Overview
Introduction
A top law firm for quality of life year after year and a mainstay among the V30 firms—and the oldest firm in Los Angeles—O’Melveny is a highly sought after firm with hundreds of lawyers across 18 offices and seven countries. The firm prioritizes associate development and is a leader in diversity, pro bono, and attorney wellness. Its prominence in California has fostered exceptional opportunities in the area of entertainment law.
Firm Stats
Total No. Attorneys (2022)
No. of Partners Named (2022)
Featured Rankings
No. of 1st Year Associates Hired (2022)
No. of Summer Associates (2022)
Base Salary
Vault Verdict
O’Melveny & Myers has been around since 1885, but its progressive views on what a law firm should be make it seem like a vanguard in the field. While credentials like academic achievement and work experience are important, it has spurned the idea of recruiting only from T14 law schools. Most important to O’Melveny are people who are team players and who fit the firm’s unique culture on a more human level. This culture emphasizes camaraderie among amicable, collaborative colleagues who enjoy socializing with one another. Not surprisingly, associates enjoy better-than-average relationships with partners, who are approachable and supportive. Partners and senior associates alike take a keen interest in the professional development of younger associates, and supplement the more...
About the Firm
Long rooted in California—where it maintains a quintet of offices—O’Melveny & Myers has branched out in all directions with offices in seven countries on three continents. The firm is known for its work in antitrust, appellate litigation, entertainment law, labor and employment, patent litigation, products liability, project finance, securities litigation, venture capital, and more.
Growing with L.A.
The O’Melveny story starts way back in 1885 when Henry W. O’Melveny and Jackson Graves founded a partnership in Los Angeles. The fledgling firm gained traction through its work on land litigation surrounding the ownership of California’s Spanish haciendas and its handling of the legalities of hydroelectric power, which helped to transform the arid basin of Los Angeles into a sprawl...
2023 Vault Rankings
Associate Reviews
- “I chose to come to O'Melveny because I repeatedly and consistently heard that the firm had a friendly and collegial culture, and that associates were generally happy to work there. I have found that to be completely true. It has been difficult to socialize frequently during the pandemic, but the firm has made a lot of efforts to forge connections between employees at the firm, both virtually and in person. The day-to-day atmosphere is so friendly, and I have found all of the counsel and partners I work with to be very approachable.”
- “Culture is highly collaborative, social, and accepting. The partners prioritize a good working environment and prioritize associate satisfaction.”
- “I stand by this statement: OMM has the best culture. Every partner, counsel, associate, and staff truly care for one another and never expect anyone to pull all-nighters. Any request for help is always polite and everyone is understanding if you can't take additional work on. We work with prestigious clients and companies and are exposed to news-worthy deals. Our firm makes great efforts to plan events for socializing and our attorneys are all very involved in the social aspect of our firm.”
Why Work Here
At O’Melveny, we perform transformative legal work for industry-leading companies. And we believe that how we do things is as important as what we do. Culture, collaboration, and community are integral to the O’Melveny experience, for our lawyers and clients alike. Our collaborative approach embraces diverse thought, encourages innovation, and supports professional growth. Our work within our communities makes us better lawyers and better people. Our cohesive and caring culture sets us apart. It all adds up to results that earn accolades, client relationships that stand the test of time, and an environment where individuals thrive.
Diversity at O'Melveny & Myers LLP
Getting Hired Here
- “The firm considers law school attended, academic performance, journal experience, clerkships, prior work experience, personality, diversity, and more.”
- “The firm strongly considers grades in hiring and I believe there is a lot of emphasis on the interview process. There is a lot of focus on the firm culture, the ‘team player’ model, and generally finding employees who fit the culture and personality of the firm. There are feeder schools from which the firm almost always hires. There is a lot of training for interviewers to follow, which is helpful, but it's still a very subjective process.”
- “I have participated in interviewing and recruitment calls for several summer and regular associates, and my sense is that the firm and individual attorneys are extremely committed to bringing in attorneys who will mesh with OMM's friendly and collegial culture.”
