Orrick Careers v20

THINKING DIFFERENTLY

ABOUT LEGAL CAREERS

Whether you’re in law school, doing a clerkship or practicing in another setting, Orrick offers an experience unlike any other big law firm today. Here are 8 ways we do that:

We think there’s a better way to practice law – and develop as a lawyer.

A path to excellence – tailored for you.

We’ve moved beyond the traditional law firm model by looking ahead to what law can be.

Orrick, you’ll get that experience through a meaningful role on a small team delivering impactful work for the world’s most innovative clients.

IMPACTFUL ASSIGNMENTS

track to partnership while other top performers prefer more flexibility. 20% of the U.S. new partner class of 2023 and 2024 made partner in <8.5 years. We offer options in where and how you work and the ability to pace your advancement in a way that’s tailored for you. Yale Law Women named us the top firm for Agency and Flexibility in 2022 and 2023.

FLEXIBILITY

leadership is 55% diverse (including nine women). For the ninth year in a row, more than half of our new partner class

An inclusive team

clients. To sustain that performance, it’s essential to integrate time to recharge, reflect and take care of ourselves and each other. We help our team do that in unique ways.

An emphasis on wellness

"Work assignments are quite substantive and are focused on providing regulatory advice and guidance directly to clients, including consulting with clients, drafting memos, and conducting legal research. I've had several opportunities to contribute to crafting legal strategy in order to better hone my skills.”

– Orrick associate, Vault 2024

You’ll build your career around what’s coming next.

Exceptional quality legal advice is sector-focused and forward-looking.

We focus our practice on the sectors that are driving the economy of the future: Technology & Innovation, Life Sciences & Healthtech, Decarbonization & Infrastructure Modernization, and Finance & Fintech. This focus enables us to really get to know our clients’ market and business and deliver actionable, commercial advice.

TECH & INNOVATION

Decarbonization & Infrastructure Modernization

FINANCE & FINTECH

Our clients

13 of the 25 largest public tech companies

6 of the top 10 energy majors

14 of the top 15 U.S. financial institutions by market cap

4,500 venture-backed companies, including 100+ unicorns

8 of the top 10 U.S. private debt investors

700+ fintech clients

Our PRACTICE

Top 5 for venture capital globally for the past 7 years and No. 1 in Europe for 8 years – PitchBook, 2023

Technology Practice Group of the Year – Law360, 2023

No. 2 global renewables firm by volume – Inspiratia, 2023

More venture-backed energy deals than any other firm – PitchBook, 2023

Band 1 nationally for Energy Transition, Renewables, P3 and Power – Chambers USA, 2024

Financial Times has recognized our finance teams with 15 innovation awards

No. 1 Bond Counsel for 20+ years – The Bond Buyer

Band 1 nationwide for Public Finance, CMBS and PACE – Chambers USA, 2024

Litigation, IP and Regulation

Litigation, IP and regulation comprise half of our practice. Our teams have handled 25+ trials in the last two years, and 300+ class actions, a dozen ITC wins and 140+ appellate arguments over the past five years.

Interested in trial work? The American Lawyer recognized Orrick among the six elite litigation shops at the 2023 Litigator of the Year awards. And our appellate practice is among the nation's best, with 40+ dedicated appellate lawyers, including 10 former U.S. Supreme Court clerks.

In the regulatory and enforcement area, we provide forward-looking, synthesized regulatory, enforcement, litigation, white collar crime and transactional advice. We launched our Strategic Advisory and Government Enforcement team and combined with Buckley in 2023 in response to increasing client needs for help navigating regulatory and enforcement uncertainty, the convergence of finance and tech, and a rise in financial litigation and investigations. SAGE offers advice drawing on financial & fintech (regulatory, enforcement, transactional), white collar, privacy & cybersecurity, competition, public policy, trade and technology transactions perspectives.

