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Overview

Introduction

Following a “One Firm” model where lawyers frequently work across offices and across borders, Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner is a friendly, collegial firm where associates and partners get along famously. Lawyers take their work seriously but are also happy to socialize with colleagues both during and after work hours.

Firm Stats


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Total No. Attorneys (2023)

1K - 1.5K

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No. of Partners Named (2023)

25

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Featured Rankings

Vault Law 100
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No. of 1st Year Associates Hired (2023)

41


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No. of Summer Associates (2023)

60 total (35 2Ls; 25 1Ls)


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Base Salary

Kansas City, Phoenix, St. Louis:
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Vault Verdict

St. Louis and London may not have much in common, but they served as the headquarters of two firms that merged into Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner, an international firm that is a desirable landing spot for associates. Hiring emphasizes candidates from geographically close schools as well as diversity, grades, and clerkship or work experience. Firm settings are friendly, pleasant, and collaborative, with partners who appreciate associates and help them develop professionally. Associates agree that better training happens through partner mentors, though formal training programs aren’t bad. Firm management could communicate better regarding finances and salaries, and could improve integration of lateral hires. Associates get interesting and advanced work on lean teams, with some basic ...

Firm's Response

Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner (BCLP) brings enduring value to client relationships. By combining the practice experience, industry knowledge, and market connections of more than 1,300 corporate and finance transactions, litigation, and investigations, and real estate lawyers across 31 offices in North America, Europe, the Middle East, and As...

About the Firm

Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner has established itself in the 21st century as an ambitious upstart on the global scene while retaining its historic ties to the Show-Me State. Today, the firm has more than 1,200 attorneys and other professionals across three continents.

Come Together

Founded in 1873 in St. Louis as King, Phillips, and Stewart, the firm became Stewart, Bryan, Christie, and Williams through a merger in 1911. When Rhodes Cave joined in 1917, the firm took on the name Bryan, Williams, and Cave. The firm launched a concerted effort at national expansion in the 1970s and turned its attention to overseas growth a decade later. It wasn’t long before Bryan Cave solidified its reputation abroad. In April 2018, Bryan Cave merged with Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP. The new firm, Bryan Ca...

Associate Reviews

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  • “The culture at BCLP is unmatched—there is a strong sense of not only collegiality but mutual respect at the firm, that makes it a really rewarding place to work. I genuinely enjoy spending time with the other associates at the firm, and feel like I have a valued place on my practice group's team, even as a junior associate.”
  • “Our firm maintains a professional atmosphere while offering plenty of social opportunities. The firm and the smaller practice groups have frequent social events, that are planned by a combination of associates and firm leadership. The day-to-day atmosphere is pleasant and friendly. The firm has an open-door policy, and we are encouraged to stop in if we have any questions.”
  • “Culture is a huge part of what makes BCLP a great firm. Associates are genuinely friends with one another, collaborate on work together, support each other, and champion each other's successes. Associates have a similarly collegial relationship with staff and partners alike.”
  • “Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP values culture, and its employees. We work as a team every day. We promote each other inside and outside of the firm. We do attend social events, that are both sponsored and non-sponsored, to build camaraderie.”

Diversity at Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner

"At Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner we believe that all our people should be treated fairly and feel able to contribute meaningfully to the firm's success. One of our Core Values is that we treat our people as we would our best clients. No one should be held back because of their age, disability, genetic information, parental or family status, religion or belief, race, ethnicity, nationality, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity (or expression), veteran status, or other by any other range of human difference brought about by identity and..."

Getting Hired Here

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  • “Out of law school, the firm definitely focuses on geographically close law schools. As for laterals, we have attorneys that practiced in other states. The firm definitely gets competitive candidates, although any more detail feels like patting myself on the back.”
  • “Our local office is somewhat competitive, given the smaller size. Candidates from local law schools seem to be the usual hires (as opposed to other firm offices that recruit from national schools). Diversity and prior work experience seem to be highly valued, and clerkships are valuable. Less emphasis on law review and school attended. Candidates who are ‘client ready’ have an edge in recruiting, and we're always looking to hire people that we would enjoy working with.”
  • “Law school grades and involvement are important, as well as work experience and personality. For the 1L summer associate candidates, diversity is crucial.”
  • “I think the firm looks for law students in the top 15-20% of their law school class. Ideally, the applicant would have experience working in the legal industry in some capacity. I think the key is having practical experience.”

Perks & Benefits


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