Boies Schiller Flexner LLP
Visit Website: www.bsfllp.com
Summer Program: Learn More
Overview
Introduction
Boies Schiller Flexner is the type of firm where associates toss aside the life vest and dive right in—and lawyers at this litigation powerhouse wouldn’t have it any other way. Litigators looking to roll up their sleeves and learn on the job will feel right at home here.
Firm Stats
Total No. Attorneys (2022)
150 - 250
No. of Partners Named (2022)
5
Featured Rankings
Vault Law 100
No. of 1st Year Associates Hired (2022)
12
No. of Summer Associates (2022)
13 total (11 2Ls; 2 1Ls)
Base Salary
1st year: $215,000
Vault Verdict
Boies Schiller won’t hold your hand, and associates prefer it that way. The firm is looking for confident and competent self-starters who can hit the ground running from day one, which means that in addition to top law schools and grades, Boies Schiller has a strong preference for candidates with clerkships and/or prior work experience. In this entrepreneurial environment, associates who get hired are “thrown into the deep end” and given extraordinary responsibility and substantive work immediately, without much in the way of formal training. But associates aren’t complaining, given that they receive opportunities almost unheard of elsewhere in BigLaw; where else can a first-year associate expect to second chair a deposition? Associates also love the flexibility they enjoy, which ...
Firm's Response
Boies Schiller Flexner is a firm of internationally recognized trial lawyers, crisis managers, and strategic advisers known for our creative, aggressive, and efficient pursuit of successful outcomes for clients. Our attorneys have an established track record of taking on and winning complex, groundbreaking, and cross-border matters in dive...
About the Firm
Started in 1997, Boies Schiller Flexner LLP is a relative newcomer to the elite firm ranks but already boasts nearly 300 lawyers and has its principal offices in New York; Washington, DC; California; Florida; and the United Kingdom. As one of the nation’s premier litigation shops, BSF is no stranger to heavy-hitter clients—over the years, the firm’s clients have included American Express, Barclays, Carnival Corporation, CBS, Cherokee Nation, Delta Air Lines, DuPont, Ernst & Young, Goldman Sachs, HSBC, John Hancock, Merck, NASCAR, New York Yankees, NextEra Energy, Philip Morris, SBC Communications (now AT&T), Sony, SpaceX, and Zurich Insurance Group.
Game Changer
A star litigator at Cravath for 30 years, David Boies knocked heads with the firm when he decided to represen...
2023 Vault Rankings
Associate Reviews
- “Our firm's culture is collegial but not overly social, except for when lawyers attend the yearly retreat. Otherwise, there are not many mandated social events. However, I have found that most lawyers are willing to chat with you about your life and your day if you hop on a phone call or happen to be in the office.”
- “Lawyers in the NYC office are generally very close, and many associates are close friends given that the group is relatively small compared to larger firms. The day-to-day atmosphere is busy but laid back. Associates are treated as equals, and there is no hierarchy among associates. You are given the level of work you can handle, which often means associates are given responsibility that many associates at other firms are not.”
- “What I have always liked about the firm, even as a summer, is that the relationship-forming was organic and not forced. Although there are options for the firm to sponsor social activities, lawyers tend to socialize with friends and team members on their own time and of their own fruition. This occurs at least once a month.”
- “Overall, office culture is cordial and professional on a day to day basis. Personally, I think our office culture is one of the strengths of the firm—while everyone works hard, we are also incredibly respectful and friendly with one another. Lawyers and staff interact either in person (now that we are gradually returning to the office), or typically through email. Outside work matters, everyone is laid back and friendly.”
Diversity at Boies Schiller Flexner LLP
"Boies Schiller Flexner's commitment to diversity, inclusion, and equity is reflected in the strategy it has established for its talent management and professional skills development programs. Recruiting, retaining, and promoting outstanding lawyers from diverse backgrounds, with different experiences and perspectives, enables the Firm to provide its clients with the highest level of representation and best serves the Firm itself. We continue to develop our mentoring program for all attorneys, and in particular are always on the..."
Getting Hired Here
- “Clerkship and prior work experience are highly valued. There is a focus on finding individuals who will take ownership over their work and be equipped to take on leadership roles on case teams from the beginning.”
- “I think BSF prefers candidates from the top schools with strong academic credentials. However, BSF also seriously considers candidates outside the T-14 if they have a connection to the firm or a particularly unique or well-suited background. In interviewing candidates, I look for people who have a demonstrated track record of being a go-getter and a self-starter. Because BSF lacks the hierarchy and formality of a lot of firms, I would not want to hire someone who is scared of speaking up or is afraid to assert themselves—I don't think that kind of person would enjoy working here.”
- “The firm does a good job of not having tunnel vision at particular law schools or on-paper qualifications (e.g., journals). Of course strong academics are a plus, but the firm is also very attentive to the fit between a candidate's personality and experience and our highly independent working environment. The firm also does an increasingly good job of valuing diversity holistically.”
- “I believe the ideal candidate for Boies Schiller will be one who is currently a law clerk, either at the trial or appellate level, who is not afraid to hit the ground running when they start, and who genuinely wishes to argue in court. The firm provides associates with meaningful opportunities to attend court, and the ideal associate will take advantage of such opportunities. With respect to qualifications, the firm usually hires from Ivy League schools—but not always. What matters most is the quality of the candidate, and experience (especially clerkship) he or she might already possess.”
Perks & Benefits