National and IP Litigation Department of the Year Finalists – the only firm on both lists

American Lawyer 2023

Band 1 rankings nationally for IP Appeals, Privacy and Data Security Litigation, Product Liability & Mass Torts, White Collar Crime & Investigations, and Consumer Finance Compliance

Chambers USA 2024

11 times on the Appellate Hot List

National Law Journal

Top 3 for win rate in PTAB proceedings for both patent owners and patent challengers

Tech Litigation Department of the Year – Finalist

The Recorder 2023

And we believe mentors learn as much as mentees.

Continual learning is what makes the practice interesting.

at mentorship – with a faculty that has included the Venerable Tenzin Priyadarshi, Dr. Arin Reeves and partners invested in developing the next generation of talent at Orrick.

Mentoring Matters

WE CELEBRATE OUR BEST MENTORS EACH YEAR DURING MENTORING MAY

business topics – and up to 100 hours a year of bonus-eligible time for training. Junior associates jump in with bootcamps in areas such IP, trial skills and working with startups. To hone business skills, our curriculum includes three intensive academies at key career advancement points. Our academy for new associates sets up a great first year at Orrick, while our senior associates complete a mini-MBA.

A Full Curriculum + Time to Invest in Learning

At about six years into practice, we pair

sponsorship

“Great training, mentoring, and sponsorship at Orrick. The firm has formal programs, but the attorneys are also open to helping associates develop on an informal basis. I have never felt that I could not find help at the firm on anything I needed help with, and people are easy and approachable if you are looking for assistance with anything.”

– Orrick associate, Vault 2024

So you can bring your whole heart and mind to your work.

Diversity is not a “program” – it is integrated into everything we do.

OUR DIVERSITY TODAY

Leadership Team: 55% diverse

2024 U.S. New Partner Class: 90% diverse

2023 Summer Class: 86% diverse

New Lateral Associates (last 7 years): 73%

Top Firm for Diversity Yale Law Women, 2024

No. 1 Best Law Firm for Women and Diversity – Seramount, 2024

Leader in LGBTQ+ Inclusion – Human Rights Campaign

7 Rainmakers in 7 Years – Minority Corporate Counsel Association

Gold Standard Firm for the past 11 years – Women in Law Empowerment Forum, 2023

“We have to bring the fullness of who we are into the spaces that we navigate and inhabit.”

– Princeton Professor Dr. Eddie Glaude Jr., at Orrick’s 2022 Juneteenth conversation

Our goal is to be the most diverse and inclusive firm among the leading firms in the sectors in which we focus. We work toward that goal by integrating diversity, equity and inclusion into everything we do.

broaden our talent pool and give new hires exceptional support. We also offer an innovative summer hiring program that involves split summers between Orrick and our clients.

Law School Recruiting

and more senior) with a sponsor on our Board or Management Committee. We sponsor retreats for inclusion networks and offer a comprehensive training program.

Mentoring and Sponsorship

access to opportunities, we equip staffing partners and client team leaders with a unique set of metrics and information.

Clients and Assignments

Our 20 inclusion networks connect our people and provide input to leadership. Those inclusion networks include our Women’s Initiative, the Black Lawyers of Orrick, Asian Pacific Attorney Affinity Group, Orrick Latinx Attorneys, Middle Eastern / North African Attorney Affinity Group, South Asian Affinity Group and the LGBTQ+ Attorney Affinity Group. We recently introduced new inclusion networks for Jewish and Interfaith communities. We also have active forums for parents and veterans as well as a First Generation Lawyers group and DiversAbility Network.

Associates can devote up to 100 hours a year of bonus-eligible time to DEI-related activities.

“Unparalleled commitment to DEI.”

– Orrick associate, Vault 2024

Learn more about Diversity, Equity & Inclusion @Orrick

You’ll choose the issues most meaningful to you.

We believe we have a heightened duty today to make a social impact.

We took an oath as lawyers to uphold the rule of law and help create a more equitable world. More than 99% of our U.S. lawyers represented pro bono clients in 2023. We also offer a unique Racial, Social & Economic Justice and Equity Fellowship, which enables experienced associates to serve in the community on a full-time basis for a year.

