Overview
Introduction
Innovation is the name of the game at Orrick—from the energy and tech clients the firm counsels, to its impactful wellbeing initiatives, to its modern technology tools. Associates who are down to earth, collaborative, and forward thinking will fit right in at this progressive firm. With offices in over 25 markets across the United States, Europe, and Asia, Orrick is a legal powerhouse with a dedication to pro bono, diversity, and competitive compensation.
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
Orrick’s hiring process is competitive, but holistic, striving for candidates that demonstrate grit and humility, atop academic merit. Candidates should come prepared to answer behavioral questions.Transitioning to remote work hasn’t stopped the associates at Orrick from socializing both inside and outside the office, and associates say this is largely due to the supportive atmosphere of the firm. Associates applaud the firm for its transparency on firm finances and developments, and appreciate the quality feedback they receive from partners. Associates retain flexibility over their hours and assigning partners actively manage to ensure associates don’t have too much on their plate, allowing the 1,950 billable hour target to be more manageable. Compensation is nothing to complain ...
Firm's Response
We’re thinking differently about legal careers for top talent.
Orrick lawyers focus on one or more sectors: Tech & Innovation, Life Sciences, Renewable Energy & Infrastructure, or Finance. Within sector, you’ll have a practice focus: transactional, litigation or regulatory.
Our clients in...
About the Firm
Orrick is a global firm of more than 1,100 attorneys that is fiercely committed to teamwork and innovation. The firm has dozens of offices across the globe, including domestic locations in California, Washington, Massachusetts, D.C., New York, Oregon, West Virginia, and Texas.
It All Began with a Break-Up
In the late 1800s, W.S. Goodfellow and his partners John J. Jarboe and Ralph C. Harrison walked away from their San Francisco firm, Jarboe, Harrison & Goodfellow. Goodfellow then teamed up with Charles Eells to form Goodfellow & Eells. The firm helped organize the Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company after San Francisco’s catastrophic earthquake and fire in 1906 and also worked on water rights matters. In 1910, William H. Orrick joined the firm, and over the years, George ...
Associate Reviews
- “I always characterize my firm as friendly and engaging. For the most part, folks are actually friends, and it feels that way at the office. We take our work very seriously, but we don't take ourselves that seriously in the office. Orrick genuinely cares about its work environment and wants to be the best place to work. Lawyers and staff interact well and there's a lot of mutual respect and appreciation for the staff.”
- “Very friendly during working hours and respectful of personal time. Unless there is a specific firm event, attorneys spend time with family and friends after work. A lot of attorneys work reduced hours to allow more time with family. Staff and attorneys have limited interaction with the current fully remote work.”
- “Most everyone seems to get along and genuinely enjoy each other's company. The firm, my group, and the different affinity groups all make efforts to meet and engage outside of work and in ways that allow for meaningful connection.”
- “The culture is definitely a relaxed, yet professional environment. Everyone is friendly and helpful. Late nights and weekends are not the expectation and are only asked if the task is actually urgent.”
Why Work Here
Seven Stats about Orrick
1. We focus on serving the Technology & Innovation, Energy & Infrastructure and Finance sectors. Globally.
2. We give our associates the opportunity to chart your own course. It means early responsibility. World-class training. And the chance to make a social impact.
3. We were named the #1 most innovative law firm in North America in 2017 by Financial Times, for the second year in a row.
4. We’re on Fortune’s list of 100 Best Companies to Work For (#31), and we rank #4 for job satisfaction by AmLaw in 2018. In part, that’s because we don’t have a one-size-fits-all approach to how our lawyers work. Instead, we offer agile working. This includes flexible work arrangements, job sharing and remote working.
Diversity at Orrick
Getting Hired Here
- “I think our hiring process is competitive, but also holistic. We seem to recruit individuals with life experience as well as credentials.”
- “Orrick absolutely has a type but doesn't seem to have a set of target schools or anything like that. The firm tends to hire people who want to work at Orrick, and I think the personality fit is pretty clear once you meet your classmates and colleagues for the first time. You need to be a self-starter, collaborative, team oriented, and above all else, easygoing and adaptable. This is definitely not a firm for people who want a highly structured, regimented, and rigid system to work within.”
- “We hire on a practice group basis. In my experience, the important factors we look at are school, grades, and relevant work experience.”
- “The firm's hiring process is very much a combination of partner and associate input. Associates are involved from the very beginning from interviewing candidates to having discussions with partners about candidate offers. Orrick does not only focus on merit, but it also focuses on whether the candidate will fit into and thrive in the Orrick culture.”
