Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP

One New York Plaza
New York, NY 10004

Phone number: (212) 859-8000

Visit Website: www.friedfrank.com

Summer Program: Learn More

Overview

Introduction

Fried Frank associates work on complex legal matters in a top-to-bottom friendly and social environment. The firm priorities its people and communities, with associate perks like generous wellness offerings and a strong dedication to pro bono work. Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP advises many of the world’s leading corporations, investment funds, and financial institutions on their critical legal needs and business opportunities. With approximately 500 lawyers in North America and Europe, the firm excels in co...

Firm Stats

Total No. Attorneys (2021)

500 - 750

No. of Partners Named (2021)

Featured Rankings

Vault Law 100

No. of 1st Year Associates Hired (2020)

No. of Summer Associates (2021)

84 total (79 2Ls; 5 1Ls)

Base Salary

1st year: $205,000

Vault Verdict

Fried Frank looks beyond law school attended in its hiring decisions, opting to focus more on a candidate’s personality and experience. The firm’s collegial culture includes open doors and frequent socializing. Partners welcome associate feedback, and in return, provide insight through regular town halls—though a common associate wish is more insight into the promotion process. Associates are busy but feel there is good flexibility and fair distribution of work. The firm requires 2,000 billable hours for a full bonus payout, but this includes pro bono and other “qualified non-billables.” Associates are satisfied with compensation, which is market and includes extra bonuses for high billers. Work is mostly substantive and level appropriate. There are pro bono opportunities galore, ...

Firm's Response

Fried Frank has had near unrivaled financial success within the legal profession over the past half-decade. Our highly commercial and collaborative approach has helped garner a prestigious client base of major corporations, investment funds, and financial institutions that consistently seek our attorneys’ advice on their most complex and s...

About the Firm

Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP advises many of the world’s leading corporations, investment funds, and financial institutions on their critical legal needs and business opportunities. With approximately 500 lawyers in North America and Europe, the firm excels in corporate, real estate, and tax work.

An Impressive Crew

Fried Frank traces its history to the turn of the 20th century when a group of German-Jewish lawyers began practicing in New York City in the 1890s, a time when most New York firms did not employ Jewish lawyers. In 1929, Walter J. Fried (pronounced “Freed”) joined the firm as an associate who focused on real estate law. Fried practiced with the firm until his retirement in 1979. In the 1950s, Fried was a pioneer in the movement to convert rental apar...

2022 Vault Rankings

#46

Vault Law 100

#1

Best Law Firms for Real Estate Law

#9

Best Law Firms for Wellness

Associate Reviews

“Fried Frank is a genuinely collegial place to work. People are friendly and feel comfortable being themselves. People are always stopping into other people's offices and planning formal and informal social gatherings. Partners know everyone, down to first-year associates, by first name and stop to greet you in the hallways. Since going remote, the culture has been preserved. For example, my group has twice-weekly video calls where we check in, ask each other about work, and take the time to chat.”
“Having joined during the pandemic, it has been great seeing how engaged, friendly, and helpful everyone is. People went out of their way to welcome me to the firm and I had the chance to meet and socialize with people within my group during my first week. There [are] also subgroup happy hours and other events that frequently enable people to meet, catch up, and strengthen connections.”
“The firm makes an effort to sponsor social events but nothing is mandatory. There’s no expectation of attending. Within the departments, you get a small firm vibe at a BigLaw firm. Many of the associates are friends and socialize outside of work.”
“Very social; pre-COVID, we celebrated birthdays together and regularly went out for drinks. During COVID, associates tend to call each other just to chat, and we have regularly scheduled virtual lunches and social gatherings. Pre-COVID, associates would grab coffee or snacks in the associates lounge on a daily basis. Pre-COVID, lawyers would make sure to greet staff daily.”

Why Work Here

Diversity at Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP

"Fried Frank is committed to being the best law firm it can be, in part through creating an environment where the best people are hired, developed, and eventually promoted. Supporting this key firm initiative is an independent Diversity and Inclusion Office (the "D&I Office"), headed up by the Director of Diversity & Inclusion, who is supported by a Diversity & Inclusion Manager and a Professional Development and Diversity & Inclusion Coordinator. In conjunction with the Firmwide Diversity and Inclusion Committee, the D&I Office drives the..."

Read the Diversity Report

Getting Hired Here

“Our firm has always recruited students from a variety of different law schools. That is something that it prides itself in. Good grades are important, but so is personality. People generally just want to get you know you on an interview.”
“We hire a lot of fantastic associates off of clerkships. In general, I am looking for self-starters who show me they can substantively discuss their legal work/study, but who also have other interests they are passionate about.”
“As a participant in the firm's hiring process, the firm looks for candidates with strong academic backgrounds. However, the candidate's well-rounded background also plays a large part in the hiring process. The firm does not put as much weight on the law school of candidates who demonstrate other impressive credentials and diverse backgrounds. The firm does have guidelines and training for interviewing. Interviews are more of a conversation, allowing candidates to demonstrate their personality.”
“Fitting the firm culture is very important. A person with the right attitude and top grades at a non-top-tier school can be more compelling than someone with solid grades from a top-tier school.”