Lateral Look: Fox Rothschild

As clever as a Fox about expanding its practice areas, this Pennsylvanian has beguiled its lawyers with a healthy lifestyle amid the hustle and bustle of BigLaw.

Fox Rothschild Lateral Profile 2024

You can do as much research as you like when it comes to finding the right firm - and while we certainly encourage doing exactly that! -  sometimes it’s the gut feeling that persists. As one associate told us, “I had interviews at other firms and it just felt like they were putting on a show – that wasn’t the case at Fox,” with the firm instead feeling more attentive and genuine. Even in the demanding BigLaw environment, other associates sensed this healthy culture: “I was being treated like a human being and not just like another candidate. People were genuinely interested in me as a person and saw that I have a life outside of law and law school.” In fact, the sources we spoke to consistently recognized that lifestyle was front of mind for Fox Rothschild: “We have people with personalities and people who are nice, and we have a passion for law! But then, we also make sure we have some balance with that.”

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 majority of the partners in my office care about my development as an attorney and strive to give me meaningful opportunities to learn and make valuable substantive contributions to matters. Most are also genuinely nice people that want to get to know me and want me to have a reasonable work/life balance.”

“People were excited about the work they are doing and the people they are working with.”

“The firm cares about diversity and building a better community throughout each and every office.”


 

 Career Development & the Path to Partnership

 

24

0.5 : 1

90%

partners made in 2023

associate : partner gearing

of associates intend to make partner

71%

80%

79%

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: Mentorship program for first- and second-year associates; Peer advisor assignments offered to all lateral attorneys; Associate Sponsorship Program to enhance retention efforts; Women’s Initiative program; Professional development training programs by legal department; Mock Trial; Deposition Workshop; Motions Workshop; Transactional Bootcamp; Monthly "lunch and learn" CLE programs; CLE compliance tracking; Extensive associate business development programs and events; Individual business development action plan training.


 Hours & Compensation

 

1,850-1,900

8.8

45.7

billable hours
target

average number of vacation days associates took in one year

average number of hours associates worked in one week

63%

54%

27%

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: $195,000 [Boston, New York, Washington DC];

$190,000 [Los Angeles and San Francisco];

$180,000 [Atlanta, Chicago, Minneapolis, Morristown, Philadelphia, Princeton, Seattle, Wilmington];

$170,000 [Atlantic City, Bucks County, Chester County, Dallas, Denver, Miami, Montgomery County, Pittsburgh, Sarasota, West Palm Beach];

$160,000 [Charlotte, Greensboro, Greenville, Kansas City, Las Vegas, Raleigh];

$140,000 [Oklahoma City]

*The firm did not disclose its salaries beyond this point.

The view from the firm: Starting salaries for first-year associates vary by office location. 2024 compensation for entry-level lawyers is $140,000 to $195,000. Salaries for lateral associates are commensurate with experience. Compensation increases for attorneys are merit-based according to a combination of key factors. The billable hours requirement is 1,850 to 1,900, depending on department. Litigation, Family Law, and Environmental Law requires 1,900, all other departments require 1,850. Up to 50 hours of work on pro-bono matters and up to 50 hours of work on diversity, equity and inclusion matters can be recorded towards the billable hours requirement. Pro-bono and DE&I efforts above 50 hours will be considered on a case-by-case basis.


 Is Fox Rothschild the right firm for you?

 

86%

89%

72%

were happy in their current role

     agreed the work is interesting

felt comfortable being themselves at work

 

The view from the firm: We’re looking for forward-thinking attorneys who distinguish themselves in their academic, professional and civic pursuits, are personally invested in client service, and show promise for practicing law with the highest standards of professional competence, excellence and integrity.

 

Here's what survey respondents had to say about the firm's culture...

“People are just people, there is not a ton of ego. People have lives outside of work, but are all very friendly, helpful, and frequently collaborative.”

“The people are genuinely friendly and helpful and care about each other's success and wellbeing.”

“It’s very genuine and everyone is really wholesome.”


 Diversity, Inclusion & Wellbeing

 

51%

33%

24%

reported diverse staffing on teams/cases/matters

of partners are women

of associates identify as ethnically diverse

The view from the firm: In 2023, the firm formed a DEI Council that supports learning experiences, an inclusive environment, and equitable opportunities for our entire workforce. Council members include partners and chief administrative officers, and meet regularly to evaluate and develop policies, enhance firm communication around DEI, provide vertical feedback to leadership for potential implementation, and support implementation as appropriate. The DEI Council is also the umbrella group for our Employee Resource Groups/Networks for underrepresented members of our workforce: the Women’s Initiative Network, the Mosaic Network (formerly the Diversity Committee), the LGBTQ+A Network, and the newly created Inclusion Network.        


 Pro Bono

 

7.5

40%

average pro bono
hours 
per US attorney    

    agreed the firm is committed to pro bono

Pro bono highlights: Pro bono matter handled through the U.S. Olympics Athlete Ombuds Committee: cleared the way for two-time Olympian swimmer Anita Alvarez to return to competition (sports law); Assisted a recently released inmate in resolving several complicated legal issues, culminating in a court order that granted him physical and legal custody of his two sons (family law).


 Sustainability & CSR

The view from the firm: We formed a Firmwide Sustainability Committee to come up with policies and best practices focusing on the reduction of paper and plastic use across the firm. We work with our individual local office committees to implement the policies as well as track our efforts. We also send out an annual sustainability survey to all of our building landlords to determine the sustainable practices taking place in the buildings we occupy. We are an active member of Vorgate LLC, a sustainability and data collection consulting firm to the legal community, and participate in their American Legal Industry Sustainability Standard (ALISS) survey, an online self-assessment that allows firms to objectively track and measure their sustainability efforts.

We work with many of our clients on sustainability-related volunteer efforts and comply with all client requests regarding sustainable efforts. Additionally, we serve as a sponsor for some of our clients’ events related to sustainability.        


Contact

Learn more about opportunities at the firm

Recruitment contact: Natalie Quinn, Director of Associate Recruitment: nquinn@foxrothschild.com

Jordan Roznowski, Director of Partner Recruitment: jroznowski@foxrothschild.com