Linklaters

1290 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10104

Phone number: (212) 903-9000

Visit Website: www.linklaters.com

Summer Program: Learn More

Overview

Introduction

Linklaters is a Magic Circle firm with great opportunities for international work. For U.S. lawyers wanting to work for this U.K. powerhouse, the firm has offices in New York and DC, but lawyers educated in U.S. law work across the firm's global network. The team has the capacity and knowledge on the ground to handle assignments of virtually any size or complexity in any of its practice areas.

Firm Stats

Total No. Attorneys (2021)

2.5K - 3K

No. of Partners Named (2021)

Featured Rankings

Vault Law 100

No. of 1st Year Associates Hired (2021)

No. of Summer Associates (2021)

21 total (19 2Ls; 2 1Ls)

Base Salary

Base Salary (2021)1st year: $205,000

Vault Verdict

Linklaters seeks candidates who bring diversity and international aspirations to the table. Associates describe the firm as a place where people care about one another and socialize with frequency—pre-pandemic, this included spontaneous gatherings and firm-sponsored events, like a Friday social and office lunches. Partners treat associates well and provide feedback through annual reviews. Associates agree the firm is transparent in many ways but could stand to be more forthcoming in areas such as compensation. Instead of a billable-hours requirement, associates must maintain “good standing,” which includes being within a standard deviation—while some find it confusing, most feel this system is a positive feature. Associates are pleased with compensation, which follows market. Work...

About the Firm

Consistently ranked as a top money-maker, both in terms of firm profits and PPP, Magic Circle firm Linklaters has achieved legal industry royalty by following the BigLaw formula well: Build the finance and M&A practices and grow internationally. The firm is one of the top brands among U.K.-based law firms, and if you want to work in the United States, there are two offices to choose from: New York and Washington, DC.

Truly Global

At the beginning of the 1990s, Linklaters was predominantly a U.K. firm with local operations in just a handful of cities across Europe and Asia. But in 1996, the firm embarked on an expansion strategy and hasn’t looked back since. Through a string of global mergers, joint ventures, and organic growth, the firm built up a hefty international practice. ...

2022 Vault Rankings

#52

Vault Law 100

#10

Best Law Firms for International Practice

#39

Best Law Firms in New York

Associate Reviews

“The Linklaters culture is a positive, wholesome, and collegial atmosphere. Lawyers and staff interact on a frequent basis and, unlike many U.S. firms, staff participate in all firm social events alongside lawyers.”
“The firm in general is very social. Management makes it a point to arrange social events throughout the year, either through various affinity groups such as the women's network or through the practice groups. The atmosphere is generally very collegial and friendly.”
“The firm is very collegial and social. Since we are a smaller office, everyone knows each other—at the minimum their names. I think that this creates an environment where it is harder for someone to be mean, in addition to people being genuinely very nice! When we were in the office, we used to chat with each other all the time and sometimes organized casual get-togethers (not firm organized). People genuinely care about each other, personally and professionally, and I was able to find great mentors. …”
“Prior to COVID, our firm was pretty social, though it's up to each person how involved they would like to be. We have a drink trolley that comes around every Friday afternoon, which is a great way to catch up with people in your group ahead of the weekend. Generally, I would say that people care for and look after each other, although the expectations and demands of BigLaw remain the same as anywhere else.”

Why Work Here

As one of the largest and most successful law firms in the world, Linklaters provides an outstanding career experience that offers a passport to success for our lawyers. Join us and we’ll give you the opportunity to realize your ambition for your own career.

Founded in 1838, Linklaters has over 2,400 lawyers, and more than 500 partners, in 21 countries. A truly unified firm with a single management structure, our network of 31 offices combines local knowledge and experience with a global infrastructure to provide our clients with the highest standards of legal advice wherever they do business – in the Americas, Europe, Asia and the Middle East, or in Africa and Australia through our strategic alliances with Webber Wentzel (South Africa) and Allens (Australia).

Diversity at Linklaters

"Our vision is to be known as the "best in class" firm for diversity, equality and inclusion in the legal sector. It's not just a box-ticking exercise for us, but a strategic and ethical understanding that we can't be the leaders we aspire to be without the best talent in the world. We will only be the leading premium global law firm by providing the best ideas and solutions for our clients. The imagination and resourcefulness needed to create these ideas and solutions will only be ensured by drawing from the broadest possible pool of..."

Read the Diversity Report

Getting Hired Here

“The firm looks for diverse and well-rounded candidates; it has a commitment to diverse hiring. We are also looking for people with language skills, international background or experience, and that is all on top of your usual grades/school/work experience base. We interview at a particular set of schools, and the interviewers are offered guidelines and support in the interview process.”
“Linklaters is a unique firm in the U.S.—so the greatest emphasis is placed on fit within the culture and types of work that we do. If you don't want to do international work, you probably won't like it here!”
“The firm is a team, and we look for people who want to be a productive and valuable team member.”
“[We] consider all of the normal factors—law school, grades, journal, prior work, diversity, personality, etc. …”
“Generally, the firm asks behavioral type questions—what have you done in X situation, how have you used your skills to advocate for yourself, etc.”