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How to Launch a Successful Law Career at Steptoe & Johnson: Tips and Advice

published March 02, 2023

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( 158 votes, average: 5 out of 5)
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Summary

Steptoe & Johnson is a law firm that spans the United States, providing legal services to clients in a wide range of industries. Founded over a century ago, the firm has achieved a nationwide reputation for excellence. With more than 300 attorneys in over 25 offices, Steptoe & Johnson is recognized as a leader in corporate, trial practice, energy and labor law.

Steptoe & Johnson has a distinguished record of success representing clients in diverse legal matters. The firm is nationally recognized for providing innovative and effective legal solutions in all areas of practice, including corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions, intellectual property, labor and employment, energy, business litigation, and white collar defense. The firm also provides clients with a full range of legal services, from traditional to cutting-edge, including industry-specific and cross-practice experience.

The firm's lawyers are highly respected and established leaders in their chosen fields, providing clients with the highest quality legal services. They draw on extensive experience to provide strategic, effective business solutions for a wide range of legal issues. Steptoe & Johnson lawyers are committed to providing clients with personalized, effective solutions to their legal needs. The firm also maintains a strong commitment to ethical standards, pro bono work, and diversity.

Steptoe & Johnson has a history of winning complex cases, ranging from class action defense to patent infringement suits, in both state and federal courts. Many of the firm's attorneys have also been recognized by their peers, as well as in publications, for their outstanding legal work. With decades of experience and a distinguished record of success, Steptoe & Johnson is one of the premier law firms in the United States.

Steptoe & Johnson is a nationally-recognized law firm with over 300 attorneys and 25 offices located in the U.S. The firm is renowned for its excellence in a broad range of legal services, from corporate finance, to mergers and acquisitions, intellectual property, labor and employment, energy, business litigation, and white collar defense. Steptoe & Johnson lawyers are highly experienced and established leaders in their fields, working to provide personalized and effective legal solutions to their clients. With a long history of success in complex cases, such as class action defense and patent infringement suits, Steptoe & Johnson is a top choice for legal services in the United States.
Questions Answered In This Article
 

What kind of work does Steptoe & Johnson specialize in?

Steptoe & Johnson specializes in government relations, litigation, and international arbitration.
 

What are the hours like at Steptoe & Johnson?

Hours at Steptoe & Johnson are reasonable, and the official billable hour requirement is 1,950.
 

Does Steptoe & Johnson offer competitive salaries?

Steptoe & Johnson offers competitive salary offerings with the Washington standards. They also offer extras such as travel expenses for summer associates and living expenses for associates awaiting the bar exam.
 

What kind of training do new associates receive?

New associates at Steptoe & Johnson receive a comprehensive orientation to the firm and its practice areas and training on client development, case management, and document production.
 

What is Steptoe & Johnson's pro bono program like?

Steptoe & Johnson has one of the nation's most active pro bono programs. They offer initiatives such as a Public Service Associate Rotation Program, a Summer Public Service Program, and up to 100 hours of pro bono work allowed in billable hours requirement.
 

Steptoe & Johnson: A Reputable Law Firm

Steptoe & Johnson, founded in 1919, is one of the oldest and most respected law firms in the United States. A full-service law firm, Steptoe & Johnson focuses on civil litigation, corporate, business and tax law, labor and employment law, intellectual property, and government affairs. With more than 500 lawyers practicing in 14 offices in the United States, Europe, and Asia, Steptoe & Johnson is able to provide legal services to its wide range of national and international clients.
 

Experienced Steptoe & Johnson Attorneys

The attorneys of Steptoe & Johnson are experienced in a wide variety of legal practice areas. These experienced attorneys can assist with corporate transactions and reorganizations, real estate finance and development, international business structuring, bankruptcy and creditors' rights, environmental and energy law, and communications and media law. With attorneys specializing in these and many other areas, Steptoe & Johnson is equipped to handle any legal issue or dispute that arises.
 

Steptoe & Johnson's History

Steptoe & Johnson was founded in 1919, initially operating in Martinsburg, West Virginia. The firm has since grown to its current size, with 14 offices in the United States, Europe, and Asia, and more than 500 lawyers practicing law for the firm. During its existence, the firm has been involved in some of the most well known cases in the United States, including the landmark Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision and the Microsoft antitrust case.
 

