Norton Rose Fulbright

Our Survey Says

VAULT'S VERDICT:

Norton Rose Fulbright has gone through a lot of changes in its extensive history, and it’s still a prime landing spot for associates. Recruiting focuses on academic achievement, top law schools, experience, diversity, and an interest in international matters. Firm settings are comfortable, friendly, and inclusive, and associates enjoy excellent relations with partners, who welcome questions and care about associate growth. Formal training is extensive, and associates are assigned mentors, but the greater benefit comes from open doors and hands-on guidance. Lateral hires feel that onboarding is exceptional, with training and regular check-ins. Challenging work comes early, though some associates feel pigeonholed with tasks for which they’ve already demonstrated competence. This impacts the perception of whether projects are distributed equitably, especially since partners often handpick associates for cases based on familiarity and past experience. Norton Rose Fulbright has a “compliance requirement” of 1,600 billable hours, but otherwise, the threshold for bonus eligibility is a reasonable 1,900 hours. Lockstep salaries and bonuses match the market, and as an added bonus, the firm mandates and pays for a week-long vacation if an associate bills 200 hours in each of three consecutive months. Recent tech updates have improved in-office and remote work efficiency, but certain systems require attention. Wellness initiatives abound, and the firm encourages associates to take personal and family time outside of the office. The firm’s pro bono program is scant, with a cap of 50 hours that count as billable, while diversity efforts in hiring and with affinity groups are well received, even though the firm lags in retention and overall representation. Associates feel they are hired with an expectation of making partner, but if not, internal counsel roles and plenty of external options exist.