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Our Survey Says

VAULT'S VERDICT:

As the oldest law firm in Virginia, McGuireWoods has come a long way from its small beginnings thanks to strategic mergers and growth. Still, the firm retains its Southern charm; associates praise the firm’s collegial, pleasant culture which, while not overly social, is very much a welcoming environment. Hiring is holistic, and the firm casts a wide net across law schools to find the right candidates, with a particular focus on local law schools near firm offices as well as top-rated schools. While firm management is not always transparent about decision making, associates appreciate being treated with respect by partners across the board, and annual performance reviews are thorough. The billable hour requirement is considered reasonable at 1,950 hours, although associates would appreciate billable credit for more firm-related activities like recruiting, diversity-related work, training, and client development. Associates are largely satisfied with their salaries and enjoy working on substantive, engaging assignments, but note that the productivity bonuses are not competitive with peer firms. Wellness initiatives are sparse, as is formal training, but associates learn on the job and through post-project feedback, and attorneys step up as mentors. The firm promotes pro bono work, with 50 hours of billable-hour credit per year, and has a number of diversity initiatives in place, including a Diverse Associates Leadership Program. McGuireWoods is not an “up or out” firm, meaning that associates feel supported in their career prospects, whether as partners or non-partner senior roles. Many associates leave the firm for in-house counsel roles at well-known companies and government agencies, as well.

McGuireWoods

Gateway Plaza
800 East Canal Street
Richmond, VA 23219-3916
Phone: (804) 775-1000

Firm Stats

Chairman: Jonathan P. Harmon
Managing Partner: J. Tracy Walker IV
Chair of National Recruiting Committee: Angelo Russo
Total No. Attorneys (2023):
1K - 1.5K
No. of Partners Named 2023:
19
Billable-Hour Requirement:
1,950 hours

Base Salary

1st year: $215,000

Employment Contact

Ethan Butterworth
Director, Recruiting
(804) 775-7602
ebutterworth@mcguirewoods.com
Recruiting contacts for all offices are listed at mcguirewoods.com/Careers

No. of U.S. Offices: 19

No. of International Offices: 2

Major Office Locations

Atlanta, GA
Austin, TX
Baltimore, MD
Charlotte, NC
Charlottesville, VA
Chicago, IL
Dallas, TX
Houston, TX
Jacksonville, FL
Los Angeles, CA (Century City)
Los Angeles, CA (Downtown)
New York, NY
Norfolk, VA
Pittsburgh, PA
Raleigh, NC
Richmond, VA
San Francisco, CA
Tysons, VA
Washington, DC I
London
Shanghai

Major Departments

Antitrust & Trade Regulation
Banking & Finance
Commercial Litigation
Corporate
Corporate Finance & Capital Markets
Data Privacy & Security
Financial Services Litigation
Government Investigations & White Collar Litigation
Healthcare
Intellectual Property
Labor & Employee Benefits
Mergers & Acquisitions
Private Equity
Products, Environmental, & Mass Torts Litigation
Real Estate & Land Use
Restructuring & Insolvency
Tax
Technology & Outsourcing
*See firm website for complete list of practice areas and industries.