Swidler Berlin Shereff Friedman LLP

Getting Hired

Tips from the inside

When it comes to recruiting new associates at Swidler Berlin, "experience and personality are just as important as anything else," advises one inside source. A seasoned attorney observes, "We are not a white-shoe firm. Many, if not most lawyers are from schools outside the top 10." However, another senior associate tells us that "the firm focuses its summer program on recruits from Yale, Harvard and Chicago (too much so, in my humble opinion), easily among the most selective schools in the U.S." Apparently, even though partners and high-level associates may not have come from the top tier law schools, the firm now prefers to cull its new hires from the upper echelon. "The firm is increasingly trying to attract people from Harvard and Yale, and putting that as the number one priority for summer associates, instead of focusing on who really wants to work at the firm for the long-term," comments a source. One insider chalks the growing emphasis on pedigree up to the tightening market: "A few years ago I think it was easier to get hired, but with the economy, the process has gotten more competitive." Another believes that Swidler has delusions of grandeur, which ultimately hurts everyone in the long run: "The firm's perception of where it ranks and the reality of where it ranks are very different. Top-flight candidates generally leave after discovering the true nature of the firm." The firm itself simply states that it is looking for individuals with "outstanding academic credentials, Moot Court or Law Review experience, community service and involvement, relevant work experience." Along with the Ivies, the firm's on-campus recruiting stops also include local D.C. schools such as Catholic University, American and George Washington.
Become a Gold Member or Log in to read the entire Getting Hired