This Boston-born outfit leaves no Gray area when it comes to its expertise across life sciences, private equity and funds.
Ropes & Gray Lateral Profile 2025
“In Boston, Ropes is so prolific, everyone tosses their name in to work here,” said one bright-eyed associate. Indeed, “Ropes is number one in Boston by virtue of its breath of practices and diverse matters,” another bushy-tailed interviewee emphasized: “I knew it would be the prime way to cut my teeth.” Racking up praise for over 70 of its practices, it’s clear this reputation didn’t go amiss with our colleagues over at Chambers USA. In its home state of Massachusetts, Ropes boasts the best of the best accolades across a smattering of practices, from litigation and corporate/M&A to tax and life sciences – you’ll have to head on over to chambers.com for the full breakdown. Nationally, however, Ropes is the crème-de-la-crème for false claims act, healthcare, international trade (export controls and economic sanctions), investment funds, private equity, and registered funds work… talk about an eclectic mix.
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…
“I wanted to be in Boston. Ropes is the best firm in town for my chosen practice area, and, at the very least, in the conversation for best in town for any other practice areas I may have considered.”
“Ropes & Gray is the top Boston's legal world. I knew that starting my career here would give me the best opportunity grow as quickly as possible.”
“I chose Ropes & Gray because all the people I talked to from Ropes before deciding on a job offer were warm, friendly, and interested in getting to know me. I also chose it based on its prestige in life sciences law, particularly in the Boston office.”
Career Development & the Path to Partnership
|
12 |
3.1 : 1 |
56% |
||
|
partners made in 2024 |
associate : partner gearing |
of associates intend to make partner |
||
|
68% |
44% |
69% |
||
| felt partnership was achievable for attorneys with childcare/caregiver responsibilities | felt partnership was achievable at the firm | agreed partners are nurturing future leaders |
||
Hours & Compensation
|
1,900 |
14 |
49.7 |
|
billable hours |
average number of vacation days associates took in one year |
average number of hours associates worked in one week |
|
56% |
82% |
84% |
| 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 around bonus allocation to be authentic |
Salaries
1st year: $225,000
2nd year: $235,000
3rd year: $260,000
4th year: $310,000
5th year: $390,000
6th year: $420,000
7th year: $435,000
8th year: $445,000
Is Ropes & Gray the right firm for you?
|
86% |
84% |
86% |
|
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 have all lived up to the reputation that I had heard about the firm. Everyone is smart and is invested in associate success.”
“Ropes & Gray's culture is unmatched. The atmosphere here is very friendly. It makes work fun.”
“Ropes is a firm that values its associates, seeks to build genuine relationships between associates and partners, and is a generally friendly workplace.”
Pro Bono
|
81 |
86% |
|
average pro bono |
agreed the firm puts effort towards its commitment to pro bono and social impact activity |
Pro bono highlights: Public International Law and Policy Group (international law); Maine Mountain Collaborative (environmental conservation); Green Tech Legal Collaborative (Greentech startup support); Various veteran support groups.
Sustainability & CSR
The view from the firm: 100% of our office real estate portfolio is powered by 100 percent renewable electricity through environmental attribute certificates (EACs). Across our firm, we recycle all paper, aluminum, plastic and glass—and several offices engage in composting. Our use of sophisticated HVAC systems, motion sensor light switches, efficient lighting and specially designed faucets ensures reduced energy and water consumption. Our office locations manage day-to-day operations with waste reduction in mind, providing reusable utensils and mugs and offering filtered water and ice machines in lieu of bottled water, for example. We purchase Energy Star-rated computers and office equipment, and printers are configured to print double-sided by default. When taking on new space or planning construction, we make conscious decisions to reuse furniture and infrastructure, when possible, and we responsibly recycle or donate items we no longer need. When purchasing new items, we consider durability, quality and material content and make choices that are environmentally conscious.
Local “Green Teams” across our offices are dedicated to promoting sustainability practices. These teams meet regularly to brainstorm and implement initiatives and challenges with the aim of encouraging sustainable choices, protecting the environment, and promoting personal health and well-being.
All of our US offices have received LEED for Existing Buildings certification from the U.S. Green Building Council:
- Chicago (the world’s first LEED Core & Shell Gold Certified building)
- Boston (Gold Certified floors)
- New York (Gold Certified building)
- Silicon Valley (Gold Certified building)
- Washington, D.C. (Gold Certified floors)
- San Francisco (Silver Certified floors)
- Los Angeles (Gold Certified building)
Contact
Learn more about opportunities at the firm
Recruitment contact: associaterecruiting@ropesgray.com