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Overview

Introduction

Known best for its deep experience in labor and employment, Seyfarth Shaw is a big firm that offers its lawyers tremendous opportunities to take the reins. Friendly colleagues and the opportunity to work on cutting-edge matters create a team-style atmosphere and a supportive environment for attorneys to develop in their careers. Those seeking a firm that offers a unique combination of autonomy and collaboration will fit in well here.

Firm Stats


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Total No. Attorneys (2023)

750 - 1K

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No. of Partners Named (2023)

20

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Featured Rankings

Vault Law 100
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No. of 1st Year Associates Hired (2023)

32


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No. of Summer Associates (2023)

41 total (37 2Ls; 4 1Ls)


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Base Salary

Base Salary (2023)
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Vault Verdict

Associates may be attracted initially to Seyfarth Shaw for labor and employment work, but they’ll find plenty of reasons to stay. With no specific feeder schools, recruiting focuses on grades, work experience, diversity, and entrepreneurialism. Character is important, too, so associates can blend nicely with pleasant, personable, and professional office settings. People enjoy occasional social events together but also respect personal lives. Partners are approachable and treat associates like peers, and are happy to take questions and provide feedback. Associates appreciate the firm’s formal and informal mentoring opportunities. Lateral hires would appreciate more guidance in the onboarding process. Associates get high-quality, challenging assignments and are given increasing resp...

About the Firm

Seyfarth Shaw is home to more than 900 lawyers across 17 offices in the U.S., U.K., Australia, and China. While it is highly regarded for its labor and employment practice, the full-service firm advises on a broad range of legal areas, including litigation, tax, immigration, corporate, real estate, and employee benefits. The firm operates through a distinctive client service model called SeyfarthLean, incorporating the Lean Six Sigma method into its practice.

Chi-town Trio

Seyfarth Shaw’s labor and employment roots run deep. The firm was founded in Chicago in 1945 by Henry E. Seyfarth, Lee C. Shaw, and Owen Fairweather as a labor and employment firm. Its early days saw its attorneys helping draft the Taft-Hartley Act of 1947 and building a strong practice in labor arbitrations, pension...

Associate Reviews

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  • “Partners and associates are very collegial and respectful of one another, and seem to be genuinely interested in each other's well-being. A great place to work. The firm is trying hard to preserve its culture, despite the challenges posed by the pandemic and increased work from home.”
  • “Most of the attorneys in my office are very personable, but remain professional throughout the day, and know everyone is there to do their work and go back home to their families. We get together around once a month for firm-sponsored happy hours, which helps get everyone out of the office setting. I think the lawyers and staff get along quite well. Every other month the happy hour is firmwide, and usually well attended.”
  • “A very pleasant, energizing, and relaxed environment. No pressure to socialize, but a reasonable amount of events if that’s your thing. No focus whatsoever on politics.”

Why Work Here


Diversity at Seyfarth

"At Seyfarth, "inclusion and diversity" are more than aspirational words. They are at the forefront of our firm's client- and talent-centered culture. We drive our efforts through tangible action, continuous improvement, and constant learning. We focus on creating a culture in which people can bring their authentic selves and unique experiences to the work we do every day. We do so for two simple yet powerful reasons: people matter, and we excel when we cultivate belonging, inclusion, and diversity. Seyfarth's I&D work is..."

Getting Hired Here

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  • “Prior work experience, entrepreneurial motivations, personality, and diversity are highly valued. Schools don't seem to be relevant (we hire so few attorneys directly out of law school anyway). Associates participate in interviews of staff and associates, and provide feedback to hiring decision makers, but no formal training otherwise.”
  • “We are looking for well-rounded candidates who have an idea of the type of law they want to practice, since we hire into specific groups (e.g., L&R, corporate, etc.). We, unfortunately, hire very few law grads, so the spots are very competitive. Most important factors are grades, personality, prior work experience, and diversity. We hire from schools across the country, and law school is not as important as the other factors listed above.”
  • “While there are certainly schools a number of associates attended, I wouldn't describe these as ‘feeder schools.’ Seyfarth values evidence of work ethic (grades, journal/moot court experience, clerking/prior work) and personality fit over law school alone. That an associate will fit into the corporate culture is a big draw; partners speak highly of candidates who are personable, dedicated, and curious.”

Perks & Benefits


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