Transcription
2020e-Edition
Get toknow us.How are we differentfrom other law firms?Well, it’s our dynamic spiritthat hits you from the get-go.The feeling of trust; of sharingknowledge to help us all powerforward. The deep relationshipswe forge with clients and witheach other, to create acommunity that buzzeswith promise. A communitywhere, above all, you canalways be yourself.Hogan Lovells is an international legal practice that includes Hogan Lovells InternationalLLP, Hogan Lovells US LLP and their affiliated businesses. Images of people may featurecurrent or former lawyers and employees at Hogan Lovells or models not connectedwith the firm.www.hoganlovells.com Hogan Lovells 2020. All rights reserved. careers.us
SPARKINGNEWIDEAS.To be inspired by ingenuity and innovationis to challenge the status quo and push greatideas forward.With more than 575 lawyers in 17 officespracticing in 40 areas of law, we serve ourclients globally and stand ready to meettheir most challenging legal needs. And thattakes a special culture. A foundation built onteamwork and client service. United in a spiritof cooperation. Strengthened with experienceand character.haynesboone.comAustinCharlotteOrange CountyChicagoPalo Alto 2019 Haynes and Boone, LLPDallasDenverRichardsonFort WorthSan AntonioHoustonShanghaiLondonMexico CityThe WoodlandsNew YorkWashington, D.C.
The Student’s Guideto Law Firms2020-2021www.chambers-associate.com
Contents1: IntroductionThe 2020-21 edition p.4Our editorial team p.6A beginner’s guide to research p.72: Law Firm Comparison DataHow do you choose the right firm? p.11Hours and compensation survey p.12 Table of salaries, billable hour requirements,pro bono hoursFirms by size p.17 A chart of firm revenues, headcounts, officenumbers and international networks, summer class sizes and first-year intakesWork/life benefits survey p.21 Who offers the most vacation? Parentalleave?Diversity p.26 Law firm diversity profiles broken down bypartner and associate numbers for gender,ethnicity and LGBTPublished byChambers and PartnersNo.3 Waterhouse Square138 Holborn, LondonEC1N 2SW 44 20 7606 8844www.chambers.comCopyright 2020Chambers and Partners LtdISBN 978-0-85514-640-52Our thanks to the many associates, recruiters and partners who assisted us in our research.Editor: Antony CookeDeputy Editors: Leah Henderson,Michael Bird, Paul RanceWriters: Ayesha Hayat, Harry Cerasale, Joel Poultney,Natalie Bertram, Nikolai Viedge, Olivia O’Driscoll, RhiaLyon, Sal Francis MortonProduction: Jasper JohnSales: Darren Saunders, Sam GrantDeputy Profiles and Publications Manager: Erin Read
3: Becoming a LawyerWhat type of law firm suits you? p.33Law school timeline p.35On-campus interviews p.36Summer programs p.40Clerkships p.42SCOTUS clerkships p.45Pro bono p.474: Legal Industry TrendsTrends in the recruitment market p.53 Bankruptcy law and making thatcareer U-turn p.60The rise of self-driving cars p.64AI and the law p.67Regional trends p.69LGBTQ inclusion in law firms p.75How to be an effective ally p.79Mentorship and sponsorship .com5: Practice Areas eports on the main practice areas toRhelp you choose the right path p.83 What lawyers in each area actually do dayto-day. What are the downsides you neverhear about? What current legal, commercialor political issues affect the practice area?Plus, some top lawyers offer their words ofwisdom.6: The Inside View Full features on 107 leadingUS firms p.277 The most extensive survey of its kind,based on thousands of telephoneinterviews with junior associates andmanagement, the Inside View givesstudents the most unbiased and truthfulinformation available to help make aninformed decision.All content plus more can be found at:www.chambers-associate.com33
Foreword to Chambers Associate 2020-21Only a cave dweller would attempt optimism in 2020, but here goes. Firstly, lawyers arebilling more pro bono hours than ever in the seven years we’ve been tracking this. The callto ‘make the world a better place’ is strong in a lot of law school enrollments, so this is goodnews for meeting students’ career goals. How well a law firm meets expectations has beencentral to our research this year: if the experience falls short the associate will leave. Andwe’ve seen a generational shift in the reasons why lawyers walk out: today’s junior lawyers are eschewing traditional signifiers of success like power and wealth, and pursuingintellectual challenge and, in particular, positive working cultures. So our second call foroptimism is that today’s junior lawyers are behaving in a more empowered way, seekingpersonal gratification over status, and law firms are having to accommodate.Amid this greater focus on culture, firms are under the spotlight from their clients aswell as their attorneys to improve their retention of diverse lawyers. And to see how wasteful and costly attrition is for firms has urged them to make D&I and good mental healthcore priorities with the power to affect the firm’s commercial fortunes. Addressing theseissues is hard in this uniquely taut industry, but the pressure to improve working culturesmakes this a better time than ever to become a lawyer – our third big reason for optimism.And finally, while some industries are suffering badly this year, we should take comfort inseeing what a resilient place the law is, able to nimbly switch its focus in the face of crisis;more on that from Leah below. Whether you find my rose-tinted viewpoint delusional ornot, these turbulent times will at least favor a resourceful and pragmatic mindset.Antony Cooke, EditorWe can’t go much further without mentioning the pandemic-shaped elephant in the room.Readers today are facing challenges that no generation of law student has faced before. Asschools