Baker McKenzie

Our Survey Says

VAULT'S VERDICT:

Baker McKenzie hires candidates from top-tier law schools, prioritizing attorneys with strong academic performance, communication skills, and the ability to work within a team. The culture is welcoming, and colleagues, who frequently work across offices, are friendly. Social opportunities vary by office, with some hosting optional happy hours and sports activities and others characterized by in-office interactions. Associates can work from home, which they appreciate. Partners have an open door policy and are collegial with associates, and younger partners, in particular, contribute to associate development; they create opportunities to learn on the job by providing work above an individual’s level and encouraging client interaction. When they join the firm, each associate is assigned a mentor, and they benefit from informal mentors and various mentoring and sponsorship programs as they become more senior. The firm also offers robust associate training courses and access to conferences and CLE courses. Laterals hit the ground running. The firm pays market salaries and offers a market bonus for associates who meet its 2,000-hour billable requirement. Associates who exceed the billable hours requirement may receive additional discretionary bonuses. Pro bono and inclusion, diversity, and equity programs allow associates to apply up to 125 hours annually toward their billable hours expectation. The path to non-equity partnership is realistic and transparent, and non-equity partners can become equity partners, although the latter process is less clear to associates. Counsel roles are available as well. Notable perks include career coaching, work-from-home flexibility, and opportunities to temporarily work from one of the firm’s international offices through an international associate training program.