At this intellectual property top dog, associates have everything to Finne-gain.
Finnegan Lateral Profile 2025
Intellectual property superstar Finnegan attracts some of the best and brightest talent across the country. How do we know? Over 300 of its professionals hold scientific degrees and of those hundreds, almost 70 have PhDs. Want more proof? Finnegan’s numbers don’t lie and neither do its Chambers USA titles; the firm scores big in intellectual property nationwide, particularly in Northern Virginia, with notable prowess in international trade: intellectual property and life sciences as well. Better still, intellectual property: litigation, intellectual property: patent prosecution, and intellectual property: trademark, copyright and trade secrets are all given their flowers too in the firm’s DC homebase.
View the firm’s Chambers USA rankings
Read the firm’s Inside View feature on junior associate life
Career Development & the Path to Partnership
|
11 |
1 : 1 |
76% |
||
|
partners made in 2024 |
associate : partner gearing |
of associates intend to make partner |
||
|
74% |
44% |
80% |
||
| felt partnership was achievable for attorneys with childcare/caregiver responsibilities | felt partnership was achievable at the firm | agreed partners are nurturing future leaders |
||
The view from the firm: Our comprehensive in-house training program - LEAP (Learn Enrich Achieve Progress) is designed to enhance the firm’s existing training and mentoring activities that occur throughout the year. This highly ranked program arms our team with the tools and resources necessary to practice law in an ever-evolving legal and business market.
- Litigation skills (Ex: NITA (depo skills, cross/direct examination), in-house trial advocacy program, UVA Trial College (for senior associates)
- Patent Prosecution (Ex: Pros Bootcamp (for junior members), prosecution training series)
- PTAB (in-house series designed to introduce professionals to the practice)
- Advanced Legal Writing
- Business Skill Development (Ex: tiered business development/marketing training programs for attorneys at all stages of their career, culminating with our senior associate business development training/coaching program.)
- Individualized Coaching
- Formal mentor program
- New series in 2023, Mid-Level Associate Academy is a training series that provides guidance to build billable/nonbillable practice and internal/external profile, persuasive communications workshop, business development for mid-level associates.
Hours & Compensation
|
2,000 |
12 |
48.2 |
|
billable hours |
average number of vacation days associates took in one year |
average number of hours associates worked in one week |
|
82% |
67% |
52% |
| agreed they had a good work-life balance |
felt like they could take vacation/annual leave on their own terms |
found the firm's claims round bonus allocation to be authentic |
Salaries
1st year: $225,000
2nd year: $235,000
*The firm does not disclose salaries beyond this point.
The view from the firm: Associates, patent agents, and/or technical specialists may receive credit for up to 50 hours of time spent participating in eligible shadow training activities over the course of the billable year. Patent Agent – Law Students may receive credit for up to 37.5 hours of time spent participating in eligible shadowing activities over the course of the billable year. Eligible shadowing program activities shall include shadowing of partners, of counsel, and more senior associates at:
Eligible shadowing program activities shall include shadowing of partners, of counsel, and more senior associates at:
- Depositions (fact and expert / taking and defending)
- Deposition prep days (fact and expert)
- PTAB Oral arguments
- PTAB Board calls
- Mediations
- Arbitrations
- Settlement conferences
- Meet-and-confers with opposing counsel
- Discovery committee meetings
- CAFC arguments
- Mock arguments for PTAB and CAFC
- Hearing/trial prep
- Inventor interviews
- Examiner interviews
- Client invention visits (where Firm attorneys communicate with clients’ and prospective clients’ engineers/scientist about potential patentable items) board meetings, organizational meetings, negotiation sessions, mediations, depositions, trials, other court events, meetings or conference calls with the client or opposing counsel, and similar observation activities.
Is Finnegan the right firm for you?
|
91% |
86% |
93% |
|
were happy in their current role |
agreed the work they received was of the right quality |
felt that they chose the right firm |
Here's what survey respondents had to say about the firm's culture...
“The people are smart but down to earth and have lives outside of the firm. I’ve found a team and subject matter that I really enjoy here.”
“I have the opportunity to explore work that I'm truly interested in, while working with people that are likeable and good at their jobs. It also affords me great mentorship opportunities.”
“The team that has been put together in my group is second to none. It is a collaborative work environment with people who want to help you grow and succeed.”
Pro Bono
|
undisclosed |
95% |
|
average pro bono |
agreed the firm puts effort towards its commitment to pro bono and social impact activity |
Sustainability & CSR
The view from the firm: Finnegan is committed to supporting and advocating environmental sustainability throughout the firm. This commitment to "green" efforts is overviewed with all new employees during new-hire orientations. Reminders are posted in our monthly electronic firm newsletters, and initiatives and green efforts are communicated periodically throughout our offices via email. The firm's green efforts include: recycling of glass, cans, bottles, paper and used toner cartridges; proper battery disposal; water machines/water pitchers are used when possible instead of using bottled water and drinking glasses/coffee mugs are provided; bike storage areas available in all our offices and shower facilities at the firm's DC, Reston and Palo Alto offices are accessible for those who run or bike-to-work. The firm incentivizes employees to take mass transit, and a subsidy is offered to those who utilize mass transit options. We encourage the use of stairs rather than elevators to promote healthy lifestyle living. There is a seven-story circular stairway in the DC office, and regional offices that occupy more than one floor are designed with connecting internal stairways to encourage walking.
Contact
Learn more about opportunities at the firm
Recruitment contact: Laurie Taylor, Director of Legal Recruitment