750+

individual clients and social impact organizations represented in 2023

86,000+

hours dedicated to pro bono service globally in 2023

Top 5

for pro bono for the past 6 years

The American Lawyer 2023

No. 1

Law360, 2023

for Pro Bono

Our lawyers choose pro bono projects that interest and inspire them. Examples include:

Filing an amicus brief in the U.S. Supreme Court on behalf of the clinics in Dobbs and collaborating with Planned Parenthood in the legal battle to stop Kentucky from closing its last abortion clinic.

Working with States United Democracy Center in preparation for the 2022 U.S. elections to provide a roadmap for recount integrity in key states and securing an injunction to shut down a robocall campaign designed to disenfranchise Black voters during the 2020 election.

Representing leading tech companies and other major employers in a U.S. Supreme Court amicus effort supporting Harvard University’s inclusive admissions policies.

Setting up a nonprofit to support the efforts of ex-U.S. Navy SEALs rescuing Ukrainian orphans and traveling to Poland to advise on a framework for Ukrainians seeking refuge in the UK.

Advising global humanitarian organization Mercy Corps on a merger that expands its impact.

Collaborating with a major financial institution client to help immigrants renew their DACA status so they can continue to work in the United States.

Achieving a settlement in the long-running Flores litigation forcing the U.S. government to correct inhumane conditions in border facilities.

Ensuring that federal infrastructure money is properly allocated to disadvantaged communities around the U.S. to help mitigate climate change.

Representing disabled veterans in multiple efforts to secure benefits, including winning a decision that provides compensation to more than 100,000 “Blue Water” U.S. Navy veterans exposed to Agent Orange during the Vietnam War.

“Orrick has a strong pro bono program with a variety of opportunities to make a difference.”

– Orrick associate, Vault 2023

Learn more about our pro bono work

ORRICK RACIAL JUSTICE FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM

Through our Racial Justice Fellowship Program, five Orrick Fellows work full time each year at organizations dedicated to civil rights, criminal justice reform, and economic equity.

Why Pelicans?

Paul began his career as a journalist reporting on social justice issues. As an Orrick lawyer, he has an active pro bono practice focused on criminal justice and capital punishment, including litigation in the Supreme Court and courts of appeals to prevent the further restriction of federal habeas review of convictions and sentences, and ongoing litigation challenging the constitutionality of California’s administration of the death penalty. Paul is working with the Policing Project on impact litigation to make policing more accountable. “I’ve long witnessed the disconnect between policing and communities – first as a journalist and now as an attorney. It has been inspiring to see how the conversation around police reform has changed in many corners of America in the last two years. At the same time, it has been frustrating to watch the challenges in translating that conversation into meaningful reform.”

Senior Associate Supreme Court & Appellate San Francisco

Paul Meyer

Natasha served in the U.S. Marine Corps for seven years, including a deployment to Afghanistan. She became passionate about racial justice while in law school and has continued her commitment to public service through pro bono work and high-impact projects. Natasha is working with the Law Foundation of Silicon Valley on litigation advocacy and representing clients with mental health and physical disabilities in obtaining services and benefits. “I wanted to be an Orrick Fellow so I could use my skills to help make a difference in a meaningful way toward reducing racial inequality. It’s such an important time in our country to address these issues, and I’m excited to be able to devote 100% of my time toward providing legal services to underrepresented, diverse individuals and families.”

Managing Associate Employment Law Los Angeles

Natasha Harper

Andi has long been a passionate advocate for race and gender equity, but she developed a firsthand understanding of these issues during her work as one of Orrick’s inaugural Racial Justice Fellows. Since the beginning of 2021, she has been working with Los Angeles-based nonprofit A New Way of Life to reunite formerly incarcerated mothers with their children. The impact has been so powerful that Andi is extending her fellowship for another year. “I am committed to working with A New Way of Life Reentry Project to confront systemic biases and help protect the right to family integrity of the justice-involved parents we serve. For many formerly incarcerated women, family separation is the most significant barrier to community reintegration. It has been an honor to help women overcome this barrier.”