and firms adhere to social distancing measures, interviews and summer programs aregoing virtual. Law firms have been forced to adapt their way of working. The long-lasting effects of the global emergency on firms and the industries of their clients are yet to be seen –butthe world still needs lawyers. Some practices are even enjoying a boom. As businesses try tostay afloat, bankruptcy and restructuring lawyers are rising to the occasion to help them survive, and to handle the liquidations of those that can’t.The legal landscape that students join in a couple of years’ time may look very differentto what it is today. Right now, we’re in an in-between, uncertain place. These may not be idealcircumstances, but it’s certainly an interesting time to be a law student. And you may even findopportunities to show employers how much mettle you’ve got. Chambers Associate will be onhand to help you navigate this new reality all the way.Leah Henderson, Deputy Editor4
This has been the most exciting edition of Associate to work on; we’ve expanded our contentinto new areas and have been busy preparing more analysis of the sector than ever before.There are two areas that I have been focusing on in particular. First, diversity and inclusion.Chambers Associate has long tracked the progress of D&I in BigLaw, but in this edition we’retaking that coverage further by combining our own findings with articles produced with lawfirms to bring you the latest on important topics such as allyship; mentoring and sponsorship; and positive law firm culture. We’ll be building this base of content online, so check thewebsite for updates. Second, greater regional analysis and content. Whether you’re trying tochoose between US markets as a law student or looking to make a lateral move, in this editionwe’ve endeavored to bring you a much more in-depth bank of information for markets acrossthe country. So, if you’re interested in the thriving tech scene in Austin; the life sciences drivein Boston; or the IP potential in DC, we’ll have it covered alongside much more in various otherlocations. Enjoy!Paul Rance, Deputy EditorSo much is uncertain in these challenging times, so it’s good to have one thing you can be sureof – our Inside View analysis is as sound as ever. This year we’ve renewed our focus on helpingyou understand the unique character of each firm, as well as the differences between eachfirm’s departments, practices and offices. We’ve expanded our research to focus more on mental health and wellbeing, which are crucial factors to consider when you’re making career decisions; and we’re taking a more long-term view of career development, helping you match yourgoals with those of your potential employer. In a job market that’s only set to get more competitive, you can never be too prepared, and our resources are the best possible place to start.Michael Bird, Deputy Editor5
Our Editorial TeamAntony CookeEditor of Chambers Associate andChambers Student. Graduated fromDurham University in Russian &French. Taught English at Saint Petersburg State University. Previouslyworked at Michelin as a Europeanproject manager, and at PricewaterhouseCoopers as an associate ininvestment management. Fluent inRussian and French.Leah HendersonResearcher. Graduated from theUniversity of the West of Englandwith an MA in Journalism in 2015,after completing an undergraduatedegree in English Language andLiterature in 2014 at the Universityof Glasgow. Previously worked as abusiness English teacher in Madrid.Paul RanceDeputy editor. Graduated fromExeter University with a first inEnglish Literature and also spenta year abroad at the University ofToronto to read Canadian literature.He completed his MA in English atUCL in 2010.Michael BirdSenior researcher. Graduatedfrom Royal Holloway, University ofLondon with a BA in History. Priorto Chambers, Michael worked forUS-based entertainment websites,and continues to review music in hisspare time.Natalie BertramSenior researcher. Graduated in2016 from the University of Exeterwith a BA Hons in English Literature.Freelances as a proofreader in herfree time.Nikolai ViedgeResearch Analyst and ContentWriter. Former academic, Nikolaigot his PhD from the Universityof the Witwatersrand in 2014 andworked as a post-doctoral fellowand lecturer in South Africa beforerelocating to the UK in 2019.Ayesha HayatGraduated with a BA in History andHispanic Studies from the Universityof Birmingham. Previously workedas an English tutor during a yearabroad in Seville and was a studentambassador for the University of Birmingham’s College of Arts and Law.Olivia O’DriscollResearch Analyst and ContentWriter. Graduated in 2019 fromBournemouth University, with a BAin English. During her time at university, Olivia did a year in industryand interned at various companies,including a newspaper where sheworked as a trainee journalist.Harry CerasaleSenior researcher. Graduated in2015 with a BA in History from theUniversity of Nottingham. Has previously worked as an English teacherin Vietnam and Cambodia.Joel PoultneyGraduated from Exeter University in2016 with a BA in History and Politics. Following this, received an MAin Creative Writing from the sameinstitution.6Rhia LyonResearch Analyst –Chambers Canada.Rhia graduated with a BA (Hons)degree in German from King’s CollegeLondon in 2017, before completing aPostgraduate Diploma in Journalismfrom the London School of Journalism. She has spent time living inVienna and studied Deutsche Philologie at UniversitätWien. Rhia speaks advanced German.Sal Francis MortonResearcher. Graduated from QueenMary University of London with a BAin Drama, receiving the Sylvia PerryPrize for Outstanding Contribution.Has previously worked in education.
