Drink it in: this Midwesterner serves up BigLaw that feels “most like home.”
Faegre Drinker Lateral Profile 2024
BigLaw doesn’t always have to be high octane, sometimes it can be “familiar,” and feel “like home.” At least that was the case for associates at Midwestern-born Faegre Drinker. Indeed, our sources found comfort in the fact that Faegre Drinker was “a familiar name among the firms on campus… It felt most like home!” Of course, that’s not to say the job is by any means cushy. “The firm represents high profile clients on complicated matters,” one associate made clear, “but they do it all in polo shirts and khakis.” Beyond a more relaxed front, sources were keen to highlight the “respect and autonomy the firm gives to their associates,” as well as Faegre Drinker’s appreciation for “the same values for a work-life balance.” That’s the Midwestern charm for you.
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…
“No sharp elbows, mindful staffing and hiring so we give others a realistic chance at success.”
“Authenticity of the group partners and a "small firm" feel.”
“The firm's stated value of diversity.”
Career Development & the Path to Partnership
|
27 |
0.8 : 1 |
87% |
||
|
partners made in 2023 |
associate : partner gearing |
of associates intend to make partner |
||
|
74% |
77% |
94% |
||
| 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: Our associate advisor program pairs every associate with a partner in their practice group who serves as a career counselor and coach and facilitates access to work and experiences to advance their advisees’ skills. Our team of Talent Advisors and Coaches are here to provide career development support to all associates throughout their time here. Further, our professional development team hosts a first-year training program and biennial mid-level and senior associate summits to support associates and help them create meaningful connections and learn critical skills as their careers advance. In addition, our business development curriculum offers substantive training and support tailored to each development year to help associates master the art of relationship-building and embrace business development at all stages of their careers.
Finally, our Chief Diversity Officer meets regularly with practice group leadership to discuss the professional development and career advancement of diverse associates here, and our affinity resource groups develop and strengthen connections among diverse lawyers through firm-wide meetings, ongoing leadership development opportunities, and in-person gatherings.
Hours & Compensation
|
1,900 |
10.3 |
49 |
|
billable hours |
average number of vacation days associates took in one year |
average number of hours associates worked in one week |
|
64% |
52% |
61% |
| 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
The firm did not disclose its salaries beyond this point.
The view from the firm: We offer compensation and bonuses on a lockstep structure that is competitive with our market, along with a discretionary bonus program. Hours expectations are 1,900 billable hours per year and we allow 100 pro bono hours and 50 D&I hours counted toward hours expectations and bonus targets. A ramp down/ ramp up policy also adjusts hours expectations for associates preparing for, or returning from, a leave of absence. Our hybrid work policy provides attorneys the flexibility to work remotely up to three days per week and encourages in-office collaboration on designated connection days. The firm’s Mind Matters and Wellness programs also provide resources to promote associate mental health and well-being.
Is Faegre Drinker the right firm for you?
|
84% |
88% |
81% |
|
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...
“I genuinely like the people and enjoy the work I'm doing; I'm also excited about being part of the firm's growth in the future and creating new ways to support our teams.”
“Everyone here is exceedingly nice, polite, and concerned about junior associates.”
“People are close-knit, kind, and they care about you as an individual, fostering a spirit of teamwork.”
Diversity, Inclusion & Wellbeing
|
70% |
33% |
26% |
||
|
reported diverse staffing on teams/cases/matters |
of partners are women |
of associates identify as ethnically diverse |
||
The view from the firm: We pursue several initiatives as part of our efforts to advance justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion at the firm and in the legal profession as a whole. An overview of initiatives are described below:
- Our lateral hiring strategy for Partners and Associates involves: engaging in partnerships with executive search firms and meetings with each to review our goals; exceeding Mansfield Rule Certification criteria; training programs, including programs specifically focused on the advancement of justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion at the firm, for interviewers and recruiters; partnering with various student affinity groups; and recruiting at diversity focused job fairs.
- We invite 2L Summer Associates each year to apply for a Diversity & Inclusion Fellowship; eligible recipients will have received and accepted an offer to join the firm as a First-Year associate following graduation. If selected, recipients receive a $15,000 stipend, intended to defray the cost of law school tuition and related expenses.
- In 2023, we added programs to honor Arab American Heritage Month, Jewish American Heritage Month, and Disability Pride Month. These events were open to all employees, and featured speakers knowledgeable of community concerns. In response to surveys to our female attorneys, we held multiple sessions across our offices to recognize women rainmakers across the firm.
- We expanded our fertility benefits to include medications to grow multiple eggs, retrieval of eggs from the ovary, insemination of eggs with sperm, culture of any resulting fertilized eggs, cryopreservation, storage up to 24 months, transfer of one or more embryos into the uterus, and injection of hormones to support uterine lining got permit and sustain pregnancy. We expanded our medical travel benefits to support professionals who must travel more than 100 miles to access covered health services. We expanded our leave of absence and ramp up/down policies to allow partners more flexibility to adapt as needed for their family circumstances and to provide billable hours during the period leading up to and returning from leaves of absence.
Pro Bono
|
35 |
86% |
|
average pro bono |
agreed the firm is committed to pro bono |
Pro bono highlights: The Advocates for Human Rights, The National Immigrant Justice Center, Kids in Need of Defense (immigration and asylum); National Veterans Legal Servics Program (veterans); National American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and local ACLU chapters, the Washington and Chicago Lawyers’ Committees for Civil Rights Under Law (civil rights and civil liberties); Philadelphia VIP, Minneapolis VLN, Colorado Poverty Law Project and other legal aid organizations (housing); LegalCorps, Pro Bono Partnership, Start Small Think Big, Public Counsel Community Development Project, Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts, and others (small business and nonprofit support).
Sustainability & CSR
The view from the firm: Faegre Drinker engaged Trinity Consultants, Inc. (Trinity), in 2023 to conduct a 3rd party verification of the firm’s GHG emissions data. As part of this initiative, the firm was independently verified as compliant with reporting and reliability standards set for by The Greenhouse Gas Protocol guidance and the ISO 14064-3 Second Edition 2019-04: Greenhouse gasses -- Part 3: Specification with guidance for the verification and validation of greenhouse gas statements.
Faegre’s ongoing commitment to GHG inventory reporting includes professional guidance on program development via Cventure, a consulting company providing expertise in climate change strategy, third party verification, GHG emissions assessments, and sustainability planning and reporting as well as the services of an independent certification organization.
Contact
Learn more about opportunities at the firm
Recruitment contact: Find them here