Polsinelli PC - The Inside View

In the words of another famous Nelly: it’s getting hot in here – ‘here’ being one of the largest and rapidly growing US-only firms, Polsinelli. That’s not to say the firm doesn’t work on the international market – “We do,” CEO Chase Simmons tells us – “But we do have a US focus across 24 cities – so we really know who we are,” he clarifies.With a strong presence in Kansas City, the majority of juniors were understandably located in the area, but the firm also has notable outposts in Denver, St Louis, Chicago and Nashville. Polsinelli’s boots on the ground across all corners of the US have ensured they’ve made the most of the growth in the economy – most of which has been in the mid-market. Simmons explains, “We marry that up with our industries: real estate; financial services; private equity; healthcare; tech; life sciences; and energy – those are all great industries in the US economy.” The firm’s presence in these industries doesn’t go unnoticed either: Chambers USA  pops Polsinelli in the top band nationwide for privacy & data security in the healthcare space; its government contracts work also receives accolades, and the firm clocks up further nationwide rankings in franchising, healthcare, international trade (IP), real estate, and sports law.

While juniors placed importance on Polsinelli’s practice and “sophisticated” client base, they were also drawn to their long-term prospects at the firm, particularly with the fact that “the path to becoming a shareholder (partner) was made clear.” Simmons tells us that for the firm, ensuring associates have a good sense of their future is a priority: “A few years ago we added real career planning with Polsinelli Path which takes the entire eight-year associate track and breaks it down. Not everyone wants to be a partner – people who want to have a family, move cities – so we’ve tried to provide structure for those kinds of conversations, and our turnover since implementing that program has been dramatically lower.”

Polsinelli is recognized as a Strong Performer for Associate Satisfaction in our 2025 survey.

Strategy & Future

The past twelve months have been something of a continuation of last year’s approach, CEO Chase Simmons outlines, “We’re not looking to go and do something brand new... We’re looking to expand on what we are already doing,” highlighting: energy (particularly in regard to increasing alternatives and transition activity); trade (“where a lot more people are coming in from the US Government”); technology and AI; and IP even in the mid-market. Simmons brings to attention in particular the cross-section between AI and energy as being “more critical than it’s ever been,” as "AI – which uses a tremendous amount of energy – are such hot areas. ”

“…they don’t see that growth slowing down.”

Juniors at the firm felt very positive about the firm’s vision – “it’s hard to argue with it!” – and the shareholders' efforts to keep them in the loop with quarterly town halls led by the CEO. “They say they don’t see that growth slowing down,” insiders underlined.With growth, of course, can come concerns over culture shifts, but juniors told us, “They’re looking to maintain our culture as the clients get tougher and the revenue rises.” Similarly, Simmons reaffirms, “We’ve grown organically rather than through big mergers, and we think that has been really important to keeping control of and nurturing our culture.”

Read more from Chase Simmons under the ‘Get Hired’ tab.

The Work

“As a summer, you can do pretty much anything,” one junior outlined, “and it’s encouraged to reach out across office.” Polsinelli allows its summers to work across various practices before “gravitating towards your interests.” Once the summer’s up, juniors join a specific group, though work allocation is still “definitely free market – so even though my team feeds me 99% of my work I can reach out and do anything corporate-related,” one junior reassured.

The firm has six legal departments: litigation, business, labor & employment, intellectual property, healthcare, real estate, and financial services. Business – one of the firm’s largest departments – includes practices like tax, venture capital, energy, data privacy, and many more. Under the business umbrella falls the newly minted private equity & M&A practice, where juniors work with colleagues across the firm’s US offices (“We’re on Zoom a lot of the time!”). “We’re pretty national in capabilities, so even though I’m in the Dallas office a lot of the people I work with are in LA, Atlanta, New York – even if I were to move offices my practice would probably be the same," an insider explained of the firm’s cross-office set-up. Juniors told us they mostly did buy-side work, typically on a national scale, alongside a lot of general counsel work. Although “a lot of the work is fielding client communication and managing the specialists,” juniors also got the opportunity to work on leading diligence, as well as drafting ancillary documents.

Private equity & M&A clients: FFL Partners, BARBRI, and MSO Metro. Represented Trive Capital Management in the purchase of all of the equity interests of Formula Wellness.