Senior Associate Securities Litigation, Investigations, White Collar & Compliance Los Angeles

AndI Mazingo

Ben began his career teaching English at a public high school for three years before moving to education policy advocacy for a Washington, D.C., nonprofit. During law school, he was a fellow in UVA’s Program in Law and Public Service and completed internships with Legal Aid, the Department of Justice and the New Orleans Public Defenders Office. And as an Orrick associate, he has maintained an active pro bono practice while also driving our Washington, D.C., office’s annual Legal Aid fundraiser. Ben will draw on his legal and advocacy work to support the Lawyers’ Committee’s Criminal Justice Project in its mission to challenge racial disparities within the criminal justice system that result from the criminalization of poverty and contribute to mass incarceration. “I wanted to be an Orrick Fellow because I believe that an equitable justice system is necessary for the rule of law. I'm most excited about working to ensure all people, no matter their race or background, have access to equal justice.”

Senior Associate Supreme Court & Appellate Washington, D.C.

Ben Aiken

As a public finance lawyer, Nathelie represents public institutions in innovative financings for the public good. As an Orrick Fellow, she brings her finance background to support Common Future in its mission to deploy capital to underrepresented social entrepreneurs in underserved communities. “As I’ve become a more experienced attorney, I look for ways to use my legal expertise and experience to make a meaningful, positive impact in communities of color. Orrick’s strong commitment to pro bono and social justice create the perfect opportunity to help shift the balance of equity and make a real difference.”

Of Counsel Public Finance Austin

Nathelie Ashby

“We saw the richness of the experience they had to learn and grow as lawyers and to learn more directly from organizations we admire. It is easy for organizations, in the moment, to make a commitment and close it over time. We wanted to make a lasting

difference that was financially meaningful, had the energy required to make change and to give some of our best people the chance to be part of a new public-private partnership and have a real impact in the community.”

– Orrick Chairman Mitch Zuklie, in an interview with The American Lawyer

“We’d like to start a movement here. We want to bring change to the industry.”

– Orrick Chief Talent Officer Siobhan Handley, in an interview with Reuters

Learn more about our 2022 Racial Justice Fellows

The best athletes take time to recover, recharge and reflect – so do we.

We need to be intentional about making top performance sustainable.

We were the first law firm to make it possible to truly unplug after intense periods of work. Our “Unplug Time” policy enables team members to take one week a year fully disconnected – and they report that it makes a big difference in their ability to reflect and recover. To help our team take this time, it counts toward bonus-eligible hours.

We work hard to deliver the best service to our clients. For that to be sustainable, we need to find ways to take care of ourselves. Here’s how we do that:

We send “Wellness Dollars” to associates after particularly intensive months to encourage them to invest in self-care.

Our team has premium access to the Calm app – a tool for mindfulness, stress management and good sleep.

We also offer Modern Health, a platform that provides free mental health services. Orrick team members and their families get 10 sessions a year at no cost. This is on top of benefits from our Employee Assistance Program and medical plans.

“The firm goes above and beyond—noticeably—to ensure that employees of the firm are supported and are not undergoing mental stressors.”

– Orrick associate, Vault 2024

We offer some of the most generous parental leave benefits in Big Law, with at least 16 weeks for moms and dads (more for birth moms).

Our innovation platform helps our lawyers deliver both – while making work better.

The most innovative lawyering combines great judgment with great data.

We’re tapping into technology to take the grind out of legal work. Our corporate associates work on a platform that gives them access to state-of the-art document templates, checklists, and AI-powered precedent and drafting tools so they never have to reinvent the wheel. Our litigation associates use AI, automation, case management tools, virtual courtroom technology and data visualization to battle discovery and prepare for trial.

