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Overview

Introduction

Since its founding in 1875, Paul, Weiss has grown to nine offices—four domestic and five international—with nearly 1,000 attorneys. The firm attracts associates from a broad range of backgrounds who want to engage in sophisticated, complex legal matters. In addition to general litigation and corporate law, Paul, Weiss attorneys excel in the areas of public M&A, private equity, white collar and regulatory defense, restructuring, and capital markets. Associates work hard and appreciate that the firm provides meaningful opportunit...

Firm Stats


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Total No. Attorneys (2023)

750 - 1K

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No. of Partners Named (2023)

11

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Featured Rankings

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

83


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No. of Summer Associates (2023)

155 total (149 2Ls; 6 1Ls)


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Base Salary

1st year: $215,000
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Vault Verdict

Hardworking, friendly, and sociable associates make working at Paul, Weiss appealing. The best candidates are bright, with top grades from top schools, and ambitious, with leadership experience. Associates appreciate that the culture is social without being pushy, and that the firm’s commitment to social justice is genuine. Paul, Weiss provides the training and mentorship necessary for associates to perform above their ability at an early stage, which pairs well with the high-level, substantive workload. Partners respect associates’ time and work closely with associates during their time in the firm’s rotation system, including providing regular feedback and reviews. There is no billable hour requirement, though associates often work long, BigLaw hours. Partnership at the firm is ...

About the Firm

For almost 150 years, Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison—and its predecessor firms—has been a mainstay in the New York City legal market, initially as a general commercial practice. The firm began expanding its litigation practice in the 1950s and branched out into the international legal community more than 50 years ago. Paul, Weiss has defended some of the world’s largest companies, private equity firms, and financial institutions.

Groundbreaking Start

Paul, Weiss arose in pre-WWI New York, when Samuel William Weiss and partners opened a practice to handle commercial law matters for other members of the local Jewish business community. At the time, Jewish attorneys struggled to be accepted in non-Jewish firms. Weiss’ son Louis took a different approach and went into bus...

Associate Reviews

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  • “An actual collegial culture. Generally not much hierarchy, but the experience can vary based on the teams/people you work with. Very impressive involvement in social issues, through pro bono efforts.”
  • “Paul, Weiss is an extremely collegial environment. Attorneys generally are social, but socialization is not forced—it's a firm where you can be as social as much as (or as little as) you want. ...”
  • “I have really drunk the Paul, Weiss Kool-Aid. It's rare to have a firm that is both elite in terms of its work product and generally quite affable. The vast majority of my peers are incredibly pleasant, empathetic, and helpful, whether associates, counsel, or partners. The firm has a ton of social events that encourage interfirm socialization, as well as generous social excursion budgets. Paul, Weiss management practices what it preaches in all instances.”
  • “Very social. Weekly cocktail hour is well attended, and the mentorship budget is the most generous of any firm I've heard of. Free breakfast and lunch bring a lot of people into the office. Staff are treated as part of the family.”

Why Work Here


Be part of something great. A career at Paul, Weiss includes working alongside the best lawyers in the industry on sophisticated, high-profile matters for some of the world’s largest and most important public and private corporations, asset managers and financial institutions. The firm welcomes motivated, enterprising candidates who want to achieve the highest level of excellence in corporate law, while practicing in a collegial atmosphere. Law students and lateral attorneys seeking a fast-paced environment with challenging work will thrive. See what your career looks like as a corporate, litigation or restructuring attorney at Paul, Weiss.

Diversity at Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP

"Most big law firms profess a devotion to diversity. Paul, Weiss has a history of putting it into practice. In 1927, when Louis Weiss and John Wharton merged their small firm with the firm that Louis's father had founded, they did so with the then-exceptional policy of bucking the prevailing system in which Jews and Gentiles did not mingle in practice or in clientele. In the same year, Paul, Weiss hired William T. Coleman, top-of-his class African-American graduate of Harvard Law School and former Supreme Court clerk, at a time when no..."

Getting Hired Here

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  • “The firm commits significant resources to send associates and partners to top law schools to meet law students face to face and introduce them to the firm and its people. I do believe that the firm takes diversity seriously in hiring, and we do receive training with respect to interviews.”
  • “The firm’s lateral hiring process is excellent and captures a really broad net of incredibly qualified and team-oriented individuals. Law school hiring is too name brand focused on a segment of the T14, and GPA probably overshadows resume and interviewing more than it should.”
  • “They’re looking for smart people – both book smarts and social smarts. Grades are very important, but just being at the top of your class isn’t enough. They want people who will foster a collegial and inclusive environment and be good team players. They are committed to hiring diverse candidates. …”

Perks & Benefits


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