Focusing on the
Future
Together
Orrick lawyers help clients see around corners. We focus on four sectors driving the global economy: Technology & Innovation, Energy & Infrastructure, Finance and Life Sciences & HealthTech – and helping our clients innovate. We go to trial in the toughest battles. We use AI-driven tech to deliver valuable insights. We aim to be part lawyer, part business counselor, part technologist. And we work in teams – because our clients’ thorniest, most complex problems demand creative, multidisciplinary solutions.
Gaining experience on the best work + the best clients
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We each chose Orrick because we are excited about practicing law in this way – and we believe it’s what the future demands.
So how do you build your career to become this kind of lawyer? It takes a combination of five things:
The Orrick associate experience delivers all of this, plus a meaningful opportunity to become our partner, to move in-house with one of our clients, or to take your career wherever you want to go.
As you think about the kind of lawyer you want to be in five or 10 years, we hope you’ll consider what being part of our team can offer you.
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The best work + the best clients
Our Work
Experience matters. Whether you choose a transactional, litigation, IP or regulatory discipline, Orrick offers incredible opportunities to get the reps in and learn.
We rank Top 5 in the number of VC transactions our teams complete each year (PitchBook) – and we closed 970+ deals in over 50 countries in 2024. Our M&A team worked on 170+ transactions in over 30 jurisdictions.
We are leading in the emerging area of AI law. We’ve advised on $36B+ in Al venture financings in 42 countries, 70 AI M&A transactions in 18 countries, 45+ data center transactions in 21 countries and we are handling precedent-setting AI disputes – all over the past 20 months.
We’re No. 2 in energy transition transactions and No. 1 in power purchase agreements for data centers and other energy needs worldwide (inspiratia).
Our teams have gone to battle in 30+ trials and appeals over the past two years, earning us American Lawyer Litigation Department of the Year finalist recognition in both general litigation and IP, and we’ve won a string of multibillion-dollar appeals, putting us on the National Law Journal’s Appellate Hot List 12 times. Our docket has never been busier across all four sectors.
Our Finance teams have earned 27 Financial Times Innovation Awards. And we’re ranked Chambers Band 1 across 10 different areas of finance.
Our Life Sciences teams are litigating 20+ major cases involving groundbreaking new medicines, and we provide holistic advice to help a dynamic portfolio of venture-backed companies scale.
Pro bono service is integral to doing great work at Orrick. We collectively dedicated 67,500+ hours of pro bono work in 2024 and have ranked Top 10 for U.S. pro bono impact for 10 consecutive years (The American Lawyer). Our lawyers choose the areas of greatest impact to them, with the support of two full-time pro bono counsel.
For a quick view of where we focus and who we serve, check out About Us.
If the tech ecosystem interests you, check out our resources for founders at Orrick Tech Studio.
If AI and innovation are of interest to you, check out our AI Law Center and Online Safety Law Center.
Learn more about pro bono work at Orrick.
Delivering Results
Anthropic Raises $3.5 Billion to Advance AI Development and Expand Compute Capacity
SAP Agrees to Acquire WalkMe for $1.5B, Enriching SAP’s Business AI Solutions
Historic Renewable Energy Power Purchase Agreement: Microsoft and Brookfield Agree on Framework to Deliver Over 10.5 GW Capacity Globally
Litigators of the Week: Orrick Appellate Team Earns Recognition for Overturning Record Judgment for Pegasystems
Delaware Win for Meta Platforms Inc. Preserving Corporate Law Protections Recognized in Litigators of the Week
UBS Win for Secured Lending Industry Earns Litigators of the Week Recognition
Our Clients
We advise the most exciting disruptors at all stages and globally leading companies.
13 of the 25 largest public tech companies
5,000 venture-backed companies in AI, consumer tech, energytech, fintech, healthtech, and digital assets – and leading funds
4 of the top 10 oil & gas majors and half of the top 50 renewables sponsors
13 of the top 15 U.S. financial institutions
8 of the top 10 U.S. private debt investors
12 of the 20 largest public biopharma companies
Our Sector Focus
Our Practice
Balance
Technology & Innovation
43.5%
Finance & Fintech
23.5%
E&I and Energy Transition
18.5%
Life Sciences & HealthTech
14.5%
Transactional
55%
Litigation & IP
31%
Regulatory
14%
Laura Najemy IP Partner – Boston
On lateralling in and representing Microsoft in groundbreaking AI cases that will shape the future of generative technology.
Cacique Rich-Martinez E&I Managing Associate – Houston
On the cutting edge of E&I practice and integrating AI / tech to make practice better.
Montana Ware TCG Senior Associate – Austin
On working with founders on the cutting edge of tech.
Romina Montellano Yoerg Structured Finance Managing Associate – Austin
On working on the most complex and innovative structured financings.
Your Career Path
We’ve designed the Orrick career path to be focused on what matters to our associates.
