Smyser Kaplan & Veselka, LLP
717 Texas Avenue
Suite 2800
Houston, TX 77002
Suite 2800
Houston, TX 77002
(713) 221-2388
Overview
Introduction
Firm Stats
Total No. Attorneys (2021)
1 - 50
Featured Rankings
Top 150 Under 150
Base Salary
1st year: $205,000
No. of U.S. Offices
2
No. of International Offices
0
Major Office Locations
Houston, TX
Vault Verdict
About the Firm
Associate Reviews
- “The firm has a world-class camaraderie. The day-to-day atmosphere is friendly, professional, cooperative, and candid. There is a can-do attitude with everyone pitching in as requested, but requests are reasonable and connected to client needs. The attorneys are good friends and show one another friendship and respect. Likewise, the office staff is treated with friendship, respect and professionalism.”
- “Even during COVID, SKV lawyers joined Zoom happy hours and met up outside in small groups at lawyers' homes. My closest friends are people that I met at SKV (lawyers and staff). The office culture, even during WFH, has remained focused on ensuring SKV lawyers and staff have meaningful opportunities to make connections.”
- “COVID-19 has obviously greatly reduced the amount of interaction everyone has with everyone else at the firm, but the firm quickly started organizing virtual happy hours each Friday to continue our standard practice of happy hour in a big conference room to celebrate the end of the week. Those who come to the office continue to have lunch together, which is possible with social distancing because of the absolutely huge table in Conference Room D. Associates, partners, and staff frequently walk together to the tunnels to grab lunch and bring it back to the office. Lawyers and staff coordinate well and interact socially in the office over coffee, kolaches, donuts, or whatever other food item has found its way into the kitchens. Outside of the office, it was not uncommon before COVID for us to get together at an icehouse or someone's home for dinner or drinks.”
- “The firm has a very collegial, social culture. Partners seem to be close friends; associates, too. And everyone seems very open to helping each other out.”
Getting Hired Here
- “SKV typically hires one person a year directly out of federal clerkships. The ideal candidate is a go-getter who can work both in a team and individually. Because the firm is so small, the ideal candidate would be someone who jives well with the people already at the firm.”
- “While grades, a federal clerkship, and school are important, personality and fit are definitely the most important thing the firm is looking for in interviewing. If you get an interview, it’s assumed that you can do the work, regardless of whether you went to a T5 or T50 school. In a firm of under 50 people, fit is crucial because you are going to be spending A LOT of time with each other preparing witnesses, traveling for hearings, in trial, etc. There isn't formal training for people who interview candidates. Right now, interviews try to get the candidate to meet as many people who are in office as possible (while socially distanced).”
- “Smart, talented, hardworking individuals with federal clerkship experience and desire to work well on our team.”
