Gibson Dunn

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Gibson Dunn Mentors

Our Survey Says

VAULT'S VERDICT:

As one of the top BigLaw firms in the country, Gibson Dunn naturally looks for the best and brightest candidates, and although credentials might get someone an interview, only friendly people get in the door. Gibson Dunn is known for its incredibly warm and collegial culture, which associates attribute in large part to the firm’s free market assignment system; associates can choose the work they want to do and the people they want to work with, so everyone is incentivized to treat each other well. The free market system also gives associates a great deal of control over their schedules, and with Gibson’s hybrid work policy that allows flexibility for remote work, many associates feel that work-life balance is achievable. Mentorship is a hallmark of the Gibson ethos, so although training may often be somewhat informal and largely on-the-job, associates feel very comfortable asking for help and guidance, and partners invest heavily in associate development. With flexibility to work remotely and no pressure to be in the office, associates find the firm’s 1,950 billable hour expectation reasonable, particularly because pro bono hours are counted as billable with no cap and are fully credited toward the bonus threshold. Compensation is at the top of the market, although there have been whispers about an increase in the hours needed for bonus eligibility. Associates wish that firm management would be more transparent in these types of policy changes, but generally, they find leadership to be communicative and informative. In a firm as large as Gibson, the path to partnership is inevitably long and competitive, but associates see it as achievable for those who really commit to it. Moreover, the firm fully supports anyone who wants to pursue prospects outside its walls.