This Boston native is as Good as gold for tech, life sciences and private equity work.
Goodwin Lateral Profile 2024
A leading name in all things tech, life sciences and private equity, it’s safe to say that Boston-based Goodwin has set up shop on the cutting edge. Among its many ranked departments, the firm boasts top nationwide rankings across corporate crime & investigations, financial services regulation, life sciences, private equity buyouts, REITs and startups & emerging companies. Predictably then, it was the firm’s expertise in these areas that was the main draw for a lot of associates. “If you’re learning the business side - working with emerging companies is a specialty for Goodwin,” one associate told us, “but it's also a big firm able to take them on early, right up until they go public, and then represent them after the fact.” These opportunities a bit further down the line apply to associates too, with a number of the firm’s litigious juniors ending up at the DOJ.
View the firm’s Chambers USA rankings
Read the firm’s Inside View feature on junior associate life
Why did you join your firm? Associates say…
“The people were so friendly and relaxed, and the vast majority seemed to actually enjoy being at work, something that I didn't see at a lot of the other firms I looked at.”
“Everyone seems to be even keel, even in a crisis. There is an overall relaxed nature to the team here despite the ramp up and individual stresses associated with crunch time.”
“The emphasis on equitable work distribution; how down to earth the partners were; how much value the partners placed on having a family and being available for family matters.”
International & Secondment Opportunities
Client secondment examples: Plug Power, Pinnacle Fertility, Dynatrace, Rocket Central, Blackstone, Ares Management, BlackRock, Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Bank of America, Goldman Sachs
Overseas career development opportunities (view from the firm): Launched in 2018, the Global Rotation Program strives to enhance integration across our U.S. and International offices for business law and litigation associates (fifth-year and above) and counsel. Participants have the opportunity to visit up to two Goodwin offices outside of their home country for a four-week period to network, gain visibility into client relationships and shadow deals in different geographies.
Career Development & the Path to Partnership
|
34 |
1.5 : 1 |
55% |
||
|
partners made |
associate : partner |
of associates intend to make partner |
||
|
70% |
47% |
81% |
||
| felt partnership was achievable for attorneys with children | felt partnership was achievable at the firm | agreed partners are nurturing future leaders |
||
The view from the firm: Goodwin offers robust training programs for our attorneys, including over 250 trainings that are CLE eligible. In addition, together with Harvard Business School and Law School faculty, we deliver leadership training at critical career junctures:
- The Developing Your Path program helps mid-level associates proactively approach career development and work effectively as managers of people and projects.
- The Transition to Leadership program helps fifth-year associates develop leadership styles and understanding of firm strategy in preparation for elevation to counsel or partner roles.
- The Advanced Leadership program helps newly elected partners strengthen their project management, client development and team leadership skills, and broaden their understanding of professional service firms, innovation and organizational development.
- The Executive Leadership program helps partners prepare for leadership roles through executive leadership programs at Harvard Business School, Harvard Law School and Stanford Law School.
Hours & Compensation
|
1,950 |
12 |
46.8 |
|
billable hours |
average number of vacation days associates took |
average number of hours associates worked |
|
53% |
77% |
70% |
| agreed they had a good work-life balance |
said the benefits package makes the workload worthwhile |
found the bonus allocation |
Salaries
1st year: $225,000
2nd year: $235,000
3rd year: $260,000
4th year: $310,000
5th year: $365,000
6th year: $390,000
7th year: $420,000
8th year: $435,000
The view from the firm: Billable hours include not only client related work, but pro bono work as well and there is no cap on the amount of pro bono hours an attorney can do. Attorneys may also earn billable credit for attending up to 25 hours of training programs. In addition, attorneys who record at least 25 hours of time on certain firm initiatives like developing firm training programs or supporting the firm’s DEI efforts may earn up to 100 hours of billable credit for their work. We created a formal flexible work program called “FlexWork” to support lawyers who have personal commitments outside of work that cause them to seek non-traditional or reduced-time schedules.
Is Goodwin the right firm for you?
|
86% |
91% |
83% |
|
were happy in their current role |
agreed the work is interesting |
felt comfortable being themselves at work |
Here's what survey respondents had to say about the firm's culture...
“The culture is very inclusive and always makes me feel that I can be authentically who I am whether I'm working with my peers or with senior partners.”
“It has been repeatedly impressed on me that my firm expects me to be a good attorney but that it is more important to be a good person.”
“People are super friendly, and laterals are not treated differently from homegrown attorneys.”
Diversity, Inclusion & Wellbeing
|
74% |
33% |
39% |
|
reported diverse staffing on teams/cases/matters |
of partners are women |
of associates identify as ethnically diverse |
The view from the firm: Our DEI strategy is anchored on a two-pronged approach: equity in our systems and centering the lived experiences of those from historically excluded and marginalized populations. The Cultivating CommUNITY intiative invites individuals from diverse backgrounds to come together, share experiences, and build networks of support within our firm. Our three new resource groups are Disability, First Gen, and Veterans. Membership to these groups is open to Goodwin attorneys and the Global Operations team (GO! Team), which is the name for Goodwin’s professional staff.
Goodwin actively supports the American Bar Association’s Resolution 113; Minority Corporate Counsel Association (MCCA); Charting Your Own Course (CYOC); Corporate Counsel Women of Color (CCWC); Human Rights Campaign (HRC); and general affinity bar associations. We continue to participate in the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD) and have done so since its inception in 2015. In 2024 we aim to further enhance the strength of our external partnerships and our attorney’s experiences by institutionalizing our revamped sponsorships frameworks.
We are an original signatory to the Mansfield Rule and in August 2023, Goodwin achieved Mansfield Rule 6.0 certification after completing a 12-month certification program aimed at diversifying leadership. In 2024, we are not only maintaining our involvement in the initiative within our U.S. operations but also extending participation to the United Kingdom.
Pro Bono
|
70 |
93% |
|
average pro bono |
agreed the firm is committed to pro bono |
Pro bono highlights: 3L Place (nonprofit supporting adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities); the Neighborhood Business Initiative to promote equity and support wealth creation in communities that face discrimination based on race, ethnicity, immigration status, and/or LGBTQ+ status by providing pro bono legal services to entrepreneurs and small business owners who are members of, or whose businesses positively impact, such communities; Situ Wilkinson (immigration and asylum).
Contact
Learn more about opportunities at the firm
Recruitment contact: Ashley Nelson, Managing Director, Talent Acquisition, Legal –
legalrecruiting@goodwinlaw.com