Our lawyers have the support of our team of analytics and innovation professionals and legal technologists – many of whom are based at our award-winning Global Operations & Innovation Center in West Virginia – to draw on the best tools to solve each client’s problem.

We give our team bonus-eligible time for innovation projects. Orrick Labs, our in-house technology development team, builds solutions we cannot find in the market, and our legal tech initiative invests in promising legal tech startups – whose technologies our lawyers then beta test.

"Orrick is cutting-edge when it comes to technology, and has provided substantive training on artificial intelligence and the use of AI-based tools.”

– Orrick associate, Vault 2024

To learn more about the latest in legal tech, check out The Observatory.

Top 3 for Innovation

8 Years in a Row

The most innovative lawyering combines great judgment with great data.

So we’re reimagining our workplace to prioritize performance, connection and flexibility.

The pandemic experience taught us that we can perform incredibly well while enjoying more flexibility than we ever imagined.

We don’t pretend to have it all figured out – we’re experimenting with new ways of doing things.

The majority of our lawyers work in the office at least 3 days a week. And we’re focused on finding ways of connecting while we’re together.

We also offer 100% remote opportunities for experienced associates and a “work from anywhere” option for defined periods for everyone. Our nationwide salary scale applies regardless of where you work.

Flexible work arrangements are well established and increasingly popular. About a third of our 2024 U.S. partner class took advantage of a flexible work arrangement before their promotion. And many of our partners choose FWAs as well.

LET’s TALK

If this kind of thinking resonates with you, we’d welcome a conversation – in person or virtually.

We’re looking for candidates who are excited about working in teams to help our clients adapt to a rapidly changing market. Candidates whose life experiences have enabled you to develop grit and empathy, practice teamwork and innovate. And we’re looking for future leaders — as an Orrick partner, at one of the great companies we advise, or to use your legal training to make an impact in new ways.

THE Lateral EXPERIENCE

Laterals who join Orrick tell us they’re inspired by the opportunities to collaborate with colleagues and to do meaningful work on impactful engagements. They value our culture. And they appreciate our transparency about the path to partnership – and great role models among our junior partners.

“I lateraled over and felt like I was very quickly integrated into the firm. The group made a huge effort to get me work that I wanted and to get me introduced to the many people in my group that I would be working with going forward.”

– Orrick associate, Vault 2024

Look at our current openings worldwide

What’s a summer at Orrick like? You’ll work with Orrick colleagues in the office where you’re based and worldwide. You’ll gain experience on impactful client engagements. You’ll learn about our firm strategy, hear from Orrick partners and associates about how they think about their careers, meet our clients and get training by our lawyers and nationally recognized outside faculty in skills from legal writing to networking to inclusive teamwork (led by our military vets). Plus you’ll attend a national academy, in-person, to connect your class. And you’ll integrate that with fitness and mindfulness training and lots of opportunities to develop connections and friendships.

THE SUMMER EXPERIENCE

“I was so pleasantly surprised by the energy and vibrancy of the community that can be cultivated virtually. Everyone brought their full selves and worked intentionally to build connections with one another.”

– Rudi Miller, Berkeley, 2022

“This summer has been amazing because it shows how Orrick really shines, even in the midst of chaos. I was able to develop connections with this summer class thanks to all of the recruiting staff and attorneys who tried to develop some sense of normalcy.”

– Oladoyin Olanrewaju, Cornell, 2021

“I think we all came to appreciate how this summer helped to provide an unvarnished view of the reality of what it’s like to work at Orrick … [I]n a lot of ways, focusing this summer on the people and the work really helped me confirm that this was absolutely, 100% the right choice for me.”

– Sky Stallbaumer, Fordham, 2021

“What excited me most about coming to Orrick was the friendliness, warmth, and general down-to-earth feel of the firm and the people at the firm. Even being virtual, this has not only met but has exceeded my expectations.”

