Dentons
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Summer Program: Learn More
Overview
Introduction
As a global giant, Dentons provides a plethora of opportunities for associates to grow in their legal careers. Strong mentorship complements early responsibility, and many associates envision long-term careers at the firm. More than 12,000 lawyers at Dentons work in a grand total of 40 practice areas across 24 different sectors, such as energy, financial institutions, government, life sciences and health care, manufacturing, private equity, real estate, technology, and transportation.
Firm Stats
Total No. Attorneys (2021)
10K+
Featured Rankings
Vault Law 100
No. of Summer Associates (2021)
51 total (33 2Ls; 18 1Ls)
Base Salary
Salary not disclosed.
No. of U.S. Offices
44
No. of International Offices
160
Vault Verdict
Grades and personality are crucial for landing a spot at Dentons. Colleagues are friendly with one another, but the social scene tends to be more work-day than after-hours focused. In many ways, the firm is transparent, but associates feel there is not enough insight into compensation. Some associates think the 2,000-hour billable requirement is high, but most are busy enough that they meet it without issue. Associates appreciate the flexibility they have in when and where they get work done. The biggest gripe is compensation—it’s black box, and bonuses are reportedly below market, contingent on billables, and aren’t paid out as early as associates would like. Associates get quality work and are given significant trust to take on responsibility at an early stage. The firm provides...
About the Firm
Borne of a history of combinations, Dentons is the Pac-Man of law firms. The rapid growth began in 2010, when Chicago’s Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal—known for its real estate prowess—and U.K.-based Denton Wilde Sapte joined forces to create SNR Denton. Soon after launching, SNR Denton set its sights on Europe and Canada, courting Salans Hertzfeld & Heilbronn and Fraser Milner Casgrain LLP (FMC). The March 2013 mega-combination of these three firms—SNR Denton, Salans and FMC—created Dentons. The new law firm was immediately one of the world’s largest with locations in the U.S., Canada, the U.K., continental Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. But the firm wasn’t done. In January 2015, the partners of Dentons and 大成 (pronounced Da-CHUNG)—the largest law firm in China—announced the approval of an historic combination between the...
Associate Reviews
- “Lawyers and staff are friendly and socialize easily. Most attorneys are friendly and glad to socialize together, but it seems like a lot of people have their own things going on outside of work.”
- “I can mostly speak to my specific office at the firm. It is a very collegial environment (socially, politically, and professionally), with most attorneys getting along well and socializing when possible at work. There is not much socializing after hours. Occasionally, attorneys will go out to lunch together. ...”
- “Pre-COVID, we often went to lunch and attended other social events together. It is an open-door culture and easy to talk and mingle with all attorneys. Interactions during COVID have been primarily virtual or over the phone but still meaningful.”
- “Most colleagues are understanding and sociable. Pre-COVID, there were a few social events sponsored every year and there was usually good turn out and camaraderie among everyone. Day-to-day, most people stay in their offices and focused on work but will go about every so often to check in with each other. I feel comfortable stopping in to colleagues' offices to chat and also going out for lunches.”
Diversity at Dentons
"Commitment to diversity and inclusion is a key element of Dentons' strategic plan, and central to who we are and what we do. We believe that diversity and inclusion are essential to the success and strength of our Firm and the quality of our advice to, and representation of, our clients. We are committed to being the leader in diversity and inclusion within our Firm, the legal profession and the communities we serve. We have established a cross-office, cross-disciplinary Diversity and Inclusion Committee whose primary focus is..."
Getting Hired Here
- “We are looking for diverse, intelligent, and hard-working associates. One indicator of intelligence and work ethic is academic success, but Dentons also looks to other life experiences to ensure we have quality candidates.”
- “No particular ‘feeder schools’; they have high standards for where candidates attended law school and their grades. Journal experience is preferred.”
- “Someone well rounded and typically from local regional schools. We do have interview guidelines that are general and informal.”
- “School and grades are important. So is clerkship and prior work experience, as well as personality. …”
