Nixon Peabody LLP

Our Survey Says

VAULT'S VERDICT

From its roots in 1850s Boston, Nixon Peabody has grown a large footprint in the legal industry. With this growth has also come a strong commitment to innovation, an example of which is the firm’s pivot away from a traditional summer associate program towards academic-year internships that emphasize hands-on experience in specific practice areas. But this shift has not impacted the firm’s culture—far from it, with associates praising the firm’s dedication to helping attorneys build connections with each other and maintaining a strong work-life balance. Partners are kind and supportive, and while firm management can be opaque in its decision making, associates appreciate the firm’s transparency surrounding performance and expectations. Salary and bonuses are below market, but associates are still largely satisfied with their compensation. Lean teams mean associates gain substantive experience early on, and although hours can be long, nights and weekends are usually safe. Junior associates receive extensive training, but associates would like to see more training opportunities for mid-level and senior associates as well. In another sign of innovation, Nixon Peabody offers two counsel tracks in addition to partnership, one for attorneys who do not want to be partner and the other as a stepping stone for attorneys who will benefit from more time and training before going up for partner. Associates are proud of the firm’s participation in diversity initiatives such as Mansfield Certification and the Move the Needle initiative and see positive returns as a result.