Looking for big-name clients within the realm of tech, energy, and finance? This West Coast legend remains a catagOrrickal assurance.
Orrick Lateral Profile 2024
OCIs are a lot like speed dating. Of course, first impressions count, but the key to any successful partnership is finding that special connection. Take it from this associate: “I had narrowed it down to two firms and both took me out to dinner,” they recalled of their summer applications. “The first dinner felt very performative, but with the difference with Orrick was I felt that people had built strong bonds with each other.” Deliberating on what makes that special bond, another associate asked themselves this: “Do people seem normal and nice? That was my standard when looking for firms.” Their conclusion? – “People at Orrick were friendly and normal, which is what swayed my decision in the end.”
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Read the firm’s Inside View feature on junior associate life
Strategic Recruitment Focuses 2023
Energy & infrastructure careers
The view from the firm: Orrick's global energy and infrastructure team provides a comprehensive platform for a sector undergoing tremendous change and facing heightened global attention. Our 150+ E&I transactional, litigation and regulatory lawyers advise on revolutionary projects in energy transition and energy technology and guide clients in the development of some of the most important infrastructure modernization projects that propel communities across the Americas, Europe, Africa, and Asia. Long a leading firm in the renewables sector with a deep international bench, we advise investors, developers and sponsors on all aspects of alternative energy projects and help drive innovations in battery storage, carbon capture and hydrogen fuel cell technology.
Intellectual property careers
The view from the firm: The most innovative companies in the world call on us to protect their intellectual property and defend their brands. We’ve won some of the highest-impact IP cases of recent years, at trial and on appeal. Like our clients, we’ve succeeded by breaking the mold – in the way we’ve framed the issues, in our trial tactics, and in the graphics and other techniques we’ve used to make complex points clear.
Litigation careers
The view from the firm: Combining trial and appellate prowess with deep subject matter knowledge in IP, cybersecurity, white collar, employment law, securities, mass torts, antitrust and other areas, our powerhouse litigation teams fight with cutting-edge legal strategy and tactics, backed by a state-of-the-art trial platform – and our opponents know that we come ready for trial.
Whether defending our results on appeal or reversing losses to continue a fair fight, we have repeatedly delivered in appellate courts around the country and at the Supreme Court. We also embed our appellate lawyers on trial-level matters to set up success at every phase of the battle.
Our extensive bench includes nationally recognized courtroom veterans, former prosecutors, and litigation’s rising stars, supported by our award-winning analytics, trial support, and case management teams.
Finance careers
The view from the firm: For over a century, we've acted for global banks, funds and leading financial institutions at the forefront of innovation in the private and public sectors – from creating new financial products to resolving high-stakes litigation, enforcement and compliance matters. Harnessing the talents of our diverse finance, restructuring, securitization, real estate, M&A, capital markets and tax lawyers, we partner with our clients to develop strategies for bespoke challenges and opportunities in today's fast-paced financial markets. We combine our market knowledge with a deep bench of leading trial, appellate, regulatory and compliance lawyers to help financial institutions navigate complex litigation and enforcement matters.
International & Secondment Opportunities
Common secondment destinations: In 2023, our US secondments were all at the client location in the US or done remotely.
Client secondment examples: Goldman Sachs, Zimmer Biomet, META, Nuveen and Airbnb, Inc., Apple, LinkedIn, Micron.
Career Development & the Path to Partnership
|
10 |
1.4 : 1 |
|
|
partners made in 2023 |
associate : partner gearing |
|
The view from the firm: Associates receive formal training through our Associate Academies, as well as comprehensive practice group training programs. We also provide access to online programs and tools as well as industry-leading, public continuing education programs. Our practice-group specific performance benchmarks outline the knowledge, skills and work experiences lawyers can focus on for each role within the talent model. Finally, a core part of our lawyer development efforts is one-on-one career coaching and mentoring. Associates also develop mentoring relationships through our Women’s Initiative, DEI affinity groups, mentoring families and practice group work relationships.