Steptoe & Johnson's Reputation

Steptoe & Johnson's commitment to excellent legal service has earned them a reputation as one of the top law firms in the country. The firm was named one of the 10 “Go-To Law Firms” in 2018 by Corporate Counsel Magazine, one of the top-tier law firms on the BTI Client Service A-Team in 2017, and one of the top-20 national Best Law Firms by U.S. News in the same year. With the firm's commitment to excellence, it's no surprise that Steptoe & Johnson has earned these recognitions and built a reputation for quality legal services.

A history of forging political ties and abiding by the Washington standard of courtesy has made Steptoe & Johnson one of the strongest and most congenial firms in the nation.

The firm known as Steptoe & Johnson that rests comfortably in Dupont Circle is actually a spin-off of the original firm that began in West Virginia in 1913. Founding partner Colonel Louis Johnson began the Washington D.C. branch of the firm when he took up the position of Assistant Secretary of War under FDR. A split in the 1980s resulted in the newer Steptoe & Johnson that has five offices and is based out of D.C., while the old, and now unaffiliated, Steptoe remains a strong presence in West Virginia.

The 350-lawyer firm is best known for its telecommunications and lobbying efforts, but has received attention for its recent high-profile cases. Steptoe has represented telecommunication giants in several mergers and joint venture agreements such as the MCI-Worldcom, AT&T-MediaOne, and Bell Atlantic-GTE deals. Steptoe's connections with policymakers come as no surprise when considering the history of the firm's establishment in D.C. The firm lists a former General Counsel to the National Security Agency, former Attorney General to the State of Montana, and a former General Counsel to the Senate Banking Committee among its partners in the government relations group. Recently, Steptoe has been making news for representing the former general counsel of Tyco International, Mark A. Belnick, and for heading the case of 17 former American POWs against Iraq for the torture they endured during the first Gulf War.

It appears that the diplomatic environment has rubbed off on the doorsteps of Steptoe's 1330 Connecticut Avenue address. Hours are described as reasonable and fellow colleagues are found to be gracious and approachable. The official billable hours requirement of 1,950 is easily met at this firm of hard workers. The firm's polite and enjoyable culture seems to spoil its new associates and to disprove the skepticism of its lateral hires, many of whom doubted the co-existence of lawyers and pleasure. Social events sanctioned by the firm include paid lunches for taking out new associates, sailing in the Chesapeake Bay with summer associates, and hanging out in the firm's box at the MCI Center.

The firm prides itself on its down-to-earth and friendly attorneys and goes to great lengths to keep its offices happy. Steptoe & Johnson looks for graduates from top law schools and officially recruits nineteen of them each year, but will not hire blindly based on credentials. If you would like to be a part of this idyllic firm culture, be prepared to show proof of your "excellent personal qualities" in addition to your top academic credentials. Additionally, though the firm boasts an almost one-to-one partner-associate ratio, achieving actual partnership is just as hard as any other medium firm. Associates are typically up for partnership after their eighth year and the firm does its best to provide accurate reviews of candidates after their sixth and seventh years.

Although the starting associates salaries are not strikingly generous, associates at Steptoe find that they are well-compensated for their agreeable work environment. The law firm describes its salary offerings as competitive with Washington standards and with such amiable colleagues, so who can complain? Steptoe also springs for extras such as paying for travel expenses for summer associates, moving expenses for new attorneys, and living expenses for associates awaiting the bar exam. And with the bonus system applying after 2,100 hours, associates also appreciate the option to work longer for more compensation.

In addition to providing excellent legal work and maintaining friendly offices, Steptoe & Johnson boasts one of the most active pro bono programs in the nation. The firm has a full-time pro bono coordinator and was one of the first law firms to have this Public Service Counsel position. The firm has instituted many new initiatives including a Public Service Associate Rotation Program, in which volunteer associates work at the Legal Aid Society of Washington D.C., and a Summer Public Service Program, in which summer associates spend a portion of their summers at public interest organizations in Washington D.C. Associates can also include up to 100 hours of pro bono work in their billable hours requirement.

Jobs

Steptoe & Johnson currently has several openings in Washington D.C. and Phoenix including opportunities for experienced litigation and intellectual property associates. More information regarding attorney positions at Steptoe & Johnson can be found in the LawCrossing job database.

published March 02, 2023

( 158 votes, average: 5 out of 5)
What do you think about this article? Rate it using the stars above and let us know what you think in the comments below.