– Benjamin Bolnick, UPenn, 2021

Apply to our summer program

Pelicans have become a symbol for us as we reflect together on how we want to practice in the future. They’re remarkable birds. Pelicans work as a team. They recognize that each individual has unique strengths – taking turns leading, depending on the conditions. They flock together to herd fish to shallow waters. And they go to extraordinary lengths to protect the next generation in their pod.

How you do things is part of what defines your ecosystem. We hope this page gives you an introduction to how we do things at Orrick, our culture and a sense of what it might be like to be part of our team.

As an associate, it’s essential to get in the reps to develop excellence. At

Some of our associates want a fast

It starts at the top. Our senior

We work hard to deliver excellence for the world’s most demanding

None of us got here by ourselves – and we believe in paying it forward. We train

We offer 300+ courses annually on legal and

associates who are interested in partnership with a sponsor to coach them through the consideration process and support their success as a partner. We offer regular panel discussions to demystify the path to partnership. And if you decide a government or in-house role is a better fit for your career aspirations, we’ll support you on that path, too.

We partner with Legal Innovators to recruit from nontraditional law schools,

We pair attorneys from under-represented backgrounds (mid-level

To ensure we consider a diverse candidate pool and provide equitable

You’ll build your career around what’s coming next.

Exceptional quality legal advice is sector-focused and forward-looking.

And we believe mentors learn as much as mentees.

Continual learning is what makes the practice interesting.

Diversity is not a “program” – it is integrated into everything we do.

So you can bring your whole heart and mind to your work.

Managing Associate Employment Law Los Angeles

Natasha Harper

Of Counsel Public Finance Austin

Nathelie Ashby

Senior Associate Securities Litigation, Investigations, White Collar & Compliance Los Angeles

Andi Mazingo

Senior Associate Supreme Court & Appellate Washington, D.C.

Ben Aiken

You’ll choose the issues most meaningful to you.

We believe we have a heightened duty today to make a social impact.

The best athletes take time to recover, recharge and reflect – so do we.

We need to be intentional about making top performance sustainable.

Our innovation platform helps our lawyers deliver both – while making work better.

The most innovative lawyering combines great judgment with great data.

Fintech and Banking & Finance Practice Groups of the Year – Law360, 2022

Most Digital Law Firm

2020 & 2023

is diverse and/or women – and our 2024 U.S. partner class is 90% diverse. Diverse perspectives inform every aspect of our thinking.

12 of the 20 largest biopharma companies in the U.S.

13% of our work globally is life sciences

65 lawyers with technical degrees in life sciences and engineering – 7 life sciences PhDs

Our clients

Our PRACTICE

Life Sciences & Healthtech

The most active PE/VC funds and underwriters in the tech ecosystem

175+ M&A and PE transactions in 2023, half in Europe

Private credit client portfolio of 25+ funds with $500B AUM

25 of the top 50 renewables sponsors

60 of the top 100 infrastructure investors globally

165+ energytech clients

550+ clients across biotech and pharma, digital health, research and laboratories, medical devices, health care IT, and diagnostics and tools

Mansfield Certified Plus for the last 6 years – Diversity Lab, 2023

100% on the Corporate Equality Index for the past 17 years

No. 2

Social Impact Leader

13 of the 25 largest public tech companies

175+ M&A and PE transactions in 2023, half in Europe

6 of the top 10 energy majors

25 of the top 50 renewables sponsors

60 of the top 100 infrastructure investors globally

Private credit client portfolio of 25+ funds with $500B AUM

Top 5 for venture capital globally for 5 years and No. 1 in Europe for 8 years – PitchBook, 2023

65 lawyers with technical degrees in life sciences and engineering – 7 life sciences PhDs

The most active PE/VC funds and underwriters in the tech ecosystem

13 of the 25 largest public tech companies

Life Sciences & Healthtech

Our clients

Our PRACTICE

Leader in LGBTQ+ Inclusion – Human Rights Campaign

No. 2

Social Impact Leader