Winston & Strawn LLP

Our Survey Says

VAULT'S VERDICT:

Winston & Strawn has been around for a while—since 1853, to be exact—and still is a premier firm in Chicago (as well as in 15 other cities). Each office tends to recruit and hire from prestigious law schools geographically nearby, and across the board the firm looks at grades, experience, and clerkships. Candidates must be balanced and able to assimilate easily into the firm’s laidback and personable culture. Winston associates recognize the abundance of social events and firmwide support, and appreciate that partners treat them well and value their opinions. Further, partners guide younger attorneys by allowing them to get valuable hands-on experience and by checking in on them frequently. Lateral hires are integrated nicely as well. Winston’s more formal training focuses on experiential skills, which helps prepare associates for taking on challenging and impactful work. The firm imposes a goal of 2,000 billable hours per year—100 of which may be attributed to pro bono work—and there is plenty of work to go around. Projects are distributed through an assignments committee, and work allocation seems to be generally fair. Associates are highly satisfied with their salary and bonuses, as the firm falls in line with market standards. While some associates express dissatisfaction with the firm’s technology and attitude toward innovation, others enthusiastically declare that the firm is at the leading edge in this category. Associates acknowledge that the firm has robust wellness offerings, but lament that attorney buy-in remains tepid at best. On the other hand, Winston has a noteworthy pro bono program, with most attorneys logging at least 20 hours a year. Similarly, the firm has emphasized diversity groups, activities, and hiring. The career prospects for associates are good, with positive outlooks on making partner or landing a favorable in-house position.