McDermott Will & Emery has launched a new service called McDermottPlus (McDermott+Consulting) to cash in on the confusion in the wake of the Affordable Care Act...
Support PDF,DOC,DOCX,TXT,XLS,WPD,HTM,HTML fils up to 5MB
McDermott Will & Emery
![McDermott Will & Emery]()
McDermott values itself as a company wherein it can offer an equal opportunity to all candidates. The firm feels proud to be known as a place where there is challenging work and employees can develop their own legal and client service skills. The firm is an Equal Opportunity Employer and Affirmative Action Employer. (Minority/Female/Disabled/Veteran).
It is the firm's policy to provide an equal opportunity to all individuals regardless of their race, color, religion, gender, ethnicity, marital status or sexual orientation. Opportunities exist for US law students, laterals, judicial clerks, trainee solicitors, graduate recruits, and support staff.
McDermott Will & Emery
3 Star Rating 
5 reviews
| Year of establishment | 1934 | Number of partners | 536 |
| Number of offices | 21 | Partner to associate ratio | 1.50 |
| Biggest office | Chicago | Percentage of women attorneys | 36.30 |
| Number of attorneys | 1013 | Percentage of minority attorneys | 13.80 |
| Number of associates | 367 | Percentage of LGBT attorneys | 2.00 |
McDermott Will & Emery Reviews
Former Employee
- Reviewed on July 11, 2019
Cons: Most reviews online will be overly negative or positive, so if you're reading this, you need to think through how you are treating the information and why you are getting it from online like this. This is not to provide details then -- see the email address below or if I ever come across you in person, I'm happy to talk about specifics, even multiple times.
In the meantime, if you are making a major life decision by choosing to work for this firm (and you are given the research on how toxic workplace environments affect people), just know that there is at least one person who had an experience bad enough to write here about it.
And I have never written a bad review of any place I have worked at or with.
People, whether they have the ability and humility to admit it or not, have deeply held beliefs; particularly if they are not frequently exposed to markedly different environments and people. And there might be better ways to act on those beliefs than the way people at MWE do and there might still be a lot of room there for people to even start to recognize they exist. If you are a young associate starting here or someone who will be considered different in any way, think twice. This may be a life-altering decision.
Current or former employee?: Former Employee
Last Year at Employer: 2015
Job type: Full time
Current or former employee?: Former Employee
Last Year at Employer: 2015
Job type: Full time
Current Employee
- Reviewed on December 16, 2017
Advice to law firm management: Spend more time listening to people - there are insights you can get from people that they'll only give you if they really feel understood. Strive for more fairness and transparency in decision making.
Pros: The firm uses technology quite well, which you might not expect - everything is up to date, and some jobs can be remotely performed, at least some of the time. Benefits are definitely above average.
Cons: Has a lot of the problems inherent to a larger and more established firm. Management sometimes seems unwilling to listen to or to deal with concerns. Not a lot of room for growth, in some functions, and when there are opportunities, you feel like they are distributed to those who are ""insiders"".
Current or former employee?: Current Employee
Pros: The firm uses technology quite well, which you might not expect - everything is up to date, and some jobs can be remotely performed, at least some of the time. Benefits are definitely above average.
Cons: Has a lot of the problems inherent to a larger and more established firm. Management sometimes seems unwilling to listen to or to deal with concerns. Not a lot of room for growth, in some functions, and when there are opportunities, you feel like they are distributed to those who are ""insiders"".
Current or former employee?: Current Employee
Overview
McDermott Will & Emery propels the success of the world’s most respected, dynamic and important organizations. Together, we fuel missions, knock down barriers and shape markets. Pride and determination abound here because every member of our team is respected, supported and inspired to exceed.
Practice Areas
McDermott Will & Emery practices law in the following areas and works with its clients to provide the best possible legal solutions.
- Aerospace & Defense
- Airport & Aviation
- Alcohol Regulatory & Distribution
- Antitrust & Competition
- Bankruptcy
- Chemicals
- Compliance
- Computer Hardware
- Networking
- Corporate
- Derivatives
- Structured Finance And Financial Products
- Diversified Manufacturing
- E-Business
- Emerging Companies
- Venture Financing
- Employee Benefits
- Energy Advisory
- Environmental
- Executive Compensation
- Fda - Life Sciences
- Finance & Banking
- Food
- Beverage & Agribusiness
- Government Strategies
- Health
- Hedge Funds
- Hospitality
- Insurance
- Intellectual Property
- International
- International Arbitration
- International Trade
- Labor & Employment
- Life Sciences
- Markets Restructuring
- Mcdermott Corporate Services
- Mcdermott Discovery
- Mergers & Acquisitions
- Mining & Metals
- Nonprofit Organizations
- Osha
- Msha & Catastrophe Response
- Privacy And Data Protection
- Private Client
- Private Equity
- Pro Bono & Community Service
- Real Estate
- Renewable Energy
- Emissions And New Products
- Restructuring & Insolvency
- Securities & Capital Markets
- Software & It Services
- Sports Law
- Tax
- Technology & Outsourcing
- Telecommunications
- Trial
- White-Collar & Securities Defense
Hiring Criteria
McDermott Will & Emery follows the set of hiring criteria outlined below.
