high-value or complex matters.
Last updated: February 2026