Seyfarth Shaw LLP - The Inside View

The firm has no Inside View for 2025.

Get Hired

The first stage: recruitment on and off campus  

Applicants interviewed: 213   

Seyfarth participates in interview programs at a number of law schools in the regions where the firm hosts summer associates, including Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles (Century City and Downtown LA), New York, San Francisco, and Seattle. In addition, the firm attends several job fairs and consortia, such as the Lavender Law Career Fair, the Midwest–California–Georgia Consortium, the Southeast Law School Consortium, Summer Hub, among others. The firm also considers direct online applications from students.

The firm interviews are conducted by partners, counsel, and associates. These interviews typically cover a candidate’s prior work and academic experience, their interest in Seyfarth and specific practice groups, and may include several behavioral or situational questions to help the firm learn more about the candidate’s approach to teamwork, communication, and problem‑solving.

Top tips for this stage:  

"Build your interview confidence by practicing in different ways – through mock interviews, with classmates or professors, or even on your own. Have a few examples ready, but aim to answer questions naturally and be yourself so your story comes through. Be proactive by attending networking events and reaching out to alumni to show real interest before interview season starts. These connections can be helpful well beyond recruiting. And no matter the outcome, stay professional. How you respond to rejection can leave a lasting impression and open doors in the future." - national senior director of talent development Elizabeth Tingey

 

Callbacks  

The callback stage consists of interviews with attorney from the practice group the candidate is applying to—typically a mix of partners, counsel, and associates. The questions during these interviews are similar to those asked during the initial screen, but are tailored to the feedback and impressions from the initial screen. Because the initial screen is typically 20 minutes, callback interviews allow for a more detailed and substantive discussion.

This stage provides significantly more time for both the interviewers and the candidate to engage in deeper conversations, ask questions, and assess mutual expectations. It also offers a meaningful opportunity to evaluate cultural fit within the office, the firm, and the practice group.

Top tips for this stage:  

"Once you have your callback schedule, it’s a good idea to email your interviewers to let them know you’re looking forward to meeting them. Be ready to talk about what genuinely interests you about the firm and the practice area, beyond the basics. After the interviews, follow up with thoughtful thank you notes that reference specific parts of your conversations. Those small details can really help you stand out." - national senior director of talent development Elizabeth Tingey

Summer program  

Offers:  29   

Acceptances: 25   

Summer associates are typically assigned to a specific practice group—such as labor & employment, employee benefits, real estate, litigation, or corporate—and primarily work with attorneys within that group throughout the summer. Each practice group has a dedicated work‑assignment coordinator who ensures that summer associates receive a variety of assignments and unique learning opportunities. In addition, each summer associate is paired with both a partner mentor and an associate mentor who provide individualized guidance, feedback, and coaching.

During the recruiting cycle, Seyfarth interviews for specific practice areas, and summer associates join the firm on day one already placed into their designated practice group. This placement continues when they return as first‑year associates, allowing for a more seamless and intentional transition into practice.

Throughout the summer program, the firm’s summer associates have the opportunity to develop meaningful, hands‑on skills that complement and enhance their law school education. These opportunities include:

  • A specialized training curriculum featuring substantive seminars on key legal topics.
  • Professional skills training in areas such as ethics, client service, marketing, legal writing, and communication, taught by leading practitioners across the firm.
  • Practical, real‑world learning experiences, such as attending depositions, court hearings, and client meetings.
  • Engagement with cutting‑edge legal work on active cases and client projects.

Top tips for this stage:  

"Take good notes when you receive an assignment and don’t be afraid to ask questions. Keep assigning attorneys updated on your progress, and let them know early if you need more time to complete your work. Stay organized and manage your workload thoughtfully, asking for guidance if priorities conflict. Always proofread your emails and work product. Pay attention to feedback and apply it – it’s one of the fastest ways to learn. Be respectful to everyone, including assistants and paralegals, and take the time to get to know them. Show curiosity about the work, the practice group, and the firm itself. Participate in events and activities, maintain a positive attitude, and be on time – arriving early never hurts."- national senior director of talent development Elizabeth Tingey

Lateral hiring  

Approximately 65% of the firm’s associates are lateral hires. Although the firm recruits from a wide range of sources, it tends to favor candidates from AmLaw 200 firms and generally focuses on more experienced associates. This approach is largely because Seyfarth prefers to hire its junior associates through the summer program. Looking ahead to the next 12 months, Seyfarth’s recruiting team indicated that the firm expects to hire across all practice areas, including corporate, real estate, labor & employment, litigation, and employee benefits.

And Finally...  

