Overview
Introduction
Linklaters is a Magic Circle firm with a 185-year legacy, including over 50 years in the United States. The firm presents great opportunities for international work and international travel to its 31 worldwide offices. The firm receives high praise for requiring pro bono work as part of its practice. Compensation and partner/associate relations are other highlights for Linklaters associates.
Firm Stats
Total No. Attorneys (2024)
No. of Partners Named (2023)
Featured Rankings
No. of 1st Year Associates Hired (2024)
No. of Summer Associates (2024)
Base Salary
Vault Verdict
There’s something enchanting about Linklaters, and it’s not just because it’s a Magic Circle firm. Maybe it’s the closeness of colleagues despite the firm’s huge global footprint. Maybe it’s the firm’s reasonable billable hours and unlimited credit for pro bono hours. In any case, in addition to seeking attorneys suited to work in its collegial offices, Linklaters is clearly focused on hiring candidates with a demonstrated interest in international work and strong credentials. Proficiency in at least one second language is a clear advantage. Linklaters attorneys routinely work closely with their international colleagues and often have the opportunity to travel overseas to other Linklaters offices. Partners treat associates with the utmost respect, and on-the-job training and organ...
About the Firm
Consistently ranked as a top money-maker both in terms of firm profits and PPP, the Magic Circle firm Linklaters has achieved the status of legal industry royalty by following the BigLaw formula well: Build finance and M&A practices and grow internationally. The firm is one of the top brands among global law firms, and if you want to work in the United States, there are two office locations to choose from: New York and Washington, DC.
Truly Global
At the beginning of the 1990s, Linklaters was predominantly a U.K. firm with local operations in only a handful of cities across Europe, Asia, and the Americas. But in 1996, the firm embarked on an impressive expansion strategy. Through a string of global mergers, joint ventures, and organic growth, the firm built a notable internatio...
Associate Reviews
- “The day-to-day atmosphere is great; everyone is quite friendly and helpful. Outside of the workspace, lawyers socialize more so in firm-sponsored events such as conferences and summer events, but still great experiences.”
- “Our firm is on the smaller side [in the U.S. currently], which means that the lawyers here socialize with one another on a daily basis. We have a firm-sponsored weekly office social for people to connect with one another. In addition, there are additional opportunities to socialize with other lawyers that tend to be more organic. The day-to-day atmosphere is very pleasant, collegial, and truly collaborative. The lawyers and staff interact in ways that speak to the overall culture at our firm. In general, the firm chooses good people which make the atmosphere as supportive of an environment as possible.”
- “I'm overall very happy with the culture here—everyone is very friendly, pleasant, and collegial. Groups will socialize outside of work when possible. I don't know of friends at other firms where associates are happier with firm culture.”
- “Incredibly collegial, with weekly office socials. As a recent lateral, when I go to the cafeteria for lunch, it is easy for me to join any random table and meet new colleagues every day. Everyone is open, down-to-earth, and welcoming. You can tell people are happy here.”
Why Work Here
Diversity at Linklaters
Getting Hired Here
- “I believe the firm's hiring process is quite competitive; conducting interviews and callbacks at the firm ensures good candidates. The firm is looking for individuals who are interested in a truly international law firm and interested in working on cross-border projects.”
- “Our firm is looking for competitive candidates (in terms of grades, journal/moot court experience, and other academic performance factors). However, our firm is also concerned with fit as the firm is intentional about hiring people that will contribute to the overall culture of the firm.”
- “The firm's hiring process is robust and focuses on finding the few quality associates who primarily fit in with the firm's culture and practice areas. Candidates are screened similarly to other firms, but I believe Linklaters takes extra pains to ensure that each candidate will work seamlessly with the firm's culture and practice groups. The firm considers extracurriculars (journals, teams, others) and in particular has a focus on students with diverse ethnic backgrounds or who are multilingual and are ‘worldly’ given the firm's cross-border specialization and culture.”
- “Looking for ‘culture fit,’ likely someone who will embrace the positive quality of life that the firm is known for. Most people with whom I recruited actively sought out [an international] firm. No obvious ‘feeder schools.’”
Perks & Benefits