United States

Our People

• Approximately 2,100 lawyers located in the world's major financial, business and regulatory centers
• More than 55 languages spoken

Our Practice

• New associates can explore different practice areas for two years before choosing a department
• More than 50 internationally recognized practice groups and 16 industry teams within our corporate, environmental, finance, litigation and tax departments

• One-on-one conferences twice a year with an Associates Committee member, where supervisor reviews are discussed and read verbatim to each associate
• Associates provide confidential reviews of their supervisors — with a 95 percent participation rate
• Annual “Best Supervisors List” recognizes outstanding associate, counsel and partner supervisors

• Every first year and lateral associate automatically paired with a mentor
• Daily firm-wide training programs and on-demand video library of 900+ programs
• Intensive training academies at every stage of an associate’s career: Summer Academy; First, Third and Fifth Year Academies; New Partner Academy

Managing the Work-Life Juggle

• 18 weeks of paid maternity and adoptive leave for primary caregivers
• Subsidized back-up childcare near every US office
• Reduced pace schedule available for associates, with reduced pace coordinators to offer guidance
• Option for reduced pace schedule upon returning from parental leave — no questions asked
• Recognized as one of the “Best Law Firms for Women” by Working Mother magazine (2008, 2009, 2011)

Achieving Flexibility through Technology

• Software-based IP phones that simulate office phones when working remotely
• Dual monitor set-up or a high resolution wide screen monitor
• Notebook computer
• BlackBerry PDA with attorney’s preferred service provider or access to firm-provided email application on personally-owned iPhone or iPad
• Multiple methods for seamless and secure remote access to firm systems
• 7 x 24 technology support

• At the forefront of law firm pro bono with a deep commitment and tradition
• Signatory to Law Firm Pro Bono Challenge
• Billable hour credit given for pro bono work, with no cap
• In 2011, with more than 1,900 lawyers, paralegals, summer associates, trainees and professional staff in 28 offices across 13 countries participating in our program, Latham provided more than 173,000 hours of free legal services valued at approximately US$83 million
• Extensive community service program including our 75th anniversary (and beyond) “Moving Forward by Giving Back” initiative

• Firm women’s initiative that promotes business relationships among women and invests in the long-term success of women
• More than 100 events held in last two years throughout US, Europe, the Middle East and Asia
• Global initiative coordinated by a 25-member WEB Advisory Board

• Outreach to more than 7,000 women leaders around the world through WEB events

• Global efforts to reduce the firm’s environmental impact, conserve natural resources and energy, and operate in a sustainable and cost-effective manner
• Local SMART teams in each office
• Recent achievements include introduction of duplex printing settings, 30 percent post-consumer waste paper worldwide, electronic forms, sustainable kitchen supplies and significant reductions in paper usage

2013 US Law School Interviews and Events Calendar

Please check back often as dates are added as they become available.

• Bay Area Diversity Career Fair: July 27, 2013
• Berkeley Law
• Boston College: August 13, 2013
• Boston University: August 12, 2013
• Chicago
• Columbia: August 8, 2013
• Columbia LL.M. Overseas-Trained Student Interview Program: January 26, 2013
• Cornell Job Fair: August 5, 2013
• Duke: August 12, 2013
• Emory in New York: July 31, 2013
• Fordham: August 16, 2013
• George Washington: August 13, 2013
• Georgetown: August 12, 2013
• Harvard: August 16, 2013
• Harvard BLSA: March 14, 2013
• Hastings: August 5, 2013
• Houston: August 19, 2013
• Howard: August 13, 2013
• Illinois: August 13, 2013 
• Lavender Law Career Fair: August 22, 2013
• Loyola (Los Angeles): August 5, 2013
• Loyola Patent Law Interview Program: August 1, 2013
• LSU: August 26, 2013
• Michigan: August 15, 2013
• Northwestern: August 15, 2013
• Notre Dame: August 19, 2013
• NYU: August 15, 2013
• NYU International Student Interview Program: January 25, 2013
• Pennsylvania: August 13, 2013
• Santa Clara: August 12, 2013
• SMU: August 8, 2013
• Stanford: August 30, 2013
• Texas: August 16, 2013
• Texas on Tour: New York Job Fair: August 1, 2013
• Tulane: August 19, 2013
• UC Irvine: August 6, 2013
• UCLA: August 5, 2013
• USC
• USD:  August 8, 2013
• Vanderbilt: August 12, 2013
• Vault MCCA Diversity Career Fair (DC)
• Virginia: August 12, 2013
• Yale: August 13, 2013

In addition to the school interviews and job fairs listed above, we request resume packets from 40 additional law schools: Alabama, American, Arizona, Arizona State, Brooklyn, BYU, Cardozo, Catholic University, Chicago-Kent, Davis, George Mason, Georgetown Diversity, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana (Bloomington), Iowa, LSU, Maryland, McGill, Minnesota, Missouri-Columbia, North Carolina, Ohio State, Osgoode, Pepperdine, Southern Methodist (SMU), St. John's, Syracuse, Temple, Toronto, Tulane, Washington, Washington & Lee, Washington University (St. Louis), William & Mary and Wisconsin. 

