Stinson Morrison Hecker LLP

Law Firms

VAULT RANKINGS 2013

#14 Midwest

GENERAL INFO

Headquarters: Kansas City, MO
8 offices
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NEWS AND UPDATES

Vault's Scoop

Uppers

Strong formal training programs
Good work-life balance
Gym in office
Free coffee, soda and espresso

Downers

Not enough responsibility given to associates
Little incentive to do pro bono

ABOUT THIS COMPANY:

Firm history

Stinson Morrison Hecker LLP formed in May 2002, with the merger of the Kansas City-based practices of Stinson Mag & Fizzell and Morrison & Hecker. The Stinson firm dated back to 1878; one of the firm's early partners acted as counsel to the founder of The Kansas City Star, while a later member of the firm was Harry Truman's personal attorney. Morrison & Hecker opened up in 1909 as a one-man practice with no clients, and over the years the firm expanded beyond Kansas and Missouri to Phoenix and Washington. Now, the combined firm has nearly 200 lawyers on its roster and caters to clients including ExxonMobil, Bank of America, Ralston Purina and Verizon Wireless. This year, 28 of Stinson Morrison's attorneys were named among the Best Lawyers in America. In 2003, nine members of the firm were recognized as the "Best of the Bar" in Kansas City by the Kansas City Business Journal.

From the Community

REVIEWS

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SALARIES

Stinson Morrison Hecker 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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SURVEY SAYS

Firm culture

"Good things," says a senior litigator when asked about Stinson Morrison. Most rate the firm culture as "friendly" and "no stress." The "mostly open doors" policy means that it's not hard to find "people [who] are willing to help [and] advise" junior associates. One Stinsonite characterizes the attorneys as "generally very friendly, courteous and professional." However, since "most of the lawyers at the firm are married, and many have children," there is "minimal socialization outside of work." Most attorneys seem fine with this; a junior litigator feels that between the "laid-back" atmosphere and the ability to spend time with the family, the firm strikes a "good balance." Partners "treat associates very well and realize we have lives outside of work," says a third year attorney. However, some feel that the firm does not give associates "enough responsibility."

DISCUSSIONS

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Getting Hired

Tips from the inside

Local talent

Stinson Morrison believes in hiring local talent. The firm "hires people who finished in the top 10% of [their] class in local law schools" such as the University of Missouri, Kansas City, as well as candidates from "top-ranked national law schools." Grades matter even for laterals; the firm wants to see both a resume and a law school transcript. However, the firm views academics as "one indicator of a person's potential for achievement" and also looks for "integrity, good judgment, a high energy level and superior intellect." What you did outside of law school is also important; the firm is particularly interested in candidates with "experiences demonstrating leadership, intellectual curiosity, dedication, and entrepreneurial skills."
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