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Overview

Introduction

With more than 1,800 lawyers across 16 offices, Goodwin has established itself as a global legal name. The firm boasts particular strength in corporate law and real estate, among other areas. Candidates seeking a highly transparent firm that prioritizes associate development will likely feel at home at Goodwin.

Firm Stats


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Total No. Attorneys (2023)

1.5K - 2K

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No. of Partners Named (2022)

58

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Featured Rankings

Vault Law 100
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No. of 1st Year Associates Hired (2023)

140


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No. of Summer Associates (2023)

169 total (155 2Ls; 14 1Ls)


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Base Salary

1st year: $225,000
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Vault Verdict

Goodwin’s stellar reputation—developed over the last 100+ years—in many practice areas is certainly a draw for new associates. It is selective in the hiring process, looking at grades, school attended, journal experience, work experience, personality, and diversity. Attorneys are friendly and collaborative and enjoy time together in social settings. Partners welcome project feedback from associates and take time to help them develop professionally, while firm leadership could be better with communication and transparency. The firm, often through practice groups, provides useful training, but associates feel the best guidance comes on the job with individual attorneys. Lateral hires find work and feel welcomed immediately. Work is cutting edge, though even the more basic, administr...

Firm's Response

Growth. Performance. Managing risk. Success in today’s high-tech economy means addressing increasingly complex issues faster and more efficiently amid rapid change. Making the right decisions in this environment requires strategic counsel from a legal advisor who not only knows how laws are evolving around the world, but also has a deep un...

About the Firm

Founded more than a century ago, Goodwin has grown to more than 1,800 lawyers in 16 offices throughout the U.S., Europe, and Asia. The firm operates on what it calls a “capital-meets-innovation platform,” through which the firm advises both innovators and investors in the financial, private equity, real estate, technology, and life sciences industries.

Ethics First

In 1912, Harvard classmates Robert Goodwin and Joseph Procter ran into each other in the street and decided to start a law practice together, opening Goodwin & Procter later that year. Two years later, the founders helped a sardine packing company issue preferred stock but later discovered the company financials were fabricated. They took out a $30,000 loan to buy back all outstanding shares at face value and establi...

Associate Reviews

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  • “Very friendly and collaborative, even across different practice groups. There are formal events, such as retreats to meet attorneys from across offices, to less formal gatherings, such as weekly lunches in local practice areas. The firm also encourages mentoring lunches/events with dedicated budgets.”
  • “It is an incredibly welcoming, conscientious, and friendly environment. Honestly, the culture is amazing, especially compared to my prior firm. Did not know BigLaw could be so manageable and considerate.”
  • “My colleagues are always friendly, and aren't competitive. Partners are willing to hear directly from associates. Lawyers in the same general seniority level tend to socialize—for example, I socialize with mainly second through sixth year associates outside of work. I don't work with non-attorney staff very often, but I have worked with several paralegals in the past, and always found it to be mutually respectful.”
  • “I work with the best people, who are truly my friends. I always say you never want to work till midnight, but work with the people you are willing to do that with, and Goodwin has the best peeps.”

Why Work Here


At Goodwin, our purpose is and always has been to help our clients achieve great things. To do this, nearly 2,000 Goodwin lawyers across the United States, Europe, and Asia focus on building authentic, long-term relationships with some of the world’s most successful and innovative investors, entrepreneurs and disruptors at the convergence of and within the life sciences, private equity, real estate, technology, and financial industries.

Diversity at Goodwin

"Goodwin is committed to promoting diversity in our firm and the legal profession, as well as fostering an inclusive environment in which each attorney and staff member has the opportunity to excel and thrive. Diversity and inclusion are core values at Goodwin, and we believe that they make us stronger as a firm, as a provider of legal services and as an employer. It's also a matter of justice. We believe that equity demands a diverse workforce and legal profession, and as the first AmLaw 100 law firm led by a woman, we have a lengthy track..."

Getting Hired Here

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  • “My firm is selective, and considers law school attended, journal experience, prior work experience (in particular if it demonstrates strong work ethic/resilience), and interests. I interview candidates, and receive sample questions and guidance, including a rubric by which to score the candidate. …”
  • “Our firm hires top candidates from the best schools, but also does a great job selecting for ‘fit.’ Goodwin seems to hire friendly, kind, hard-working people.”
  • “I believe Goodwin takes into account the entire person during recruiting. While Goodwin is very competitive, and a strong GPA and law school are required, they also take into account personality fit, diversity, and interests. The T14 schools are definitely more represented; however, there is still a large diversity in schools represented.”
  • “Hiring is competitive, but holistic, and past work experience, volunteer activities, personality, and diversity play a large role.”

Perks & Benefits


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