Goodwin

100 Northern Avenue
Boston, MA 02210

Phone number: (617) 570-1000

Summer Program: Learn More

Overview

Introduction

With more than 1,400 lawyers across 13 offices, Goodwin has established itself as a global legal name. The firm boasts particular strength in corporate law and real estate, among other areas. Candidates seeking a highly transparent firm that prioritizes associate development will likely feel at home at Goodwin. The firm has adopted what it calls a “capital-meets-innovation platform” through which the firm advises both innovators and investors in the financial, private equity, real estate, technology, and life sciences industries.&...

Firm Stats

Total No. Attorneys (2021)

1K - 1.5K

No. of Partners Named (2020)

Featured Rankings

Vault Law 100

No. of 1st Year Associates Hired (2020)

No. of Summer Associates (2021)

149 total (143 2Ls; 6 1Ls)

Base Salary

1st year: $205,000

Vault Verdict

Goodwin isn’t seeking one type of candidate—the firm looks at the whole person, from grades to leadership to prior work experience, and everything in between. The firm’s interview process is standardized to combat implicit bias and incorporates behavioral questions. This focus aligns with the firm’s commitment to creating a more diverse workplace, including via affinity group events, allyship training, and time spent on diversity efforts counting as billable—plus engagement from leadership. Goodwin is a relatively social firm, with virtual get-togethers like trivia and chocolate tastings during the pandemic and frequent informal get togethers, lunches, and coffee meet-ups pre-pandemic. Associates feel well connected to firm management through regular town halls and junior associat...

Firm's Response

“At Goodwin, our 1,400-plus lawyers across the United States, Europe, and Asia excel at complex transactions, high-stakes litigations, and world-class advisory services in the financial, life sciences, private equity, real estate, and technology industries. We partner with our clients to practice law with integrity, ingenuity, agility, and...

About the Firm

Founded more than a century ago, Goodwin has grown to more than 1,400 lawyers in 13 offices throughout the U.S., Europe, and Asia. The firm has adopted what it calls a “capital-meets-innovation platform” through which the firm advises both innovators and investors in the financial, private equity, real estate, technology, and life sciences industries.

Ethics First

In 1912, Harvard classmates Robert Goodwin and Joseph Procter ran into each other in the street and decided to start a law practice together, opening Goodwin & Procter later that year. Two years later, the founders helped a sardine packing company issue preferred stock but later discovered the company financials were fabricated. They took out a $30,000 loan to buy back all outstanding shares a...

2022 Vault Rankings

#29

Vault Law 100

#3

Best Law Firms in Boston

#5

Best Law Firms for Career Outlook

Associate Reviews

“Goodwin's culture is great. There are frequent social events (even if they are over Zoom right now). Every interaction, whether social or while working, is professional and respectful but also relaxed and genuine. I had to go out recently for a family emergency, and every single team went above and beyond to cover or find coverage for me and assure me that family should come first.”
“The firm's culture across the board is quite positive. Social aspects are somewhat lagging right now, but I take that as a product of the pandemic—not Goodwin. The firm does a good job in balancing virtual events with Zoom fatigue. We've had various virtual events, including trivia, scavenger hunts, chocolate tastings, and heritage celebratory events—featuring award-winning speakers. The associates in my class are close as well.”
“Before COVID, there were monthly happy hours for all associates and informal gatherings most weeks. Partners and senior associates also made a point to take us out to lunch or coffee on occasion to get to know us informally.”
“The firm is very responsive to social issues and provides an abundance of resources for employees to promote a culture of equity and equality at Goodwin.”

Why Work Here

At Goodwin, we partner with our clients to practice law with integrity, ingenuity, agility, and ambition. Our 1,400 lawyers across the United States, Europe, and Asia excel at complex transactions, high-stakes litigation and world-class advisory services in the technology, life sciences, real estate, private equity, and financial industries. Our unique combination of deep experience serving both the innovators and investors in a rapidly changing, technology-driven economy sets us apart.

Diversity at Goodwin

"Goodwin is committed to promoting diversity in our firm and the legal profession, as well as fostering an inclusive environment in which each attorney and staff member has the opportunity to excel and thrive. Diversity and inclusion are core values at Goodwin, and we believe that they make us stronger as a firm, as a provider of legal services and as an employer. It's also a matter of justice. We believe that equity demands a diverse workforce and legal profession, and as the first AmLaw 100 law firm led by a woman, we have a lengthy track..."

Read the Diversity Report

Getting Hired Here

“The firm will take leadership and grit over perfect law school grades any day.”
“The firm utilizes focused interviewing techniques, which allows us to discern experience and skill sets. The firm considers the entire candidate: school, grades, journal/moot court experience, clerkships, personality (trust in front of a client), diversity, and prior work experience.”
“There are trainings for interviews. The firm puts a focus on diversity. Culture is big in terms of recruitment as well.”
“… The firm seems to attract (or solicit) people with both traditional and less traditional paths to the legal profession, but I do note that most incoming associates from non-T14 schools were among the very top students in their classes.”