McDermott firmly believes that a law school student today can certainly be groomed and skilled into a successful lawyer at the firm. However, the firm has in place well-structured and logical hiring criteria that it follows meticulously.
McDermott requires from students an excellent academic record along with superior writing skills. Besides, participation in Law Review, Journal and Moot Court along with relevant work experience is preferred. Candidates are also expected to demonstrate a balance of academic and personal success. Careers at the firm include judicial clerks, laterals, trainee solicitors, and openings for European graduate recruits.
For the purpose of recruiting, the firm attends campus interviews at law schools such as Boston College Law School, Boston University School of Law, Harvard Law School, Stanford Law School, University of New Hampshire School of Law, and Yale Law School. It also attends job fairs such as Boston Lawyers Group Job Fair and the Lavender Law Job Fair.
Pro bono
McDermott's firmly believes that its Pro Bono and Community Service Policy is for the underprivileged and deprived members of society who are in need of legal services but cannot obtain legal services in the market place.
Therefore, the firm provides Pro Bono services to low income individuals and families, non-profit organizations, entrepreneurs, and small business serving low income communities, who cannot afford appropriate legal representation. McDermott has also won several awards and accolades for its Pro Bono work such as:
Honored with the Pro Bono Attorney Award from Lawyers for Children America for dedication to representing abused and neglected children.
Awarded the National Association of Pro Bono Professionals "2011 William Reece Smith Jr. Special Services to Pro Bono Award" with special recognition for its long-standing collaboration with Medical-Legal Partnership and the National Center for Medical-Legal Partnership (National Center).
Recognized by the Family Defense Center for its dedication to FDC's mission by advocating for justice for families in the child welfare system.
McDermott partners and associates were honored by the Illinois Legal Aid Online as Pro Bono Volunteers of the Month for securing asylum for a victim of sex trafficking.
The firm encourages its lawyers to work on pro bono matters after screening the matters and allotting them to concerned legal team. Some of the areas which it has provided pro bono activities are:
Asylum & Immigration
Disability Rights
Gay
Lesbian and Transgender Rights
Homelessness and Hunger
Prisoner's Rights
Racial & Ethnic Discrimination
Foster Care & Government Custody
Civil & Human Rights
Environmental Law
Labor & Employment
Consumer Rights
Mergers & Acquisitions
Tax Preparation & Counseling
Tax Disputes
Death Penalty
Habeas Corpus
Domestic Violence
Affordable Housing
Habitability
Landlord/Tenant
Social Security Benefits
Intellectual Property
The firm also considers the lawyer's personal interests and expertise before allocating the case. McDermott allocated 3.24% of billable hours to pro bono activities last year. This translated into a 53 average hours per attorney last year.
Search Law Firm Jobs in Chicago
Notable cases
- In April 2012, McDermott represented the Actuant Corporation in relation with a $300 million private placement. This company is a $1.5B diversified industrial company that has operations in more than 30 countries. The client company is a leader in a broad range of niche markets that includes branded hydraulic and electrical tools and highly engineered position and motion control systems.
- In the same month, the firm successfully represented the HIG Growth Partners and its portfolio company Community Intervention Services, Inc, (CIS) in its newly formed portfolio company to acquire the South Bay Mental Health Center, Inc., which is based in Massachusetts. South Bay happens to be the largest regional provider of outpatient and community based behavioral science services.
McDermott Will & Emery Awards and Recognitions
McDermott is ranked as a leading blue chip legal entity on both sides of the Atlantic and has been consistently recognized for its contribution to the legal field. It has won global recognition for being the top performer in its field. Its work spans 70 countries across six continents which has won several accolades, awards, and honors internationally. Some of these include the following:
The firm has been recognized one of the top 15 defense litigation law firms in the United States by the National Law Journal.
It is also ranked as among the top law firms that drive the market through innovative change.
McDermott is also amongst the top 10 law firms that represent the interests of the healthcare industry.
Several of McDermott's lawyers are recognized as leaders and innovators in their own fields.
In August 2012, McDermott Boston Trial Partner Minahan was selected to receive one of five 2012 ABA pro Bono Awards for outstanding pro bono work.
In December 2011, McDermott Partner Michael Nadel received the prestigious B'nai B'rith Youth Organization Community Service Award.
In Nov 2010, McDermott was ranked among the nation's leading litigation practices in Benchmark Litigation for the 4th consecutive year.
McDermott is also the 32nd largest law firm globally according to AmLaw Global 100.
The firm has also received the ABA 2012 National Public Service Award and has been consistently named as the best place to work for LGBT employees by the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) since 2006.
Diversity
McDermott not only values diversity, but also goes a long way to implement this concept and philosophy across the organization. The organization believes in maintaining an environment that is conducive for maintaining and including a diverse and varied workforce. The policies that are implemented firm wide actually promote a diverse workforce that has helped the company to become a recognized leader in workplace diversity. In a nutshell, McDermott's work staff includes 13% minorities and 33% women.
