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Overview

Introduction

It doesn’t get better for litigators than Susman Godfrey, an elite litigation boutique with four offices and only 150 partners and associates. Junior associates are given immediate responsibility and are treated like future partners. Susman is known as well for other innovations, including contingency fee arrangements in representing both plaintiffs and defendants. And despite long hours and intense work, the firm is social, and rewards its associates with high compensation and bonuses. Firm-hosted retreats are a notable perk.

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Firm Stats


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Total No. Attorneys (2023)

150 - 250

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No. of Partners Named (2023)

8

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Featured Rankings

Vault Law 100
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No. of 1st Year Associates Hired (2022)

19


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No. of Summer Associates (2023)

41 total (36 2L’s & 5 3L’s; 9 1L’s)


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Base Salary

1st year: $215,000
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Vault Verdict

While Susman Godfrey may be small in numbers, it is a litigation powerhouse, taking on both plaintiff and defense work without batting an eye. The 150 attorneys in four offices all work as a team to keep the firm moving forward and growing organically. If you’re lucky enough to land a spot with the firm, you earned it with top grades from a top school and a federal clerkship under your belt. Associates are thrust into the fire from the start, and they love every minute of it—no one works at the firm who doesn’t want to litigate. Associates work closely with partners and take ownership of their work and their contributions to the case. The firm resoundingly stands by its training model of learning by doing, with junior attorneys regularly getting stand-up work on all their cases. H...

About the Firm

Since its founding in 1980, Susman Godfrey has established itself as the nation’s premiere litigation firm. Susman Godfrey has more than 150 partners and associates across four offices—its original Houston location as well as offices in Los Angeles, New York, and Seattle. The firm handles huge cases across the country for both plaintiffs and defendants. 

Susman Godfrey boasts blue-chip clients, such as Walmart, Chevron, KKR, NBC Universal, and General Electric, and has also won historic plaintiffs’ verdicts in class actions and for smaller entities, such as the historic $787.5 million settlement for Dominion Voting Systems in its defamation case against Fox News in 2023.

Contingency Pioneers

In 1980, Steve Susman formed a Houston firm following his success in the...

Associate Reviews

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  • “Our support staff, paralegals, and secretaries are amazing! We have regular social events with them. The firm holds weekly meetings on Wednesdays over lunch, and there’s the option to go on a fully paid mini-retreat each year with [your] spouse.”
  • “The firm has a close-knit familial feel. Attorneys know each other personally, and they socialize together regularly. The all-firm retreats and smaller mini retreats contribute to this, as does going to trial together.”
  • “Incredibly collegial and supportive environment. Amazing support from fellow associates. Partners—even partners who aren't on my cases—frequently offer advice on how to handle difficult situations. Everyone is very committed to the firm and each other.”
  • “The day-to-day atmosphere is extremely collegial. I work closely with (usually) just the one other associate and the partners on my cases. Socially, other associates and I will informally grab drinks, or socialize outside the office. The firm sponsors mentorship lunches and dinners, as well as other social events.”

Getting Hired Here

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  • “Susman only hires highly credentialed former federal clerks. They look for people with a passion for trial work, who want to be at the firm long term. The hiring standards in terms of traditional credentials are most competitive in the New York office, and less so in the offices with more limited candidate pools.”
  • “The ideal Susman candidate got great grades at a top school, and is someone that a partner could throw in front of a client or jury without thinking twice.”
  • “Article III clerkship is a requirement, and my understanding is that judges are always or frequently consulted before making an offer. Beyond that, the firm also cares about law school grades. There are a limited number of spots, and it's competitive.”
  • “The firm is looking for really good candidates, and only hires former federal law clerks. The most important quality is someone who is willing to learn by doing, and is excited to be a trial lawyer. The ideal associate has grit, and is not afraid to try hard things and be challenged, and wants to work with people who love being lawyers.”

Perks & Benefits


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