Summer Program
The Residency @ Orrick
Advancement at Pace
Partnership
A Springboard to Another Career Goal
We believe continuous learning and career investment are essential to leading in a fast-changing world. Curious about generative AI in the legal industry, new developments in cybersecurity and data privacy law, or ethical issues in the world of intellectual property? You’ll find it, plus client panels on data centers, consumer tech, women’s healthcare and more – all on the Learn@Orrick platform. Our team completes nearly 14,000 on-demand courses each year on legal and business topics.
Continuous learning + time to invest in your career
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No matter which team you join, you will have teammates whose life and professional experiences and perspectives are different than yours. This is true at all levels in our firm: we are proud to be led by a Board and Management Committee that is the most inclusive in Big Law.
Learn more about inclusion & belonging at Orrick.
But training goes well beyond self-directed learning…
The Summer Program
The Orrick Residency, a Unique First-Year Experience
Bootcamps and Workshops
Global Academies to Hone Business Skills
Town Halls About Firm Strategy & A Voice in Our Firm
Time to Invest in Your Career
Supportive teams + inspiring teammates
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Our IP lawyers hold 65 scientific and technical degrees. We have 156 former clerks, including 12 former SCOTUS clerks. We graduated from more than 150 different law schools (well beyond the T14). We’ve practiced in many different roles, from the U.S. Attorney for the State of Washington to the head of litigation and enforcement at a global financial institution.
To cultivate an inclusive culture, we invest in building communities. Our inclusion networks, which are open to all, include First Generation Lawyers, Veterans, the Black Lawyers of Orrick, MENA, the Jewish Inclusion Network, Women’s Initiative, Parents Forum, DiversAbility and many others. No matter your perspective, you will find ways to connect with colleagues well beyond your practice and office.
We’re also committed to having each other’s backs. After periods of particularly intensive work, we give wellness awards, and we try to make it possible for everyone who is working hard to fully unplug for a week each year, with their team covering for them.
Nick Farnsworth Cyber, Privacy & Data Innovation Partner – Boston
On why you should look at the innovation platform when choosing a law firm.
The best technology + opportunities to innovate
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There’s a better way to practice – and we are working together to create it. Our lawyers have worked with Orrick Labs, our in-house skunkworks, to build 100+ bespoke tech solutions for client needs over the past 12 months. Five full-time Innovation Attorneys help our associates integrate practice-specific technologies into the way they work. Our lawyers tap into The Observatory, an in-house crowdsourcing platform, to learn about the technologies colleagues are using for specific problems. 1,200 Orrick lawyers and staff use our bespoke platform Orrick.ai in a typical month, and a third use it daily. Our legaltech initiative invests in promising startups – whose technologies our lawyers beta test.
Learn more about our approach to innovating and use of AI.
If you have a vision for how to increase the quality and value of our client work – or simply to make work better, you’ll find expert support, a tech platform and bonus-eligible time to bring it to life.
As Told To Vault
Top 10 Most Innovative Law Firm in North America, 9 Years in a Row
Most Digital Law Firm, 2023
None of us got here by ourselves.
Supportive teams + inspiring teammates
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We help our associates develop a network of mentors – because that’s what it takes. Whether you start with us as a summer associate, first year or lateral, you will be paired with a partner and peer mentor. Every partner candidate has a sponsor who coaches them through the consideration process and supports 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 where you want to go, we’ll support you on that path, too. Each May, we collectively focus on upping our game, by offering mentoring training to our entire team and celebrating our best mentors.
While we are in the office at least three days a week (and we strongly encourage new associates to be in at least that many days or more), we bring extra focus to connecting and mentoring on Wednesdays, which we call Orrick Onsite day. We offer many different opportunities to connect, from office lunches to a global speaker series to tech labs with our Innovation Team. We also offer biannual retreats to connect with partners and associates in your practice and related areas.
As Told To Vault
Finding
Mentors
Connecting with Colleagues
Let’s Talk
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If this kind of practice 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 them to develop grit and empathy, to practice teamwork and innovation. And we’re looking for future leaders – as an Orrick partner, at one of the great companies we advise, or by using your legal training to make an impact in new ways.
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.
Applying as a Lateral
As Told To Vault
Ready for the team experience and practical training you’ve been craving in law school? That’s what our summer program is all about. You’ll work with Orrick colleagues in the office where you’re based and worldwide. You’ll gain experience on impactful client engagements, including pro bono. You’ll learn about our firm strategy, hear from Orrick partners and associates about how they think about their careers, and meet our clients. You’ll also participate in skills training led by our lawyers and nationally recognized outside faculty, from legal writing to networking to integrating gen AI into your work to inclusive teamwork (led by our military veterans). You’ll attend a national academy, in-person, to connect with your class and engage in interactive sessions where we want to hear your ideas about the future. Plus, you’ll integrate that with wellness and mindfulness offerings and plenty of opportunities to develop connections and build friendships.
Look at our current openings worldwide
Applying to Our Summer Program
Apply to our summer program
We work hard – that’s what it takes to practice at the top of our profession. And we’re committed to being a big law firm where you can have a meaningful and sustainable career.
