Baker Botts L.L.P.
Visit Website: www.bakerbotts.com
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Overview
Introduction
As the oldest BigLaw firm in Texas, Baker Botts gives attorneys exposure to a variety of high-caliber legal work—the icing on the cake is that it all happens in a collegial environment that fosters genuine friendships and organic mentorship. Baker Botts is perhaps best known for its Energy and Natural Resources practice. The firm holds a top spot in Vault’s Energy, Oil, & Gas ranking—and for good reason. The firm has handled more than 3,700 such matters across the globe in the past decade and advises on matters relating to...
Firm Stats
Total No. Attorneys (2021)
500 - 750
No. of Partners Named (2021)
12
Featured Rankings
Vault Law 100
No. of 1st Year Associates Hired (2021)
61
No. of Summer Associates (2021)
78 total (47 2Ls; 31 1Ls)
No. of U.S. Offices
7
Vault Verdict
Baker Botts hires top candidates with the right personality, using behavioral questions to make this determination. The firm’s culture is collegial and allows associates to form genuine friendships and professional connections. Social events are on the calendar, but not so many that associates can’t prioritize their personal lives. “Respectful” is often used to describe partner/associate relationships, and partners are forthcoming with feedback beyond the annual review process. Associates agree the firm could stand to be more transparent, but there has been improvement, including through monthly firmwide updates. One area that remains opaque is the path to partnership—many see it as a viable career option, but this seems to vary by practice group. Other common paths include transi...
About the Firm
With deep roots in the Lone Star State, Baker Botts has grown to become an international firm with 14 offices across the globe and more than 700 lawyers among its ranks. The firm fields sturdy teams in energy, environmental law, IP, litigation, and project finance.
All in the Family
Baker Botts was Texan before Texas was a state. The firm’s origins date back to 1840, when Peter Gray founded a firm in the land known then as the Republic of Texas. Gray’s first clients were agricultural interests—sugar, cotton, and timber—and the Southern Pacific and Union Railroads. About three decades after starting the firm, Gray handed the reigns over to Colonel W.B. Botts and James A. Baker (aka Judge Baker), who nudged Gray’s name off the firm stationery and began working as Baker & Bo...
2022 Vault Rankings
Associate Reviews
- “I have found lifelong friends and mentors within the firm. I think that the firm does a good job of setting up firm-sponsored social events and fosters a collegial culture. The culture at the firm was one of the main reasons that I chose to work at Baker Botts. I enjoy being surrounded by passionate, funny, and respectful people.”
- “The firm is very friendly, but it is not generally a happy-hour culture. People go to firm events like the holiday party, but there [are fewer] casual happy hours, largely because people have families and outside social lives. That being said, everyone is very social at the events—people are super fun to hang with.”
- “The firm's lawyers are very collegial and get along well. People are generally respectful of your time and have a positive attitude. Some colleagues spend more time together outside of the office than others, but there is no pressure to be overly social.”
- “It's a very congenial atmosphere. We regularly have group meetings and, since quarantine, have regularly had meetings to check in with everyone (both firm motivated and individually motivated).”
Diversity at Baker Botts L.L.P.
"Established in 2004, our Diversity Committee spearheads our global diversity and inclusion strategy and initiatives. The committee is accountable directly to the managing partner and the Executive Committee. Committee members establish measurable goals and meet on a quarterly basis to measure the Firm's progress against those goals. In 2018 the Diversity Committee revitalized the Diversity Working Groups to enhance engagement and accountability for diversity across the firm. In July of 2018, the firm signed onto the Mansfield..."
Getting Hired Here
- “The firm hires a lot from Texas for sure, but they do focus on getting students from all across the country. The firm looks at people who they believe can do good work, which I think is awesome. They don't just look for the credentials or a warm body, they truly try to find quality candidates who will fit in at the firm.”
- “The firm looks first for good grades and school ranking. The firm does not require but looks at candidates with journal experience or a clerkship positively. Diversity is a consideration and the firm has a stated commitment to diversity. Generally speaking, what gets a qualified candidate across the line is fit. The firm's culture is very collegial and friendly, and we value other attorneys who are committed to the work but also to the firm culture. If a candidate looks good on paper, but does not fit with the firm culture, they will likely be less likely to be offered a position.”
- “We are looking for candidates that have solid grades, are well rounded, and would fit in at the firm. Personality, diversity, and prior work experience are particularly important for certain sections, such as IP. As for feeder schools, we frequently hire from UT, Duke, and Vanderbilt. Every interviewer is given a binder with guidelines to follow, behavioral questions to ask, and stats about the various offices.”
Perks & Benefits
