Fenwick possesses a truly distinctive culture and approach to the practice of law. We're a mid-size firm with an international presence—large enough to attract first-rate clients, yet small enough to maintain a collegial work environment. The firm’s smaller scale means all our lawyers have significant responsibility and client contact, which is how we attract diverse, passionate lawyers who share a self-starter mentality, intellectual curiosity, and deep client commitment.
Collaboration and Self-Direction
Fenwick’s collaborative culture invites associates to take ownership in developing meaningful careers. Through the unique free market system, individuals are empowered to seek out work, teammates and practice areas that most interest them. This uniquely self-directed approach fosters skillsets that serve individuals throughout their professional life, but it’s not something that is learned in a day. To help first-year associates scale the learning curve, we provide a robust integration program called Fenwick First.
Fenwick First introduces associates to the firm’s way of work through numerous ongoing training programs and support groups. With the support of professional practice managers, individuals learn how to choose work from a variety of matters, meet a broad mix of attorneys at all levels, and start to understand the basics for navigating the free market system.
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Diversity is also a core component of Fenwick’s culture. We actively promote an open and inclusive work environment and commit substantial resources toward improving our diversity efforts at every level. We actively recruit diverse attorneys – by race, gender, sexual orientation, physical ability, geographic/cultural background – through numerous channels, including on-campus initiatives, minority bar associations and job fairs. We believe that a diverse workforce helps us serve our clients better and fosters an environment of cooperation, respect, creativity and mutual understanding in which everyone thrives. Fenwick is proud to have achieved Mansfield Certification Plus from Diversity Lab for reaching at least 30% diverse lawyer representation in a notable number of current leadership roles and committees.
Pro Bono and Community Impact
Fenwick’s nationally recognized pro bono practice is dedicated to ensuring that disadvantaged people and communities have representation and access to justice. To encourage pro bono legal services, Fenwick recognizes all approved pro bono work as billable hours for all purposes for non-partner attorneys. We provide these services as a responsibility of our profession and as a civic duty to the communities in which we live and work. Our clients include asylum seekers, veterans, DACA recipients, survivors of human trafficking and low-income renters facing eviction, among others.