Egalitarian and Inclusive Cultures Propel Firms to Top of Associate Rankings
An egalitarian culture helps explain why Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner is so well-liked by its associates—if you dare call them that.
The law firm has job titles of lawyers, staff attorneys and patent specialists, but it prefers not to use the term “associate,” the Am Law Daily reports. It’s part of Finnegan Henderson’s effort to de-emphasize rank and foster a feeling of equality, the publication says.
Finnegan Henderson is the top-ranked firm for associate job satisfaction in its category of Am Law 100 law firms. Other firms that were ranked best in the American Lawyer survey were Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler in the category of Am Law Second Hundred firms, and Nutter McClennen & Fish in the category of Non Am Law 200 firms.
Because of client feedback, Finnegan Henderson has revised its website to designate which lawyers are associates. But it still seeks an egalitarian culture, and one way it does that is by banning diplomas from lawyers’ walls.
“We don’t care what law school you came from,” partner Leslie Bookoff told the Am Law Daily. “We recruit from all kinds of law schools.”
The firm also gives associates significant responsibilities, allows flexible scheduling, and encourages vacations for lawyers who have reached their 2,000 billable hours goal.
Patterson Belknap cites its culture of inclusiveness and pro bono program as factors that helped its top ranking. Nutter McClennen says its seeks to hire associates that fit in with its culture of teamwork and mentions its “top-down, bottom-up” approach.
Meanwhile Above the Law notes that Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft ranked dead last for midlevel associate satisfaction for firms in its large size category. The survey was taken after the law firm laid off 35 associates in January, but before it laid off 96 more lawyers last week.
