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Overview

Introduction

One of Boston's top firms, Choate operates out of one office in Beantown—though its practice extends across the nation, with clients like JP Morgan Chase, Wells Fargo, Summit Partners, and more on its roster. The firm specializes in five main areas: complex litigation and investigations; finance and restructuring; life sciences and technology; middle-market private equity/M&A; and wealth management. The firm provides associates with ample hands-on experience and prioritizes associate feedback.

Firm Stats


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Total No. Attorneys (2021)

150 - 250

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No. of Partners Named (2021)

6

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Featured Rankings

Best Law Firms in Boston
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No. of 1st Year Associates Hired (2020)

14


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No. of Summer Associates (2021)

21 total (16 2Ls; 5 1Ls)


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Base Salary

1st year: $205,000
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Vault Verdict

As with many firms, Choate prioritizes candidates’ academic records in hiring, but the firm is looking for more than good grades. Personality fit is key, as well as an interest in settling down in the Boston area. Associates describe the firm as having a “tight-knit community” and appreciate that partners respect their work/life balance. The firm also sponsors a variety of firm-wide activities, include happy hours and a yearly field day. Associates and partners get along well, with mutual respect and little sense of hierarchy, and associates appreciate the transparency from above. Hours can be long and unpredictable, but associates feel the firm does a good job distributing hours. They also are thrilled with their compensation, which meets the market for both salary and bonuses—pl...

About the Firm

Since 1899, Choate Hall & Stewart has been a Boston firm through and through. Although smaller in number than its national competitors, Choate attorneys have remained competitive without compromising on the firm’s collaborative mindset and “one office” culture.

Keeping It Local

Choate is a legal force in Massachusetts. The firm is among the Top 5 in Vault’s Best Law Firms in Boston ranking. In an era of megafirm expansion, Choate has dodged the advances of larger firms looking to merge and has held off takeovers to stay in Boston. The firm says its strategy of maintaining its legal team under one roof allows it to "deliver seamless client service" unmatched by firms with a dozen offices around the U.S. The firm's client list—which encompasses national entities lik...

Diversity at Choate, Hall & Stewart

"The Hiring Committee is at the forefront of the Firm's efforts to recruit talented law students from diverse backgrounds. The Hiring Committee was proud to launch the Firm's 1L Diversity Fellowship in 2013. Hiring Committee members are active participants in minority and diversity job fairs and work in collaboration with the Boston Lawyers Group (BLG) and various affinity bar associations to attract diverse law students. The Professional Development and Human Resources departments are similarly dedicated to diversity and inclusion. They..."

Perks & Benefits


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