"Be professional, engaged, and respectful – your work and how you treat others both leave a lasting impression.'”- national senior director of talent development Elizabeth Tingey

 

 

Seyfarth Shaw LLP

Main areas of work
Seyfarth offers a full portfolio of practices in advisory, litigation, and transactional legal services to companies around the world.

Firm profile
Seyfarth is home to high-performing, dedicated attorneys and allied professionals who embody the firm’s core values of excellence, inclusion, teamwork, client service, innovation, and commitment in everything. Working together, we have created a forward-thinking talent story, allowing those who exceed expectations to advance on their own terms. For attorneys, we do this by offering a unique set of tools, resources, and pathways to serve as a platform for your success. If you want to be a part of a team that has the freedom to grow at a firm that is invested in your future, we want to hear from you.  

Recruitment
Law Schools attending for OCIs in 2025: Boston College, Boston University, Cardozo School of Law, Chicago-Kent College of Law, Columbia University, Emory, Fordham University, Loyola University - Chicago, New York University, Stanford, UC Berkeley, UC Davis, UCLA, University of Southern California, University of Georgia, University of Seattle, University of Texas – Austin, and University of Washington

Recruitment outside OCIs: We participate in a number of law school resume collection programs and attend several job fairs, including Lavender Law, Boston Lawyers Group, Summer Hub, Midwest-California-Georgia Consortium (among others) as well as regional fairs. We also consider write-in applicants.

Summer associate profile: Demonstrated academic achievement is important, and we highly value diverse backgrounds and experiences, and students with strong analytical and communication skills.  

Summer program components: Our summer program is structured so that each summer associate is assigned to a specific practice group before joining us. This gives them a clear sense of the type of work they’ll be doing and allows us to tailor their experience from the outset. It also enables the training and development process to begin well in advance of their first year of full‑time practice.

We offer a focused training curriculum that includes substantive sessions on key legal topics, along with practical training in areas like ethics, client service, legal writing, communication, and even the business side of the practice. Summers also get meaningful hands‑on exposure by attending depositions, court hearings, and client meetings.

Most importantly, our summers do real work for real clients. They collaborate directly with Seyfarth attorneys on active matters and ongoing client projects, so they’re contributing in a substantive way—not just observing from the sidelines.

Our Summer Associate Program is also a beacon of innovation and client-focused excellence. Our unique AI & Innovation curriculum offers an immersive, hands-on learning experience that sets us apart from other firms. Summer associates dive into a series of exciting modules that blend practical AI applications with innovative thinking. From hands-on training with cutting-edge AI tools to engaging in mock assignments that simulate real-world legal challenges, our associates gain invaluable insights into the benefits and limitations of AI in legal practice. They also participate in dynamic events like the “SEYence Fair,” where they brainstorm and showcase their ideas alongside our full-time lawyers.

Social Media
Twitter: https://twitter.com/seyfarthshawLLP
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/seyfarthshawllp/ 
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/seyfarth-shaw

This Firm's Rankings in
USA Guide, 2025

Ranked Departments

    • Construction (Band 4)
    • Intellectual Property: Trademark, Copyright & Trade Secrets (Band 4)
    • Labor & Employment: The Elite (Band 3)
    • Real Estate (Band 4)
    • Construction (Band 1)
    • Immigration (Band 3)
    • Labor & Employment (Band 2)
    • Real Estate (Band 4)
    • Immigration (Band 2)
    • Labor & Employment (Band 1)
    • Real Estate (Band 3)
    • Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation (Band 2)
    • Environment (Band 3)
    • Labor & Employment: The Elite (Band 1)
    • Real Estate (Band 3)
    • Antitrust (Band 2)
    • Immigration (Band 2)
    • Labor & Employment (Band 1)
    • Real Estate (Band 3)
    • Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation (Band 3)
    • Labor & Employment: The Elite (Band 2)
    • Litigation: Securities (Band 5)
    • Real Estate: Mainly Dirt (Band 5)
    • Healthcare (Band 4)
    • Labor & Employment (Band 2)
    • Construction (Band 3)
    • Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation (Band 4)
    • ERISA Litigation (Band 3)
    • Government Contracts: The Elite (Band 3)
    • Immigration (Band 3)
    • Investment Funds: Investor Representation (Band 3)
    • Labor & Employment (Band 1)
    • Real Estate (Band 5)
    • Retail (Band 1)
    • Transportation: Road (Automotive) (Band 2)
    • Construction (Band 2)
    • Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation (Band 2)
    • Labor & Employment (Band 3)
    • Real Estate (Band 3)

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