In addition to paying market compensation (and above-market for our busiest team members), we offer creditable time to invest in your career and our firm, unplug time and financial rewards after periods of particularly intensive work, and a full spectrum of wellness benefits from the Calm app to online fitness and nutrition classes. Since student loan debt can be a significant burden, we provide our first-year lawyers with a monthly contribution toward student loans.
We offer opportunities for flexible and fully remote working, consistent with client and team needs.
Our Modern Health app connects team members and their family members with comprehensive mental health and wellness resources.
Our parental leave policies are among the most supportive in the profession, and include parenting classes and caregiver support, along with billable hours to help support parental leave transitions.
Our backup caregiving benefits go beyond childcare to include elder care and even pet care, and we offer a wide range of family-forming and hormonal health benefits, including family planning support, surrogacy and adoption financial assistance.
What are the other benefits of joining Team Orrick?
Continuous learning + time to invest in your career
Collaborating with supportive teams + inspiring teammates
The best technology + opportunities to innovate
Committed mentors + opportunities to connect
Ready for the team experience and practical training you’ve been craving in law school? That’s what our summer program is all about. You’ll work with Orrick colleagues in the office where you’re based and worldwide. You’ll gain experience on impactful client engagements, including pro bono. You’ll learn about our firm strategy, hear from Orrick partners and associates about how they think about their careers, and meet our clients. You’ll also participate in skills training led by our lawyers and nationally recognized outside faculty, from legal writing to networking to integrating gen AI into your work to inclusive teamwork (led by our military veterans). You’ll attend a national academy, in-person, to connect with your class and engage in interactive sessions where we want to hear your ideas about the future. Plus, you’ll integrate that with wellness and mindfulness offerings and plenty of opportunities to develop connections and build friendships.
The Summer Program
The Residency is our innovative approach to help you make the transition from law school to our fast-paced, team-based practice. During your first six months at Orrick, you’ll work at the same high intensity as all of our lawyers, but you won’t have a specific client billable hours expectation. This means you’ll have ample time to get coaching and feedback on client work, get trained in the fundamentals of practice, collaborate with our innovation team and connect with our partners, including by contributing to thought leadership and other business development initiatives. Our junior associates rate this experience as incredibly valuable in learning the ropes and feeling supported, while making a meaningful impact.
The Orrick Residency, a unique first-year experience
Throughout your career, you’ll have opportunities for practice-focused bootcamps in areas such as trial skills, working with startups and negotiations skills. Each practice group also offers comprehensive training programs to develop the in-depth and technical skills and knowledge required to respond to both client needs and market demands.
Bootcamps and Workshops
To hone your business and practical skills, you’ll join colleagues from around the world for intensive academies at key career transition moments: as a summer associate, first-year associate, managing associate and senior associate, including a mini-MBA program and 1:1 coaching. Our faculty includes industry experts, professional educators and Orrick partners.
Global Academies to Hone Business Skills
We offer multiple avenues to help our associates understand our firm and our industry as a business and provide meaningful opportunities to engage with leadership. We hold regular fireside chat-style town halls hosted by members of our U.S. Associates Committee, where we hear perspectives from our chair, other firm leaders and associates who are doing interesting things. And our U.S. Associates Committee fosters connectivity between offices and team members and provides a valuable channel of communication between associates and firm leaders. The committee’s members come from all offices and include associates who work remotely.
Town Halls on Firm Strategy & A Voice in Our Firm
To ensure you don’t have to choose between client work and other important learning and professional experience, associates may count up to 100 hours of firm creditable time toward their merit bonus. This includes time spent investing in yourself and the firm through trainings, shadowing opportunities, innovation projects, inclusion network activities, substantive business development, recruiting, mentoring and other firm contribution activities. Depending on your career path goals, you can customize how you spend this time from year to year.
Time to Invest in Your Career
You can join us as a 1L or 2L to experience practicing at Orrick.
The Summer Program
First-year associates devote their first six months of practicing with us to a Residency where we provide intensive training and support, with flexible client hours requirements to give you the freedom to focus on learning, experimenting with new technologies, and finding your practice footing without the pressure of client hours right away.
The Residency @ Orrick
We’ve rethought the typical lockstep advancement and replaced it with three levels of practice: associate, managing associate and senior associate. Our lawyers advance through each phase at the pace that’s right for their growth – whether that means quickly stepping up to new challenges or taking time to deepen their experience and build confidence before the next level. And we emphasize extra training at each transition point.
Advancement at Pace
Our path to partnership tends to be shorter, with new partners in each class promoted after 8.5 years. And unlike some of our peers, we elevate associates to full equity partnership in their first year as partner.
Partnership
Many of our associates choose to go on and do something else, and we support them. Orrick associates have recently moved in-house with clients such as NVIDIA, Goldman Sachs, Workday and many others, and to community partner organizations such as Earthjustice and the Office of the Federal Public Defender, as well as joining the faculty of several law schools. Others have chosen to clerk or serve in government roles and return to the firm, including several SCOTUS clerks. And for team members who are thinking outside of Orrick for the next step in their careers, we maintain an internal Job Board highlighting opportunities that come to us through our network of lawyers, clients and alums.
A Springboard to Another Career Goal
“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
“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
“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
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