K&L Gates LLP
K&L Gates Center
210 Sixth Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15222-2613
210 Sixth Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15222-2613
(412) 355-6500
Overview
Introduction
Firm Stats
Total No. Attorneys (2022)
1.5K - 2K
No. of Partners Named (2022)
28
Featured Rankings
Vault Law 100
No. of 1st Year Associates Hired (2021)
78
No. of Summer Associates (2022)
91 total (66 2Ls; 23 1Ls)
Base Salary
Our First Year Salaries range from $180k to $215k depending on location.
Vault Verdict
About the Firm
2023 Vault Rankings
Associate Reviews
- “The environment is collegial, with mutual respect between lawyers and staff.”
- “The culture at K&L Gates is very friendly and professional. As a first year, I feel very welcomed and included by partners, associates, and staff alike. Our firm has an associates’ committee that frequently holds social events to promote interaction and relationship-building. I have also been invited to and attended several sporting events with partners and potential clients.”
- “Generally a collaborative and supportive environment. People are encouraged and open to gathering socially.”
- “K&L Gates has been the highlight of my legal career, culture-wise. It has shattered my previous perceptions of “BigLaw,” due to the personalities I work with every day. There is still a head-down, independent culture, as billables are important, but I feel like I have worked with more like-minded folks here than other firms, and even my time in district court. The pandemic has impacted extracurriculars, and I am an older associate who went to law school later in life, but I believe the opportunity to socialize is there if you choose to pursue it.”
Getting Hired Here
- “K&L Gates doesn't tend to be snobby about which law schools it hires from, which allows it to connect with truly great candidates who did not go to T-14 schools. Personality and ‘fit’ tend to be significant hiring factors in my office. Partners often talk about whether potential associate candidates are ones that will buy into our firm's, and our office's, vision. Having everyone on the team rowing in the same direction (both from a business and cultural perspective) is a key consideration in making hiring decisions.”
- “My sense is that we have been competitive in the hiring market. Most offers we have extended within my group are accepted. Our laterals have been a mix of folks from big firms and exemplary folks from small firms; at least in my group, the criteria seem to be ability-based rather than prestige-based. We tend to hire more from the local schools, but associates come from all over. We do have interview training and guidance.”
- “In our office, our firm is looking for personality fit. We are trying to create a culture in which people want to come to work and enjoy working together.”