Across the corporate  practices, healthcare work in particular is a focus for the firm, with cases ranging from the hundreds of millions to much smaller local matters.On smaller cases, juniors relished being “given the opportunity to essentially be the senior associate running the deal; it can be challenging negotiating the purchase and working with opposing counsel but you appreciate the opportunity.” Outside counsel also helps make up the junior workload, “and sometimes you’ll be on corporate clean-up projects where you’re updating things after a transaction.”

Corporate clients: IEX, Acquis Consulting, and Aline Accounting. Represented design firm Force Majeure Design in a $14 million international transaction involving a sale to Lonsdale Group.

The firm’s commercial litigation practice services a broad range of clients on employment matters, real estate disputes, construction disputes, bankruptcy and solar services, among others, and juniors are exposed to a wide range of matters. Depending on business needs and team structure, there is the chance for some litigation associates to focus on more niche areas of practice. Associates work for national and international entities, looking at lease disputes, personal injury claims and wrongful termination. Starting out, sources explained, “Your responsibilities are logistics-driven, so you’re keeping up to date with deadlines, prodding the matter along, and keeping the shareholder up to date.” As associates gain experience, “you move up quicker than you’d expect, working on anything from signature pages and contract review to purchase agreements” in the first couple of years, “with a lot more client involvement than you’d expect.”

Litigation clients: Grain Belt Express, Park Vista, North Kansas City Destination Developers. Represented over 300 plaintiffs including farmers, landowners, and small businesses affected by the atypical flooding of the Missouri River.

Polsinelli’s acclaimed healthcare & public policy practice is divided into compliance, regulatory, litigation, transaction and policy. Clients are typically on the national scale and much of juniors’ workload involves “seeing if a jurisdiction allows a particular course of action. You’re given discrete projects, helping with motions to dismiss, complaints, drafting and urgent research tasks as they arrive at your desk,” an insider sampled.  The firm also does a lot of work representing healthcare providers against insurance companies – “so that’s hospitals, hospital systems, doctor practices; we’re trying to get money back to patients from insurance companies not paying their medical services all the time.” For juniors, “at the beginning you’re doing document review for discovery, which turns into cutting the first draft of small motions,” an interviewee outlined, “then once that’s worked out and you know the facts, you’re given responsibility for motions to dismiss and responses.”

Healthcare clients: University of Washington, Medicare Medicaid Advisors, and Highline Medical Services. Provided drafting and legal advice to the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, a non-profit research organization and cancer hospital.

Career Development

Insiders were very positive about their prospects for development, mainly because of the mentorship on offer. Juniors generally work closely with shareholders who are “invested in your success, so you get a lot of one-on-one informal feedback, advice on career development, and insight into how to build a book of business.” Sources explained that formal emphasis on business development “comes a little later, but as a whole the firm tries to create structures that facilitate that,” including things like client appreciation events across the offices and practices which help associates and clients form relationships. Some practices like healthcare host monthly meetings to discuss topics like originating business and building a book of business. “It’s clear they want to set you up for success long term,” said an interviewee.Juniors, particularly in the litigious practices, had praise for the training which includes litigation CLEs – “like, a two-month program based on what year you’re in” – as well as a trial academy. “Firm-wide, we have a week-long trial lawyer program in Kansas City” where they hold “a mock trial that’s for partners, associates – anyone who wants to learn new skills.”

“Nobody is hiding the ball.”

“Their intention is for you to start and end your career here,” interviewees made clear, adding: “There’s a lot of excitement about where we’ll all be ten years from now.” To set associates up for the long term, Polsinelli has a pathfinder programwhere a senior associate or shareholder breaks down the different career paths available to juniors. Insiders reassured, “They make it clear that there are different paths for different people – it’s not, ‘fit in this box or you’re out’.” Across the board associates agreed, “The firm is very clear on what it takes – nobody is hiding the ball. If you meet the metrics, you can become partner.” Becoming a non-equity shareholder seemed “achievable” to our interviewees – after all, “there are more shareholders than associates!” – but “getting to equity I think requires some luck and good fortune!”

Polsinelli is recognized as an Excellent Performer for Career Development and Associate Retention in our 2025 survey.

Culture

“There is no secret sauce – the people just don’t suck!”

