2024 DIVERSITY DATABASE UNDERWRITER Clifford Chance US LLP

Our Survey Says

VAULT'S VERDICT:

Clifford Chance has had success hiring from the same pool of law schools every year, which includes T14 schools. The firm looks for individuals with interest in international matters. Coworkers are kind, inclusive, and collaborative across time zones and languages. Partners’ open door policies mean they are accessible, and they welcome feedback and value associates both personally and professionally. Partner appreciation also applies to laterals, who say that integration is smooth. Associates are prepared through structured onboarding, training, and mentoring, as well as through hands-on direction received during ongoing projects. Work assignments are substantive from the beginning, and the degree of complexity and client face time increase over time. Staffing coordinators endeavor to distribute tasks evenly and fairly. Billable credit is given for pro bono, recruiting, and business development work. Compensation matches the market and partial, discretionary bonuses are allowed. Clifford Chance is committed to and innovative with office technology, especially regarding hybrid work and AI tools. Wellness is emphasized through counseling services, subsidized gym memberships, and encouraged use of vacation days. Uncapped pro bono hours count toward the billable requirement, and opportunities are publicized weekly. Promotion follows the track of counsel, non-equity partner, then equity partner, and making equity partner is difficult but possible. Associates find numerous exit options in public and private sectors.

FIRM'S RESPONSE

A law firm’s culture is defined in many ways: geographic reach, substantive strengths, client focus, inclusion, and core values. Candidates carefully weigh these qualities throughout the recruitment process, but once our associates arrive and become a member of the team, a key factor in their development is mentorship. Our partners and senior associates take this responsibility seriously; there is a genuine commitment to growth and improvement. We learn from each other, embracing one another’s diverse ideas, experiences, and backgrounds. True investment in our associates means giving them the confidence to reach outside their comfort zones, the support to grow professionally and personally, and the space to discover their true potential.