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Overview

Introduction

Labor and employment law is Littler Mendelson’s forte, and it dominates on an international scale. The firm has a massive footprint, with more than 1,500 attorneys across 58 offices nationwide and 36 abroad. Littler exclusively represents management, but its clients come in all sizes and industries, from Fortune 500 corporations to small, single-office businesses. The firm has also received a number of awards for its diversity initiatives and is known for offering its clients innovative solutions.

Firm Stats


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Total No. Attorneys (2023)

1.5K - 2K

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No. of Partners Named (2020)

28

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Featured Rankings

Best Law Firms for Labor & Employment Law
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No. of Summer Associates (2020)

17 total (13 2Ls; 4 1Ls)


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Base Salary

Salary not disclosed.


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No. of U.S. Offices

59

Vault Verdict

Littler is looking for candidates with a demonstrated interest in labor and employment law and, ideally, some work experience under their belts. Excellent grades and a clerkship won’t hurt, either. Interviews are mostly focused on industry interest, though some behavioral questions are also to be expected. The firm’s culture is universally collegial and welcoming, though associates seem to disagree on just how social the firm is—the number of events may depend on individual offices. Partners solicit opinions from associates and treat them with respect, and while some associates are satisfied with the firm’s level of transparency, others are left wishing they had more insight into firm goings-on. The hours can be long, but most associates state that partners are willing to work wit...

About the Firm

For more than 75 years, Littler has been a leader in the area of labor and employment law on a national and—recently—international scale. With 58 offices nationwide and 36 abroad, the firm’s massive footprint is a recent development—the firm expanded modestly through the 20th century, and now boasts more than 1,500 attorneys.

Bay Area Beginnings

Littler was founded in 1942 in San Francisco by two lawyers with public service backgrounds. Robert Littler had been the Pacific Coast Director of the War Labor Board, and Thomas Coakley was a deputy attorney general for the State of California. During the 1940s, a substantial part of the firm’s practice involved war-related matters on behalf of employers before the War Labor Board and the Salary Stabilization Commission. Over the next two deca...

Associate Reviews

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  • “We have a great culture; we are respectful and friendly and collaborative. There is an open-door policy, and everyone's pleasant. When it's crunch time, you can count on support. Of course, you're expected to pull your fair share of the work, too. Lawyers go to lunch frequently and also have monthly office lunches as well as happy hours every month.”
  • “We do not socialize very often, except for firm parties outside of the office twice a year and some intra-office celebrations.”
  • “Associates are very social. We all relate to each other very strongly, particularly because we all practice labor and employment. There are frequently happy hours, outings, lunches, and so forth. Lawyers—associates and partners—frequently socialize”
  • “Our office is pretty social, with quarterly events, occasional happy hours, and recently, a softball team that will play together every week.”

Diversity at Littler Mendelson P.C.

"Diversity is a fundamental part of who we are and a core principle we live by. From our very first days as a law firm, we've believed that a culture that prioritizes inclusivity leads to better outcomes — for both us and our clients. And, it's why we continue to instill an atmosphere of collaboration in everything we do. The firm's Diversity & Inclusion Council plays an important role in enhancing efforts to recruit diverse attorneys, providing opportunities for diverse lawyers to excel professionally, creating a pipeline to..."

Getting Hired Here

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  • “They generally are looking for someone that already has labor and employment experience, not fresh out of law school. Judicial clerkships and prior work experience along with personality seem to be the key characteristics that are focused on; however, diversity is also big.”
  • “Our firm looks mostly for candidates with significant labor & employment experience. We value smart and skilled attorneys who are a good fit. We do not place significant value on law school, but attorneys must be able to write well and adapt to the rigors of litigation.”
  • “Our particular office frequently hires from law schools in the area. I believe we are looking for individuals with a strong academic background, relevant experience, a genuine interest in our practice area, and potential for advancement/partnership.”
  • “The firm is looking for candidates who show an ability to work relatively independently with little oversight.”