The culture at Polsinelli very much reflects the firm’s approach to mentorship: “People are personally invested in you, so you don’t feel like a cog in a machine; everyone wants you to be the best you can be.” Associates felt comfortable reaching out and talking to colleagues at all levels. “You don’t come across any jerks,” we heard, “There is a Midwestern friendly vibe that tracks.” Ultimately, the Midwestern vibe follows through to how partners and seniors at the firm treat juniors: “They want you to have a life, go home, have kids – people understand that the personal stuff matters.” For those we spoke with, the main draw came down to the fact that “they’re just normal people! They have kids and pets, and go on vacations. There is no secret sauce – the people just don’t suck!” Insiders noted, “We’re definitely not the happy-hours-‘til-2am kind of firm, butthere is something going on every month. You’re just not forced to give up home time to go to any of them.”

Polsinelli has a budget for associates that they can use for events, where juniors get the opportunity to go to football matches and other sports outings, as well as partake in sports like pickleball (“it’s kind of like tennis!”). Insiders shared, “You also have fun in the office; sometimes we’ll bring in different kinds of snacks and have a taste testing,” but the socializing, for a lot of our interviewees, extends beyond the firm walls; “I hang out with associates outside of work too. It’s not work-hard-play-hard by any means, but we do have fun.”

Hours & Compensation

Billable hours: 1,900 target

Overall, “I think it’s a good culture which tries to recognize the nature of the job without necessarily burning everyone out all the time,” a junior reasoned.Polsinelli initially has a 1,900-hour target for juniors; at fourth year, associates can choose between an 1,800 or a 2,000 target – “so you can get that buffering around burnout if you need it.” Insiders explained, “It takes time to warm up and get on matters; the firm does try to connect you with people when you’re looking for work.” As a result, people found making the billable hour target was definitely doable: “I exceeded it pretty heavily last year, but I was adequately reimbursed!” a source told us, “Both with base and bonus, I think they do a good job.”

“We work hard so we can take time off and enjoy our lives.”

When it comes to flexible working expectations, juniors are expected to be in the office most days. “That’s the official expectation,” one insider outlined, “but as long as you’re getting your work done, you’re unlikely to be reprimanded.” Even with this in mind, an associate emphasized, “We all like going into the office – seniors and shareholders included –  and we get a lot of training and mentorship there! In some offices like Nashville in-person is definitely in the culture too.” Associates were clear that though there are expectations for juniors to work in the office, “Polsinelli strives to retain that work-life balance. We work hard so we can take time off and enjoy our lives – people have kids, but work doesn’t stop them from attending events at school or anything like that.” On top of this, the firm helps to connect parents to childcare services: back-up daycare options, elder care, “and things like that – they strive to make sure there’s that support in plan.”

Pro Bono

Up to 50 billable hours can go towards pro bono at Polsinelli, and associates can also ask for further credit. “The pro bono champion each year gets an award they can display in their office,” insiders enthused,but for most of the juniors we spoke with, finding time to take on pro bono cases could be tricky. “If I were slower maybe I would seek it out, but I’ve stayed very busy with billable work,” one associate explained, “and as a corporate associate I don’t know how plentiful the opportunities are… I would say the litigation attorneys do more though.” Corporate opportunities do include some work with non-profits, but admittedly the vast majority of examples we received came from the litigation side. “The litigators are always doing something,” one interviewee confirmed, including partaking in legal clinics and helping with asylum cases for refugees.

Pro bono hours   

• For all (US) attorneys: undisclosed
• Average per (US) attorney: undisclosed

Get Hired

OCIs and Callbacks  

Polsinelli participates in OCIs at over 18 universities across the country. Members of the firm’s Strategic Recruiting and Hiring Committee and university alumni who practice at Polsinelli all conduct interviews; the number of interviews depends on how many applications the firm receives, ranging from one to 20 interviews per OCI event.   

Those who make it to the callback stage complete between 2-4 30-minute virtual or in-person interviews with partners and associates. The firm encourages in-person interviewing when feasible but is understanding of the student's time commitment between interviews and the beginning of law school classes. 

Top tips: “Demonstrate superior academic credentials; strong work ethic; and exceptional writing and analytical skills,” an insider at the firm told us, adding: “We look for demonstrated leadership ability in prior work and academic experience, and well-rounded, personable individuals who are self-motivated and confident in their abilities.”