The company also has a unified Diversity and Inclusion Committee that has aligned under it the various sub-committees such as the Gender, LGBT, and Racial & Ethnic sub-committees. In 2011, the company promoted their most diverse class in the firm's history - of which 50% were women. The various subcommittees work tirelessly to ensure that diversity across the firm is maintained and promoted as well. McDermott also has in place a leave liaison program for those companies who are beginning or returning from leave.
McDermott also supports all its employees regardless of gender differences or sexual orientation. Since 2002, the firm has offered domestic partner benefits to same-sex partners. Various benefits such as health, dental, and vision insurance, FMLA/FMLA - like benefits, bereavement leave, COBRA/COBRA - like benefits, are also provided to opposite sex spouses and same-sex partners equally. The firm also provides a $ 15,000 LGBT scholarship to qualifying participants in their summer program.
Likewise, the firm also has developed a range of initiatives to ensure the recruitment, retention, as well as promotion of their racial as well as ethnic minority lawyers. The firm also offers $ 15,000 scholarships to two second year minority law students from law schools that are accredited by the American Bar Association.
McDermott also has in place the Women of Color subcommittee that promotes and encourages the retention of women of color at the firm. It is also a member of the leadership council on legal diversity, which is an organization of legal entities and law firm managing partners that works to promote diversity within member firms and the wider legal community.
Summer associate program
McDermott views its summer program as an important and vital aspect of its hiring efforts. It takes great pride in providing a brilliant and significant experience to law school students seeking opportunities as summer associates at the firm.
At McDermott, the summer associate program is seen as a sensible, practical, and pragmatic introduction to the legal profession. The firm follows a conservative hiring approach that helps students to fully integrate themselves with the various practice groups they are attached to.
Students are provided training programs, mentoring opportunities, as well as work assignments. Students also receive a formal feedback through an evaluation that is done in the mid summer and then a final review that is in addition to the informal feedback.
The firm also offers their students a comprehensive pro bono and community service program so that students can participate in providing pro bono legal services to disadvantaged members of the country's communities.
Working for the McDermott Will & Emery
McDermott values itself as a company wherein it can offer an equal opportunity to all candidates. The firm feels proud to be known as a place where there is challenging work and employees can develop their own legal and client service skills. The firm is an Equal Opportunity Employer and Affirmative Action Employer. (Minority/Female/Disabled/Veteran).
It is the firm's policy to provide an equal opportunity to all individuals regardless of their race, color, religion, gender, ethnicity, marital status or sexual orientation. Opportunities exist for US law students, laterals, judicial clerks, trainee solicitors, graduate recruits, and support staff.
Articles
Judge Denies ''Grossly Inflated'' Bill to Law Firms in Suffolk County Case...
Also known as MWE, McDermott Will and Emery is a premier international law firm in the United States with a substantial global presence. Founded in 1934 as a ta...
More Law Firms in Chicago
Arnstein & Lehr LLP is one of the country’s oldest and most respected law firms. Since its founding in 1893, we have been serving clients – large and small – throughout the United States and in many foreign countries. Arnstein & Lehr today offers clients a sophisticated, full-service practice that addresses their diverse and complex needs with vision, expertise and a commitment to quality and service....
Write an Anonymous Review
The founding vision of Barack Ferrazzano in 1984 was to create a new model that departed from the standard "mega-firm" approaches and, instead, focused on delivering efficient, team-oriented services of the highest quality. Our founding partners - two highly respected law professors at Northwestern University and two former members of a prominent Chicago firm - were soon joined by like-minded colleagues also seeking an alternative to the large law firm environment. We have grown steadily ever si...
Write an Anonymous Review
Since its founding in 1913, Chapman and Cutler LLP has focused on finance. The firm has represented market participants in all aspects of banking, corporate finance and securities and public finance transactions since its inception. That mission and focus continue to this day....
Write an Anonymous Review
Legal Recruiters in Chicago
BCG Attorney Search
Rank
1
Since the year 2000, the founder of BCG Attorney Search, Harrison Barnes, and his expert legal recruiters have placed thousands of attorneys and are at the top of their field in servicing attorneys. These businesses include the largest and most popular legal job site in the world, LawCrossing; the l...
Chicago Legal Search, Ltd.
Rank
21
Established in 1988, Chicago Legal Search, Ltd., a diversity-owned business, is the preeminent legal search firm in Chicago. Our clients range from the largest law firms and corporations in the Chicago metropolitan area to unique boutiques and privately held companies. Our primary focus is attorney ...
Mendelsohn Legal, Inc.
Rank
39
MENDELSOHN LEGAL, a top legal recruiter, places partners, associates, paralegals and support staff in law firms and in corporate legal departments. Our search and legal placement services are highly focused and multi-layered — we go beyond traditional search methodologies to understand the goals o...
References
http://www.mwe.com/
http://www.lawfirmstats.com/
http://www.nalpdirectory.com/
http://www.wikipedia.org/
http://www.vault.com/
http://careers.abovethelaw.com/
