Those at Vinson know energy (Elkins)ide and out, but that’s not all this Texan legend can do.
Vinson & Elkins Lateral Profile 2024
Despite hailing from the Lone Star State, there’s nothing lonely about this cowboy - who now boasts an eleven office network worldwide. Founded during the midst of the Texas oil boom, it should come as no surprise that Vinson & Elkins remains a top choice for legal representation within the energy industry, recognized as being the best of the best in areas such as energy transition, offshore energy, and oil and gas projects across the country. But don’t be fooled – this firm is no one hit wonder, as its strengths are also recognized in areas like banking & finance, real estate, and capital markets in its home state of Texas. Still, these are just a selection of the departments ranked within our sister guides, Chambers USA and Chambers Global – but you’ll have to visit those guides for a more in-depth information on that (we have a word count over here, after all!)
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 fact that everyone seemed to genuinely care about what was going on in the lives of those around them.”
“Big brains and small egos.”
“Everyone seemed very humble and didn't take themselves too seriously. Also, everyone seemed like genuine friends, which I liked.”
Career Development & the Path to Partnership
|
7 |
2.06 : 1 |
70% |
||
|
partners made in 2023 |
associate : partner gearing |
of junior associates intend to make partner |
||
|
35% |
55% |
70% |
||
| 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: Vinson & Elkins is committed to hiring and developing excellent lawyers. Through its robust talent management and professional development initiatives, V&E offers comprehensive training and career development programs for attorneys to advance their professional growth at all stages of their careers. V&E lawyers are provided opportunities to gain valuable, hands-on work experience, early on, with lawyers across the firm; and associates participate in a wide variety of in-house and external training programs. Associates are provided with practice outlines, practice-specific training, and benchmarks that serve as a roadmap for advancement. In addition, individualized professional development is facilitated through evaluations, feedback, mentoring, and customized career plans.
Hours & Compensation
|
no requirement |
8.7 |
49.3 |
|
billable hours |
average number of vacation days associates took in one year |
average number of hours associates worked in one week |
|
40% |
60% |
70% |
| agreed that they had a good work-life balance |
said the benefits package makes the workload worthwhile |
found the bonus allocation fair and transparent |
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
Is Vinson & Elkins the right firm for you?
|
73% |
86% |
85% |
|
were happy in their current role |
agreed the work is interesting |
felt comfortable being themselves at work |
The view from the firm: Vinson & Elkins recognizes the importance of recruiting experienced lawyers who can contribute to the growth of the firm and its practices, supporting its broad client base. V&E looks for exceptional lawyers at a variety of seniority levels and with diverse perspectives and backgrounds who reflect the firm’s commitment to excellence, professionalism, connectivity, and inclusion.
Here's what survey respondents had to say about the firm's culture...
“The people at work at actual friends, not just work friends, which meant a lot for me.”
“The people are all engaged with firm culture and every event is a blast. The people at this firm are incredible.”
“People speak freely with one another and are kind.”
Diversity, Inclusion & Wellbeing
|
50% |
21.2% |
25% |
|
|
reported diverse staffing on teams/cases/matters |
of partners are women |
of associates identify as ethnically diverse |
|
The view from the firm: On the talent pipeline front, V&E committed to giving $1 million to The University of Texas School of Law in support of its Texas Law Pipeline Program as the founding sponsor. The program supports aspiring lawyers at each stage, including students in high school, college, and law school from underrepresented backgrounds. Additionally, V&E has awarded 6 $25,000 Diversity Fellowships to second-year law students and 10 $50,000 Diversity Fellowships to first-year law students for our 2024 Summer Associate Program, who are committed to advancing diversity and inclusion in the legal profession.
We continue to host robust programming and events that help to broaden understanding and sustain our inclusion goals. So far this past year, we’ve hosted the following conferences and programs to honor respective heritage months, a two-day long Black Affinity Network (BAN) Conference in Houston for Black History Month as well as our 2024 program Our Stories, a panel featuring in house counsel; Celebrating Women Who Tell Our Stories panel featuring V&E’s own women partners and business services professionals for Women’s History Month, and similarly for 2024 we have an upcoming panel to honor this year’s theme of Women Who Advocate for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion; Advancing Leaders Through Opportunity panel for Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month; and a Fireside Chat with Clay Allen (General Counsel for the Houston Rockets) for Pride Month. Perhaps most notably, in November we hosted a Firmwide Diversity Conference in our Houston office, which included a robust two-day agenda of programming and panels, access to Firm leadership, informal coffee chats, a client and alumni reception, and small group dinners.
We believe in intentional involvement from the top levels across our firm when it comes to developing and retraining the most talented lawyers, one initiative that exemplifies our commitment is the firm’s Diverse Associate Mentoring Program through which diverse associates are provided with access to firm leadership to develop key relationships critical to advancing their careers. Each diverse mid-level and senior associate is currently mentored by a member of the Management Committee, the firm’s highest governing committee, who supports their professional development, expands their networks, facilitates learning about other practice areas, and provides additional resources to explore their career development.
V&E is proud to have formally achieved Mansfield Rule Certification 4.0 (2020-21), 5.0 for 2021-22, and 6.0 for 2022-2023. This initiative holds us accountable for broadening the pool of women and diverse candidates considered for opportunities to increase representation of women and diverse lawyers within our law firm and in leadership roles.
Pro Bono
|
29 |
65% |
|
average pro bono |
agreed the firm is committed to pro bono |
Pro bono highlights: various community organizations (racial justice, legal advice and counseling clinics); City of Houston OBO, Texas C-Bar (small business programs); Catholic Charities, International Association of Women Judges (humanitarian parole and asylum); Eviction Defense & Housing Repair (housing).
Sustainability and CSR
The view from the firm: At Vinson & Elkins, helping our clients navigate some of the complex challenges they face in regard to sustainability, human rights, diversity, and the energy transition positions us as one of the leading trusted advisers in these areas among our peers. Internally, we apply our learnings across the firm, and some examples include:
- Lawyers and business professionals contribute their time, and Vinson & Elkins provides financial support to more than 500 charitable and arts organizations annually across the globe.
- Providing pro bono legal representation for social justice and to those in need is part of our history and culture; and in 2023 alone, our lawyers worked on more than 400 pro bono matters.
- Our diversity, equity and inclusion efforts are focused on meaningful solutions to attract and retain top talent. We start early through mentoring and scholarships for underrepresented students. We are proud to have been involved from the beginning in developing the Mansfield Rule concept, and actively work to maintain our Mansfield Certification.
- Our sustainability efforts have also focused on our real estate strategy, which has led to significant upgrades in LEED-certified office space, and we continue to pursue best practices within our locations.
We understand the important work in these areas has no finish line. Our impact in our communities and the world is connected to our ability to deliver on solutions for our clients and ourselves, and we look forward to continuing the work.
Contact
Learn more about opportunities at the firm
Recruitment contact: Gretchen Rollins, Senior Director of Attorney Recruitment, grollins@velaw.com
Heather Ades, Director of Lateral Partner Recruitment, hades@velaw.com
Michelle Brelsford, Lateral Recruitment Manager, mbrelsford@velaw.com