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.
Gateway Plaza
800 East Canal Street
Richmond, VA 23219-3916
Phone: (804) 775-1000
Chairman: Jonathan P. Harmon
Managing Partner: J. Tracy Walker IV
Chair of National Recruiting Committee: Angelo Russo
Total No. Attorneys (2024):
750 - 1K
No. of Partners Named 2023:
19
Billable-Hour Requirement:
1,950 hours
Salaries not disclosed.
Ethan Butterworth
Director, Recruiting
(804) 775-7602
ebutterworth@mcguirewoods.com
Recruiting contacts for all offices are listed at https://careers.mcguirewoods.com/recruiting-contacts/
No. of U.S. Offices: 19
No. of International Offices: 2
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
London
Shanghai
Commercial Litigation
Corporate and Private Equity
Debt Finance
Environmental & Mass Tort
Financial Services & Securities Enforcement
Government Investigations & White Collar Litigation
Healthcare
Labor & Employment
Mergers and Acquisitions and Energy Transactional
Public Finance
Real Estate & Land Use
Regulatory & Compliance
Securities & Capital Markets
Tax & Employee Benefits
*See firm website for complete list of practice areas and industries.