Bracewell

Our Survey Says

VAULT'S VERDICT:

Bracewell recruits associates from top law schools and those regionally close to the hiring office(s); further, it looks for diverse backgrounds and experiences in hiring. Office settings are positive, and colleagues are supportive and collaborative. There’s a culture of strong mentorship that starts with the partners, who are respectful and generous with feedback. With assigned, engaged associate and partner mentors who provide on-the-job training, associates also learn during new associate orientation, through boot camp training programs, and through practice-group-specific training. Lateral hires are trained, welcomed, and integrated into existing cases nicely. Associates are trusted with high-level, substantive work, which is often client-facing, though they engage in document drafting and review as well. Workloads are distributed fairly. Bracewell expects associates to bill a manageable 2,000 hours per year, with flexibility to work from home, and 100 of these hours can come from pro bono, recruiting, or client development work. Compensation matches the top market rate. Document sharing, communication, and AI programs help associates work efficiently, along with support from the IT department. Work-life integration and general well-being are advanced by regular programming and unlimited PTO. The firm encourages and actively promotes pro bono opportunities, 100 hours of which count as billable. Associates feel confident in their prospects for equity partnership, and promotion to counsel or non-equity positions is common. The firm assists with placement to in-house roles for those who wish to depart.