A beginner’s guide to Chambers researchAt every stage in your career planning, the decisions you make shouldalways be based on sound research. This short guide helps you focusand get the most out of our resources. We’ve stripped away the fat andreduced your job to four steps.STEP 1:What kind of lawyer do you want to be?Practice Area GuidesWhat are they? We interviewed leading lawyers fromeach of the main practice areas. They provide an overview of what they do. Cleary’s litigators, for example, explained that their practice is all about “telling a compelling story,” and added: “You need to think about what willbe persuasive and compelling for the decision maker, be ita judge, jury or arbitrator.” The personality traits neededto be a litigator will not be the same as those of a capital markets lawyer; life goals and motivations among IPlawyers will differ from those of real estate or privateequity lawyers.Why use the practice area reviews? They will give youa feel for what your job might end up being like, andwhether you can hack it. They’re full of useful insightslike: “If your eyes glaze over when reading a detailedtechnical or cost proposal, this is not the area for you” – atop government lawyer at Hogan Lovells.Where? Check out pages 83 to 276 to read our practice area guides.STEP 2:Narrowing the fieldChambers USA and Chambers Global rankingsWhat are they? Our parent company, Chambers andPartners, is the authority on researching and rankinglaw firms around the world. Say you want to view the topfirms practicing political law in the US – you can.Why use them? It’s the most efficient way of shortlisting firms by city and the practice areas you’re interestedin. The site ranks firms and lawyers by every practicearea in every significant legal market, and gives an ideaof the type of work each office does.Where? Chambers USA is the most immediately relevant,and, if international work is important to you, check outthe US rankings in the Chambers Global guide – accessto both guides is available via chambers.com.Comparison tablesWhat are they? We compile vital data on firms – salaries,attorney numbers, diversity percentages, etc. – and putthem into a comparison table.Why use them? Using the tools on the web page, you canrank firms by certain characteristics, immediately rulingout firms that don’t fit what you’re looking for.Where? Follow this link to our website (chambersassociate.com/law-firms/a-to-z-firm-list) and selectthe firms you want to compare. We analyze more datafrom our homepage too, in case you want to pick a firmby partner-associate leverage, for example. Data is alsolisted from p.9 of this guide.STEP 3:The ShortlistThe Inside ViewWhat is it? The Inside View is the heart of our guide. Itgives you a behind-the-scenes look at the lives of juniorassociates, examining firms’ culture, work and trainingopportunities, office environments, diversity, hours culture and pro bono.Why use it? Reading these will help you to see if you’rea good match for the firms you’ve selected so far. Askyourself: does this firm offer me what I want? Will I fit in?What will my life actually be like?Where? Turn to page 277 to start reading our InsideView features on over 100 firms.Managing partner interviewsWhat are they? As part of our research for The InsideView, we also speak to firms’ managing partners.Why use them? Read these to get an idea of what thefirm wants to achieve and where its priorities lie. Couldyou be part of this firm’s future? Do your aspirationsmatch this firm’s? To be that candidate is attractive tofirms.7
IntroductionIntroductionWhere? Find comments from managing partners in the‘Strategy & Future’ sections within our Inside View features. To read full transcripts of our interviews with managing partners, go to our website (chambers-associate.com) and click on the ‘Bonus Features’ tab on each firm’spage.Associate survey resultsWhat are they? Our survey highlights how associatesrate their own firm in areas like satisfaction, benefits& lifestyle, pro bono and diversity. The firms we list arethose showing excellent performance.Why use them? Use this in conjunction with the InsideView and you’ll get an idea of whether the firm is simplya cut-throat business, or if it takes a more holistic, pastoral approach.www.chambers-associate.comSTEP 4:PrepareReturn to The Inside ViewWhy? The Inside View is designed to help you preparefor interview. To know how a firm works and to imagineyourself there will take you far. Your knowledge andenthusiasm come across naturally, and it’s clear to a recruiter why you want to be there, and your likelihood ofgetting a call-back interview skyrockets.Where? Pages 277 to 756.Get HiredWhat is it? We speak to firms’ current associates andinterview the hiring partners to learn how to pass interview.Where? Go to chambers-associate.com and click on the‘Bonus Features’ tab on each firm’s Inside View page.Learn about the BigLaw hiring processJust go to the ‘Becoming a lawyer’ chapter, on page 31in this book, where you’ll find pages on different types oflaw firm, OCI interviews, recruitment trends, clerkships,SCOTUS clerkships and more.Throughout this guide you’ll see how a firm’sstructure, or the way it generates income,has a direct impact on its culture.8
Chambers and Partners No.3 Waterhouse Square 138 Holborn, London EC1N 2SW 44 20 7606 8844 www.chambers.com Copyright 2020 Chambers and Partners Ltd ISBN978--85514-640-5 Our thanks to the many associates, recruiters and part- ners who assisted us in our research. Editor: Antony Cooke Deputy Editors: Leah Henderson, Michael Bird, Paul Rance