Hours & Compensation
|
no requirement |
11.7 |
48.2 |
|
billable hours |
average number of vacation days associates took in one year |
average number of hours associates worked in one week |
Salaries
1st year: $225,000
2nd year: $2235,000
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: Our firm’s associate bonus policy is merit based and takes into account the quality and scope of an associate’s total contribution. To be in the best position to receive a merit bonus, associates are encouraged to have 1,950 bonus eligible billable hours (of which at least 1,800 are revenue generating hours). We pay our strongest contributors above market bonuses. We give 40 hours of credit for vacation time to unplug after intense periods. We give credit for all pro bono projects once the 1,800 revenue generating threshold is met. We also award Wellness Dollars to our team members who work with intensity in a given month. An associate or counsel who works 250+ billable hours in a month is eligible to receive a $500 award and is encouraged to invest it in unplugging and wellness activities. Additional bonuses are awarded for work on firm initiatives and good time entry habits. We also offer generous agile working options, including reduced schedules and fully-remote work.
Is Orrick the right firm for you?
The view from the firm: We’re looking for candidates who are excited about working in teams to help our clients adapt to a rapidly changing market. Candidates whose life experiences have enabled you to develop grit and empathy, practice teamwork and innovate. And we’re looking for future leaders — as an Orrick partner, at one of the great companies we advise, or to use your legal training to make an impact in new ways.
Laterals who join Orrick tell us they’re inspired by the opportunities to collaborate with colleagues and to do meaningful work on impactful engagements. They value our culture. And they appreciate our transparency about the path to partnership – and great role models among our junior partners.
Diversity, Inclusion & Wellbeing
|
31.7% |
36% |
|
of partners are women |
of associates identify as ethnically diverse |
The view from the firm: Residency@Orrick is a new program that reimagines the way we onboard, integrate and train our first-year lawyers. During an associate’s first six months at Orrick (The “Residency” period), our expectations are designed to maximize growth opportunities, internal and client connections, and avenues for real time feedback to build the strongest foundation possible. The special sauce of the Residency is that, for their first six months, this new array of activities is credited the same way as revenue generating work - allowing first years to get involved in matters/activities they wouldn’t have otherwise and prioritize long term success over short term financial contribution.
We launched the Orrick Racial Justice Fellowship Program in 2021 and extended it for three more years to continue/sustain our impact. Currently we have four fellows, for a total of 14 fellows since the program’s inception. Experienced Orrick lawyers (typically managing or senior associates) work full time each year – at full salary – at partner organizations dedicated to civil rights, criminal justice reform and economic equity, including: Policing Project at NYU School of Law, Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, Common Future (investing in minority-owned businesses), Planned Parenthood, and MacArthur Justice Center.
Each Black and Latinx experienced associate at Orrick has a sponsor who is a member of our senior leadership. Our sponsors participate in a training curriculum with Dr. Arin Reeves and Coqual on how to sponsor and work with associates to develop client opportunities, explore career paths, expand support networks and enhance their visibility and profile.
Orrick’s Women’s Initiative recently launched a monthly conversation series called Kōrero. The series has featured a stellar team of our litigators talking about a high-profile case they helped lead, a discussion of values and on fostering meaningful inclusion.
Pro Bono
|
90 |
|
average pro bono |
Pro bono highlights: HYSKY; Lawyers for Good Government; iNaturalist; Tahirih Justice Center; Public International Law & Policy Group.
Sustainability & CSR
The view from the firm: At the highest levels of the firm, our commitment to sustainability and accompanying strategies are endorsed and overseen by the Firm Management Committee and the Board of Directors. Led by our unique ESG team and Public Companies practice, which advises some of the world’s leading companies on ESG policies, practices and disclosure, our team has developed a robust sustainability strategy and operational plan that directly address climate impact through the support of sustainability initiatives at the Firm.
Orrick also previously engaged a third-party consultant to conduct a preliminary greenhouse emissions inventory, and we are currently exploring the possibility of regularly conducting a GHG emissions inventory and setting a GHG emissions target and timeline.
Initiatives implemented across various offices include ink and toner cartridge recycling, default double-sided printing, water-conserving faucets, and the adoption of videoconferencing to minimize travel. Additionally, electronic distribution of documents, utilization of power-conserving flat screen LCD monitors, printers, and computers with energy-efficient sleep mode functions are employed to reduce our environmental impact.
Contact
Learn more about opportunities at the firm
Recruitment contact: Caitlin Gramlich, Senior U.S. Manager of Lateral Associate Recruiting
cgramlich@orrick.com