Vault Law

The journey to becoming an attorney is a windy road filled with late-night study sessions, high-pressure exams, and tough competition—all of which can contribute to mental health challenges. With an estimated 40% of law students experiencing depression by graduation, it is important to understand that you are not alone if you are suffering from depression.

There is one question you can always expect during your legal job interview: Do you have any questions for us? Preparing thoughtful, well-researched questions for this part of your interview is a great way to show your interest in the legal employer and that you have done your homework.

What should you do if you’re staring down the barrel of your first midterm in a week or two, and you haven’t prepared as much as you planned to by this point in the semester? Or what if you have, but you’re simply not sure how to maximize your time and effort in the final days leading up to the test?

Your first open memo is due, and you’re not sure if you have done all the research correctly or found all the law you need to cite. Or maybe you’re staring at a blank page that needs to become a client motion, and you need some inspiration for crafting a winning argument.

If you’ve used Vault’s resources before, then you’ve probably noticed that things look a little different around here. That’s because we’ve embarked on an exciting new journey, joining forces with Firsthand to form a comprehensive career engagement platform.

Vault Law has you covered, with detailed law firm profiles for hundreds of top law firms. With critical stats and firsthand information, you'll find the scoop on everything you need to know about a firm and what it’s really like to work there.

Want to really know what it's really like to practice law in a certain area? With Vault Law's practice area resources, you can take a deep dive into dozens of practice areas to find out what it's really like to be an attorney in that area.

Vault Law’s rankings are based on exclusive insider information from verified employees in the law industry. Each year, Vault surveys thousands of law firm associates, and from the results of these surveys, Vault ranks the top law firms in prestige, diversity, quality of life, and overall best to work for.

Your resume was flawless, you made it through multiple rounds of interviews, you wrote the perfect thank-you notes, you’re sure you have the job in the bag, and then…  You get the dreaded email informing you that you didn’t get the job. Anyone who has been in this position knows it feels like a punch to the gut.

Mary Biscoe-Hall, Ryan Cullen, and Shaun Polston are associates at Nelson Mullins and work in the firm's well-recognized products liability litigation practice. Below, they share their experiences working on trial teams during the COVID-19 pandemic and lessons they've learned along the way.

It used to be the norm that a lawyer would spend their entire career with one firm, but that is increasingly unlikely in this day and age. Many lawyers choose their first legal employer after only one year of law school and with limited information.

Not sure where to start when it comes to outlining in law school? These tips will have you well on your way to creating outlines that will help you best prepare for final exams.

As a law student, it is difficult to ignore the pressure of the curve—and the need to be on top of it. While grades should be your No.

Whether you have an interview for an in-house position lined up or you're simply thinking ahead and want to learn more about the process, we've got the scoop on what to expect—plus tips for before, during, and after the interview. While the process certainly has similarities to more-traditional law firm interviews, there are unique aspects of interviewing for an in-house position that you should be aware of too.

If you’re reading this, chances are you’re seeking the perfect language to use in your out-of-office auto-reply for some upcoming time away from work. An OOO email is one of those messages that may seem simple in theory, but without an example, it can be hard to come up with the right wording.

Angela Han is a lawyer and a life coach. She helps lawyers get results by transforming blind spots into strengths.

Even if a certain note-taking style worked for you in undergrad, you may find that your law school classes require a different approach. Below are some tips you may want to try.

Workplace transparency is an important determinant of job satisfaction for law firm associates. Providing insights into various aspects of the firm—from financial health and decision-making to performance reviews and promotion opportunities—is critical to maintaining associate buy-in, motivation, and faith in firm leadership.

Intellectual property lawyers protect and enforce the rights of creators, and most work in one of three key areas: transactional IP, IP litigation, or patent prosecution. Transactional practitioners may handle matters such as licensing deals or the IP issues within an M&A transaction, while litigators handle disputes related to patents, copyrights, trademarks, and trade secrets.

Do behavioral interview questions strike fear in your heart? You're not alone.

Starting as a 1L in law school can be extremely daunting. No doubt, you’ve seen movies and television shows portraying law school as a horrifying place where professors try to embarrass you, and your classmates are your worst enemies.

A knowledgeable legal recruiter can be a great asset during your job search, but you must keep in mind the recruiter’s motivations and access to employers—and whether you are in a situation to benefit from their assistance. Most legal recruiters are paid only for successful placements—at the end of the day the recruiter wants you to move in order to get paid.

If there's one thing most lawyers and law students love, it's trivia. Can you blame us?

The first month of 1L year is like a whirlwind—from trying to survive the Socratic Method to learning how to outline effectively to figuring out a study method that will land you on top of the curve. And while you are just trying to stay afloat, you may be hearing buzz about post 1L summer jobs, OCI, journals, clinics, and employer receptions.