Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP

Our Survey Says

VAULT'S VERDICT:

Cravath hires associates with intellectual curiosity and academic achievement. These associates come primarily from T14 schools. Office culture is professional, friendly, and respectful, and partners work closely with associates, treat them like peers, and invest in their professional development. Formal training is extensive and said to be excellent, with formal programming and regular CLEs, and partner and associate mentors are engaged resources who spend a lot of time guiding associates. This support extends to laterals and clerks, who feel integrated as if they were with the firm all along. Work assignments are substantive and challenging, and associates are given early career opportunities to work directly with clients and assume additional responsibilities. Cravath does not have a billable hour requirement; however, associates work hard, and they enjoy flexibility provided by the firm’s hybrid work policy, which allows associates the flexibility to work remotely two days per week. Compensation is top of the market and not tied to billable hours. Firm technology, supported by an effective and responsive IT staff, is outstanding and adaptive to in-office and remote work. The firm offers gym memberships, counseling, and an on-staff dietician. Vacation, in particular, is an appreciated wellness benefit. Pro bono work, promoted by dedicated coordinators, is encouraged and treated like paid work, which creates a strong pro bono culture. Career prospects include equity partnership, non-equity partnership, of counsel, senior attorney positions, and excellent exit opportunities.

FIRM'S PERSPECTIVE

At Cravath, our most important long-term goal is the professional development of our lawyers, and we take a holistic approach to this objective—one that recognizes the importance of training, relationship-building, mentoring, and balancing career and personal obligations and interests. Our lawyers come from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences, but they all share important qualities—intelligence, creativity, a strong work ethic, and a desire to excel.

The hallmark of our training program is our unique rotation system. Associates are assigned work with a partner or small group of partners for a period of time. At the end of that period, each associate switches—or “rotates”—to work with a different partner or group of partners within their department of choice. This allows associates to form close working relationships with several partners and a mix of associates in different stages of their careers. Teams are leanly staffed to provide ample opportunities for associates to collaborate with their partners on each matter to which they are assigned.

In addition to the mentoring they receive as part of the rotation system, associates are also supported through our formalized programs. Associates are assigned an associate advisor when they arrive and later have the opportunity to participate in our partner mentor program. All associates may also join our internal affinity groups, which offer them the chance to build relationships with their colleagues and enhance their sense of community.

Our approach promotes the highest level of client service, excellence in lawyering, and a collegial workplace.