2024 DIVERSITY DATABASE PREMIUM SPONSOR Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP

Our Survey Says

VAULT'S VERDICT:

Hiring at Cleary focuses on qualified candidates who fit within the firm’s collaboration ethos. Coworkers are pleasant, helpful, and sincere, and socializing among associates and staff is enjoyable. Partners are respectful and collaborative, and they offer helpful feedback that supports associate development. Hands-on guidance from partners and senior associates, along with orientation and regular firm-offered trainings, gives associates opportunities to advance and improve. Laterals feel welcomed and integrated immediately. Associates are given challenging, interesting work and responsibility from the beginning, as well as opportunities for client contact. Centralized staffing helps spread work assignments evenly among associates. Cleary’s billable objective is 1,950 hours, with credit available for pro bono and business development hours. Lockstep salaries and bonuses both match the market standard. Firm technology has improved, and when issues arise, the tech support team is helpful. Employee wellness is bolstered by subsidies for gym memberships, home exercise equipment, and fitness classes, as well as free counseling sessions and wellness apps. Pro bono work, including work with the Cleary Fellowship, is encouraged, and information on pro bono work is regularly circulated. Pro bono hours count toward the target, and individuals’ efforts are acknowledged. Associates feel partnership is difficult but possible. The firm recently added a non-equity partner level, counsel and senior attorney positions are possible landing spots, and moving in-house, to other firms, and to the public sector are feasible exit options.