Porter Wright Morris & Arthur LLP

Also Known As: Porter Wright Morris & Arthur LLP

Law Firms

VAULT RANKINGS 2013

#11 Midwest

GENERAL INFO

Headquarters: Columbus, OH
6 offices
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NEWS AND UPDATES

Vault's Scoop

Uppers

Diverse and challenging work; Emphasis on quality of life

Downers

Comparatively low starting salaries; Expensive health insurance plan

ABOUT THIS COMPANY:

A rich history

This venerable Midwestern firm traces its history as far back as 1846, when an English immigrant, a lawyer named Richard Harrison, set up a desk in the county courthouse in (appropriately enough) London, Ohio. Harrison also rode the circuit by horseback to give far-flung Ohioans the benefit of his expertise. Since that time, the firm has come far. More than 150 years later, and following numerous mergers, the firm boasts over 300 attorneys in two states and the District of Columbia. In June 2006, firm partner Hugh E. McKay was named the 96th president of the Cleveland Bar Association.

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Porter Wright Morris & Arthur LLP SALARIES

Porter Wright Morris & Arthur LLP salary & compensation reviews include all signing and year-end bonuses, vacation time and other perks and reimbursements that make up total compensation.

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Porter Wright Morris & Arthur LLP SURVEY SAYS

Good and bad

Porter Wright associates rate their job satisfaction somewhere in the happier-than-not range. Most of their quibbles tend to focus on their choice of career, not their chosen firm. "Our firm handles many high-profile, complex and challenging cases, and when I have the pleasure to work on one of them, I often find my work intellectually stimulating," says a senior litigator. "When I'm handling a more routine matter, on the other hand, I can find the work somewhat dissatisfying." A tax attorney voices a similarly mixed opinion: "I am satisfied with most aspects of my job. I am not satisfied with project management and inter-lawyer communication." Insiders also note that "associates are responsible for finding work from partners," which has both "pros and cons."

DISCUSSIONS

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Getting Hired

Tips from the inside

Upper tier recruites

Porter Wright's rise on the national radar has been accompanied by heightened expectations for potential associates. "Increasingly, they are looking to hire graduates from prestigious law schools and/or with clerking experience," reports one midlevel lawyer. "As always, personality is key. The ideal candidate seems to be someone who works hard, would have a beer with his or her co-workers at the end of day, and is or will become married with children." Another source says, "Our firm is looking for highly intelligent and motivated candidates who are interested in working hard but are also socially confident." One insider observes that the "firm has hired only a few summer clerks from schools at which it does not recruit. Summer clerks tend to come from top-15 law schools plus schools in Ohio." He adds that callbacks are full-day affairs, including "lunch and dinner with junior associates."
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