Summer program

Offers 2024: 34

Summer associates will work alongside associates and partners for ten weeks across different practice areas. Students get involved in all sorts of tasks, like drafting motions, examining data to help formulate strategies for clients and analyzing the probable outcome of cases.   

There are multiple social events and training sessions to increase networking opportunities: “The goal of our summer associate program is to encourage students to drive initiatives, cultivate relationships and to provide first-hand law firm experience,” a representative of the firm told us. It’s worth noting that Polsinelli has a high return rate when it comes to summers joining as full-time associates.  

Interview with Chase Simmons, CEO

Commercial strategy, market position and trends

Chambers Associate: How would you define your firm’s current position and identity in the legal market?

Chase Simmons: We are an AmLaw 60 firm, focused on the middle market and based in the US with all our lawyers. We do international work, but we do have a US focus across 24 cities – so we really know who we are. Most of the growth in the US has been in the mid-market and we marry that up with our industries: real estate; financial services; private equity; healthcare; tech; life sciences; and energy – those are all great industries in the US economy. Internally we have always put culture first. We have been one of the fastest rising firms on the Am Law 100 over the past decade but we’ve grown organically rather than through big mergers, and we think that has been really important for keeping control of and nurturing our culture. From the way we reacted through Covid and the deal boom to the slowdown it has been a people-first culture, both with our lawyers and administrative professionals.

CA: Have there been any developments at the firm over the past year that you’d like law students to know about?

Simmons: We are not looking to go and do something brand new, something we’ve never done before. We’re looking to expand on what we are already doing: in energy, for example, we’ve been focused on alternatives and transition, where there’s been a lot of activity. We’ve invested in trade where a lot more people are coming in from the US Government, and we have a lot of work in tech and AI, and a focus on IP even in the mid-market. Big firms are generally countercyclical, but over the past few years more than ever we’ve had a lot of balance across all our practices. We are focusing heavily on innovation and AI and have rolled out multiple AI tools across the firm and are training all of our lawyers on them. We often collaborate closely with clients to innovate and help them use these tools as well.

CA: Are there any domestic or international events/trends that are affecting any of the firm’s practices at the moment?

Simmons: Access to energy in the US is more critical than it’s ever been, and current events are one of the reasons energy and AI – which uses a tremendous amount of energy – are such hot areas. Being a US firm at the moment is something we feel pretty strong about – the US is the strongest economy in the world, and the major allies of the US are going to be the major winners from an economic standpoint. Of course, the swings between administrations are unprecedented, which is something that adds uncertainty, but it is a good thing for really good lawyers – clients come to us to navigate this.

Inside the Firm

CA: How is the firm evolving to accommodate the needs/expectations of the next generation of lawyers?

Simmons: I was a summer here, and there’s something about being in the same company throughout my career that gives me a good eye back on our younger lawyers. Obviously, support and mentorship have always been important, and post-Covid with everyone spread out more, that has been a focus. We do reviews and mentorship, but a few years ago, we also added real career planning with Polsinelli Path which takes the entire eight-year associate track and breaks it down. Not everyone wants to be a partner – people who want to have a family, move cities – so we’ve tried to provide structure for those kinds of conversations, and our turnover since implementing that program has been dramatically lower.

CA: What’s the firm’s approach to bolstering diversity, equity, and inclusion?

Simmons: We evolve things every year. Obviously, this year we’ve had to do a risk assessment and make sure we’re in compliance with the law, but we’ve always kept an eye on that, so there are no major changes for us. We have a 50% female and diverse lawyer pool and even more at the professional staff level, but it’s about who we are rather than trying to become a particular place; we want everyone to feel comfortable here, and we don’t think that’s controversial.

The Fun Bit

CA: What was the first car you owned?

Simmons: I owned a 1965 Mustang convertible… I got to drive it for one week delivering pizzas, but I got lost delivering pizzas. Later that evening my stepdad saw me speeding and that was the end of that!

CA: What memory/moment has stuck with you from law school?

Simmons: I really enjoyed law school! On my first day I connected with some friends that became lifelong friends. We thought, “We’re all going to be overwhelmed with law school together!”

CA: Which actor/actress would you want to play you in a biopic about your life?

Simmons: Tom Hanks! The movie would be a good movie.