Arnold & Porter combines respected litigation, life sciences and government practices with a stellar reputation for pro bono work.
Arnold & Porter Lateral Profile 2023
“We have leading practices across the life sciences, financial services, and government contracts spaces, and clients come to us for their most complicated matters," says chairman Richard Alexander. "We focus on industries where our transactional and litigation work is impacted by regulatory issues.” Other highlights for Chambers USA include the firm’s healthcare, international arbitration, bankruptcy/restructuring, IP, litigation, and real estate work. Aspiring litigators joined A&P for its generalist practice that could expose them to white-collar, antitrust, and product liability matters, while others liked that “everyone was intellectual but not snooty” and that A&P “would be a good place for women and those with families – I verified that they walked the walk.”
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 firm's reputation for high-quality work & positive work culture."
"I appreciate that the firm is dedicated to diversity and pro bono initiatives. Additionally, the culture of the firm is inclusive and there are numerous opportunities for professional development for associates at all levels."
"A&P actually practices what it preaches. The firm's commitment to pro bono is clear from the work that each attorney does and is encouraged to do. Even though I'm based in NYC, the firm retains a real government feel rather than a finance/Wall Street focus that other NYC firms seem to have."
Secondment Opportunities
Client secondment examples: Adobe; Legal Aid; Genentech; Sanofi-Aventis US; Merck
Career Development & the Path to Partnership
|
12 |
1.7 : 1 |
32% |
||
|
partners made in 2022 |
associate : partner gearing |
of associates intend to make partner |
||
|
79% |
48% |
92% |
||
| 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: After initial practice group assignments are determined, most associates begin working on multiple matters within their group. However, cross staffing opportunities may be available as business needs arise.We are committed to the training and professional development of our associates at every level through focused retreats and regularly scheduled core curriculum programs. For all attorneys, Arnold & Porter offers comprehensive professional development programs which include introductory and advanced training in multiple areas of the law; skills training in the areas of communication, business, management, leadership, and technology; a "real-time" training program that allows junior attorneys to shadow and observe more senior attorneys in daily practice during activities such as client meetings, depositions, and hearings; and a mentoring program that pairs new associates with more experienced associates to aid in the attorneys' integration into our Firm on a professional and social basis. Associates contribute to our Firm in a variety of ways including: training, mentoring, diversity and inclusion, pro bono, business development, and recruiting. Involvement in such activities provides an opportunity to build leadership skills and promote the exchange of ideas among partners, counsel, associates, and, management. *Partnership track is 8.5 years.
Hours & Compensation
|
2,000 |
11 |
47.4 |
|
billable hours |
average number of vacation days associates took in one year |
average number of hours associates worked in one week |
|
67% |
63% |
78% |
| agreed 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: $215,000
2nd year: $215,000
3rd year: $225,000
4th year: $250,000
5th year: $295,000
6th year: $345,000
7th year: $370,000
8th year: $400,000
The view from the firm: Arnold & Porter views pro bono as an essential part of our legal responsibility to the underserved community. Beyond our commitment to, and belief in, the importance of justice and legal parity, an active pro bono practice promotes skills training and exposure to increased responsibilities for associates and enables all lawyers to fulfill their professional obligation to provide pro bono legal services. In 2022, Arnold & Porter lawyers spent over 130,000 hours doing pro bono work, and the firm opened over 350 new pro bono matters.
Factors that determine the amount of associate's bonus include: hours billed, quality of work, pro Bono hours, business development, overall contribution (e.g., recruitment activities, firm committees). To be bonus eligible, an associate must be in good standing, and have a minimum of 2,000 hours of which the first 1,800 hours must be client billable, the next 200 hours can be a mix of client billable, pro bono, business development, shadowing/other training, DE&I and well-being initiatives, and firm service.
Arnold & Porter was selected for its newly implemented Remote Work Options Policy that allows employees to work 50% of their time in the office each month, allowing for 50% remote work. This policy is effective for nearly all employees, including attorneys and non-exempt management and professional staff.
Is Arnold & Porter the right firm for you?
|
88% |
90% |
|
were happy in their current role |
agreed the work is interesting |
We asked survey respondents what stands out about the firm's culture?
"People were always happy to jump on a call or zoom to talk through any issues/concerns with an assignment. Everyone is very approachable."
"Friendly, non-hierarchical structure. More senior attorneys are actually approachable and invested in my career growth."
"It's commitment to pro-bono and social justice work."
Diversity, Inclusion & Wellbeing
|
83% |
33% |
32% |
||
|
reported strong performance in inclusivity training |
of partners are women |
of associates identify as ethnically diverse |
||
Pro Bono
|
133 |
98% |
|
average pro bono |
agreed the firm is committed to pro bono |
Pro bono highlights: criminal justice matters; voting rights; reproductive rights; immigration and refugee advocacy; transgender rights
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