Overview
Introduction
Founded in Baltimore in 1900, Venable has expanded geographically to 10 domestic offices and professionally to 850 attorneys. The firm provides a full range of legal services, including regulatory, legislative, and government affairs through its Beltway and Baltimore offices. Many notable past and current elected officials have worked at Venable. Attorneys enjoy the work-life balance promoted by the firm culture and office social life.
Firm Stats
Total No. Attorneys (2022)
750 - 1K
No. of Partners Named (2022)
35
Featured Rankings
Vault Law 100
No. of 1st Year Associates Hired (2022)
44
No. of Summer Associates (2022)
56 total (48 2Ls; 8 1Ls)
Base Salary
1st year: $205,000
Vault Verdict
Venable offers the gamut of legal services, including especially strong offerings in government work through its offices in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. Its past and current attorney listing is like a “who’s who” of government officials. Venable recruits lawyers from both national and local schools, with an emphasis on academic achievement, journals, clerkships, or work experience. The firm wants well-rounded, motivated associates who are willing to take on responsibility. Personality is important, too, as attorneys seem to enjoy working together. They enjoy socializing together as well, but there is respect for lives outside of the office. Partners value associates and care about their professional development—in fact, both partners and senior associates assigned as m...
About the Firm
The venerable, mono-monikered Venable is a titan of the mid-Atlantic I-95 corridor (where seven of its nine offices are located) and is home to nearly 800 lawyers. Venable complements a conventional BigLaw practice with Beltway-specific work.
A Morphing Midsized Regional
Call it a victory for career services: Venable, Baetjer & Howard was formed in 1900 when Richard Venable, a law professor in Baltimore, partnered with two of his former students. The firm has grown substantially since the millennium, thanks largely to a series of mergers to bolster its Beltway contingent, tech offerings, and litigation department. These changes landed the firm two locations in California and one in New York. And in 2018, the firm bolstered its IP practice by merging with Fitzpatrick, Cell...
2023 Vault Rankings
Associate Reviews
- “The day-to-day atmosphere is relatively informal, and most everyone is approachable and open to taking time to chat. There are frequently firm-sponsored social hours, and people do meet up after hours as well. People pride themselves on being collaborative, helpful, and understanding to one another.”
- “It is very cordial and friendly. There is a strong sense that people generally want to work together on things. Attorneys work closely with staff at times, and they do socialize outside of work. The firm schedules a number of events for socializing, and practice groups or office floors also take it upon themselves to organize happy hours or lunches.”
- “Most attorneys at Venable seem happy to be part of the firm. The individuals I work closely with genuinely like and value each other and enjoy working together.”
Diversity at Venable LLP
"At Venable, we believe the best way to help our clients resolve their legal and business issues is by bringing the broadest possible range of perspectives and experience to bear. We firmly believe that a talented and diverse legal team delivers the best results for our clients. Supporting our clients begins with attracting, retaining, and promoting a diverse and talented attorney base within the firm. Venable's commitment to diversity starts at the top. Diversity and inclusion are primary objectives of the firm's strategic plan...."
Getting Hired Here
- “I think grades, journal experience, prior work experience (for laterals), personality, and diversity are key. Although there are a good number of associates from well-ranked law schools, Venable is able to see beyond ranking when it comes to choosing its summer associate class and lateral hires.”
- “There is an obvious focus on schools regional to the firm's office, but there's no one school that's overrepresented.”
- “I believe my firm is looking for a candidate that has strong legal skills and is an interesting person outside of work. I believe my firm equally cares about you as a person and not just as a lawyer at their firm.”
