With less than 200 lawyers, Palmer & Dodge is able to offer its clients an extensive array of legal services, ranging from affordable housing finance to venture capital law, while still offering its attorneys an exceptionally collegial work environment. After 100 years in Boston, Palmer & Dodge has recently added satellite offices in New York City and Washington D.C. to enhance its airport law practices. As one of the best lifestyle firms, attorneys in these three East Coast cities lucky enough to work here find that they are able to balance family life with a satisfying and challenging legal career.
The emphasis placed on the humane treatment of the firm's employees makes it easy to overlook the firm's stellar legal work. Aside from having the largest bond counsel practice in New England, the firm has also been making headlines for its legal work in biomedical products. One recent example has included the firm's 2003 representation of German biotech company Epigenomics in a deal with a Swiss pharmaceutical corporation regarding applications of DNA methylation. Palmer & Dodge also maintains a large client roster of major national commercial banks and investment banking firms, as well as international banks in countries like Australia and Japan.
As new occupants of one of the most aesthetically pleasing office spaces in the nation, Palmer & Dodge continues to be committed to its status as a lifestyle firm. The Boston office is frequently described as collegial and exceptionally pleasant, with most attorneys dedicated to their family lives. Associates find that although the firm has a minimum billable hours requirement, the yearly expectation of 1,800 hours is easily fulfilled. For those associates with family priorities, the firm allows part-time opportunities. In a recent year, 17 out of the firm's 80 associates took advantage of this optional track to partnership. Overall, this midsize firm seems to beat many of the larger firms when it comes to job satisfaction.
Although the firm chooses many of their first year associates from below the top ten law schools, recent economic factors and the small size of the firm have led to some stiff job competition. In 2003, the firm took only 10 summer associates compared to the 24 they accepted in 2000. The declining numbers have made it more difficult for first-years to get hired here, since Palmer & Dodge recruits primarily from its summer associate pool, but graduating from Boston College or Harvard Law seems to help. While the firm officially recruits from 13 law schools, the majority of recent associates have graduated from local schools. Once in the firm, however, associates find partnership a challenging, but not impossible, goal. Ranking first in terms of "Opportunities to Work with Partners" by American Lawyer's survey of mid-level associates and boasting an almost one-to-one partner-to-associate ratio, associates report that they have ample contact with partners and are met with fair evaluations of their work.
Palmer & Dodge compensates its associates at top Boston levels and slightly below national levels. All first years, regardless of practice area, get a base salary of $110,000. And if the new Back Bay office's proximity to Fenway Park wasn't enough for its diehard Red Sox fans, previous years have seen bonus levels of up to $40,000. In addition to life insurance, emergency day care options and discounted health club membership, Palmer & Dodge also extends one of the most generous vacations plans in the country, allowing up to 4 weeks off, including 12 days of paid holiday time.
While Palmer & Dodge receives positive attention for its pro bono work, the firm has yet to improve its workplace diversity. The challenges of promoting diversity in a smaller firm have meant that the firm must work harder to incorporate and retain minority lawyers. Currently, Palmer & Dodge reports that 52 associates are women and 9 are minorities. The firm's efforts to promote pro bono service seem to be making more progress. The firm not only includes the hours spent on pro bono activities in the annual billable hours requirement, but also encourages participation in a wide array of community organizations. Palmer & Dodge attorneys have been affiliated with Action for Boston Community Development, Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts.
Jobs
Palmer & Dodge currently has several openings in its Boston office including opportunities for experienced corporate, intellectual property, and public law associates. More information regarding attorney positions at Palmer & Dodge can be found in the LawCrossing job database.
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Facts
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