Latham’s summer program is designed to give you a sense of life at the firm as a junior associate. As a summer associate, you will receive work assignments through the unassigned program, allowing you the opportunity to try a variety of practice areas across the firm’s five departments. Summer associates are also invited to participate in any training and CLE courses that are offered to our associates.

Like a newly hired associate, you will be assigned a firm mentor who is available to answer questions and help guide you through your summer. The summer associate review process is similar to the associate review process. Work reviews are read to you verbatim and a clear message regarding progress and standing is given.

• Summer Academy – A highlight of the summer program, it brings together summer associates from across the United States. It provides an overview of the firm and its culture through training seminars and social events with Latham lawyers.

Summer associates also have many opportunities to get to know Latham associates and partners. A typical day may include a lunchtime practice group presentation or a casual lunch out with a small group of attorneys, and a typical week will include social activities which provide opportunities to meet and mingle with Latham attorneys in a fun and relaxed setting.

Latham & Watkins is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Our commitment to diversity and equal opportunity enables Latham & Watkins to draw from a remarkable wealth of talent to create one of the world's leading law firms. Click here to learn more about our commitment.

Generally, Latham awards progression credit plus US$50,000 to clerks at federal courts, the highest court in any state and the District of Columbia, and the Delaware Court of Chancery. Clerks from the US Supreme Court are given two years of credit (if they have clerked for at least two years) and a competitive bonus.

Post-employment judicial clerks are treated on a case-by-case basis for class progression credit, salary and bonus purposes. To be eligible for credit and a bonus, a post-employment clerkship must commence within the first three years of practice and the associate should generally be leaning towards a controversy practice.

If you are currently clerking and are interested in Latham, please contact the Attorney Recruiting Contact in the office you are interested in more information.

An Equal Opportunity Employer

Latham’s commitment to diversity and equal opportunity enables the firm to draw from a remarkable wealth of talent to create one of the world's leading law firms. Learn more about our commitment.

Important Note to Legal Placement Agents

Please note that we do not pay placement fees or referral bonuses for judicial clerks, including post-employment clerks. If you have any questions concerning our placement policies or wish to discuss a potential working relationship with the firm, please call one of our practice office Attorney Recruiting Contacts.

Latham understands that choosing a practice area right out of law school may be difficult for many new associates. So we don't require it. Instead, Latham takes a flexible approach to associate staffing through our hallmark Unassigned Associate Program for US associates.

Watch a video of Adam Golberg to learn more about his experience
in the Unassigned Associates Program

On arrival, new associates are not assigned to a particular department or practice; rather, they enjoy the opportunity to explore any number of practices, working with and learning from a number of experienced lawyers before choosing a department that best fits their skills and interests. During this unassigned period, projects are allocated based on associate practice preferences, interest in a particular matter or supervisor, and availability. As their work becomes more focused, associates are eligible to join a department on a trial basis as early as their second year at the firm.

Through the Unassigned Associate Program, lawyers have the opportunity to gain experience in several different practice areas before committing to any one department. This gives associates more control over their careers, allowing them to sample different types of work and gain exposure to different areas of law early on. The Unassigned Associate Program provides flexibility for associates to direct the course of their careers, taking into account client needs.

Read more about the firm’s 50 practice areas.

Learn more about US-based Latham associate John Hellman's experience with the Unassigned Associate Program.

During the law school interview season, Latham & Watkins conducts interviews with JD candidates around the country for summer and first-year associate positions.

In keeping with Latham’s “one-firm” firm culture, we typically send a team of lawyers who are committed to outreach at that particular school to interview students on behalf of all of our offices.

Latham also participates in job fairs and interview programs throughout the year and sponsor various on-campus information sessions, substantive presentations and receptions. If your school is not listed on Latham’s 2012 US Law School Interviews and Events Calendar — or if you are unable to attend our on-campus interview sessions and you would like to pursue opportunities with Latham — please forward a cover letter, resume and transcript to the Attorney Recruiting Contact for the practice office in which you are interested.

An Equal Opportunity Employer

Latham’s commitment to diversity and equal opportunity enables the firm to draw from a remarkable wealth of talent to create one of the world's leading law firms. Learn more about our commitment.