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Seyfarth

Our Survey Says

VAULT’S VERDICT:

From humble beginnings in Chicago as a law firm focused on labor and employment law to a full-service firm with 18 offices worldwide, Seyfarth is a great place for associates. Small class sizes mean that hiring is competitive, and a premium is placed on academic achievement and prior work experience. Coworkers are pleasant and welcoming but professional and very work-oriented. Associates find partners to be approachable, candid with feedback, and committed to associates’ professional development. Partners and senior associates are great mentors, and the firm supplements hands-on learning with monthly CLEs and department-specific training events. Seyfarth seems to hire laterals frequently, and they are integrated appropriately. Associates can take on challenging work assignments and interact with clients while taking on increasingly complex tasks as they gain experience. With no formal system to ensure that work is distributed evenly, associates must be proactive in getting the assignments they want. Seyfarth is transparent about its below-market compensation, and many associates feel the billable requirement of 1,950 hours is high but attainable. Firm technology is up-to-date and includes AI tools. Despite many wellness offerings addressing mental and physical health, buy-in seems lackluster. Pro bono work is supported and encouraged; however, only 60 hours count toward the billable goal. Seyfarth is effective in its diversity efforts, which include a dedicated office and diversity officer, affinity groups, and support of an inclusive environment. The small class sizes mentioned earlier translate to a respectable number of advancement opportunities into counsel positions, non-equity partnership, and equity partnership. Associates who leave typically go in-house or to other firms.

Seyfarth

233 South Wacker Drive
Suite 8000
Chicago, IL 60606-6448
Phone: (312) 460-5000

Firm Stats

Chair and Managing Partner: Lorie Almon
Hiring Attorneys: Steven Kennedy (Atlanta); Ariel Cudkowicz and Kristin McGurn (Boston); Frederick Smith and Eric Sidman (Charlotte); Cory Hirsch and Tracy Billows (Chicago); Mark Coffin (Houston); Nicholas Waddles and Jonathan Brophy (LA - Century City), Dana Treister (LA - Downtown); Lorie Almon and John Napoli (NY); Kristina Launey (Sacramento); Christian Rowley (SF); Denice Tokunaga and Thomas Wybenga (Seattle), Christa Dommers (DC)
Total No. Attorneys (2024):
750 - 1K
No. of Partners Named 2024:
19
Billable-Hour Requirement:
1,950

Base Salary

Base Salary (2023)
1st year: $210,000
2nd year: $220,000
3rd year: $240,000
4th year: $275,000
5th year: $300,000
6th year: $310,000
7th year: $320,000
8th year: $330,000
9th year: $340,000
Summer Associate: $4,038 weekly

Employment Contact

Jennifer Fowler
Chief Human Resources Officer
recruiting@seyfarth.com
Joel Shulman
Regional Senior Legal Recruiting Manager
jshulman@seyfarth.com

No. of U.S. Offices: 13

No. of International Offices: 5

Major Office Locations

Chicago, IL
Atlanta, GA
Boston, MA
Century City, CA
Chicago, IL
Charlotte, NC
Dallas, TX, Houston, TX
Los Angeles, CA
New York, NY
Sacramento, CA
San Francisco, CA
Seattle, WA
Washington, DC
Hong Kong
London
Melbourne
Shanghai
Sydney

Major Departments

Corporate
Employee Benefits
Labor and Employment
Litigation
Real Estate
*See firm website for complete list of practice areas and industries.