Vinson & Elkins
1001 Fannin Street
Suite 2500
Houston, TX 77002
Suite 2500
Houston, TX 77002
Phone number: (713) 758-2222
Visit Website: www.velaw.com
Summer Program: Learn More
Overview
Introduction
V&E’s lean-team model means great training for associates, with hands-on experience, strong partner mentorship, and opportunities to tackle new challenges. Overall, associates agree that V&E offers a great culture, great compensation, and great work. Today, Vinson & Elkins is a trusted adviser to clients in the most important industrial and digital industries, such as renewable energy, technology, banking/finance, M&A/private equity, real estate, media, complex litigation, a...
Firm Stats
Total No. Attorneys (2021)
500 - 750
No. of Partners Named (2021)
5
Featured Rankings
Vault Law 100
No. of 1st Year Associates Hired (2020)
89
No. of Summer Associates (2021)
122 total (76 2Ls; 43 1Ls; 3 SEO Pre-Law Fellows)
Base Salary
All U.S. offices
Vault Verdict
V&E hires associates with the whole package: a top law school; great grades; and a hard-working, humble personality. This combination contributes to the firm’s positive, welcoming culture where, as one associate puts it, “people come first.” Associates feel that, individually, partners care about them as people and professionals; firmwide, they are transparent about finances and other firm updates. The past year has seen many associates working extra-long hours, but the firm makes genuine efforts to reduce workload and divide work evenly when it can. Otherwise, associates feel the 2,000-hour baseline target—which includes 100 hours of pro bono and other non-billable work—is a reasonable ask. They are very pleased with their compensation, which is at market and includes ext...
Firm's Response
Vinson & Elkins has provided deep legal experience in handling sophisticated transactions, investments, projects, and disputes worldwide for more than 100 years. Today, the firm is a trusted adviser to clients in the most important financial, industrial, and digital industries. With more than 700 lawyers working across 12 offices, ...
About the Firm
Founded in Houston in 1917, this Texas-based institution built its name as one of the most vital energy law firms. Today, Vinson & Elkins is a trusted adviser to clients in the most important industrial and digital industries, such as renewable energy, technology, banking/finance, M&A/private equity, real estate, media, complex litigation, and tax.
A Dynamic Centenarian
V&E is a diverse partnership and team of professionals, solving problems and creating opportunities for clients in their transactions, investments, projects, and disputes in 12 offices across the globe. In 2021, the firm celebrated the 50th anniversary of its London office—making it one of the oldest U.S. law firms with a continuous presence i...
2022 Vault Rankings
Associate Reviews
- “It is a firm where the people come first. Yes, we work on large deals with often urgent deadlines, but everyone seems to remember that we are a team (from partners to associates to staff) that must work together to serve the needs of our clients.”
- “Since COVID, and given how busy the firm has been, there has obviously been significantly less social interaction. However, people still take the time to check in on each other frequently, and the atmosphere has remained pleasant. Lawyers and staff tend to have a great rapport overall.”
- “People care at V&E and look out for associates’ best interests. The partners take the time to teach and develop associates and the ‘open-door’ policy is a real one. Also, the people (starting with the partners) are very pleasant to work with, and maintaining a welcoming environment is a priority throughout the firm.”
- “During normal times, there are options for social activities (happy hours, lunches, etc.) at least weekly—whether formal or informal. One social activity I have particularly enjoyed over the last couple of years is a quarterly women's attorney book club, which a few of our associates have organized.”
Diversity at Vinson & Elkins
"Having diverse teams in an inclusive environment at V&E means that we are able to leverage the power of different perspectives and ideas to provide the best solutions and service to our clients. With purposeful involvement from top leadership and active allies across our firm, V&E's inclusion efforts are focused on solutions that allow us to attract, retain, and promote the best and brightest lawyers. V&E's Chairman and Managing Partner are personally involved and oversee our global diversity initiatives, integrating inclusion into how we..."
Getting Hired Here
- “We hire from all of the top schools nationally, as well as most of the regional schools near our offices. Traditional credentials help, including good grades in law school and clerkship experience. Strong social skills are also important.”
- “[The] firm generally recruits highly-ranked students from top law schools. The firm seems to highly prioritize grades, diversity, and personality. The callback interviews heavily focus on personality.”
- “V&E looks for high-quality academics, an understanding of the firm's primary industries, and fit of skills/interest with practice group needs.”
- “A successful candidate is someone who is humble, is willing to work hard, actively seeks out ways to benefit the team, and treats everyone with respect.”
Perks & Benefits
