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    Latham & Watkins Reviews

    Updated January 4, 2019
    262 reviews

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    4.0
    StarStarStarStarStar
    Rating TrendsRating Trends
    Recommend to a friend
    Approve of CEO
    Latham & Watkins Global Chair & Managing Partner William Voge
    William Voge
    65 Ratings

    Employee Reviews

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    Pros

    • "You will work with a lot of great people" (in 21 reviews)

    • "Not every international law firm operates so fluidly across borders" (in 20 reviews)

    Cons

    • "Long hours and sometime stressful projects" (in 26 reviews)

    • "Being the largest money making law firm, they should reward their staff more" (in 14 reviews)

    More Pros and Cons

    1. "Impressive top-notch firm for the cream of the crop"

      StarStarStarStarStar
      • Work/Life Balance
      • Culture & Values
      • Career Opportunities
      • Comp & Benefits
      • Senior Management
      Current Employee - Legal Secretary
      Current Employee - Legal Secretary
      Recommends
      Positive Outlook
      No opinion of CEO

      I have been working at Latham & Watkins full-time (Less than a year)

      Pros

      Great atmosphere and lots of staff benefits. Many highly intelligent people who encourage you to want to always put in your best work.

      Cons

      Don’t come here if you don’t plan on working hard! Not always a lot of opportunity for growth depending on your position.

    2. "One of the best places to work"

      StarStarStarStarStar
      • Work/Life Balance
      • Culture & Values
      • Career Opportunities
      • Comp & Benefits
      • Senior Management
      Former Employee - Manager in Los Angeles, CA
      Former Employee - Manager in Los Angeles, CA
      Recommends
      Positive Outlook
      Approves of CEO

      I worked at Latham & Watkins full-time (More than 10 years)

      Pros

      Great management. Collegial culture. Great benefits. Opportunities for professional growth.

      Cons

      Long hours. Demanding Partners.

      3. Join the Latham & Watkins team
      See Our Latest Jobs

    3. "Business Development Hit or Miss"

      StarStarStarStarStar
      Former Employee - Anonymous Employee
      Former Employee - Anonymous Employee
      No opinion of CEO

      I worked at Latham & Watkins full-time

      Pros

      Lawyers are nice and respectful to most staff
      Work can be interesting
      Good compensation
      Practice specific roles are better than local office roles

      Cons

      Local Business Development Managers vary depending on location (Houston = wonderful; NY and DC = Not bad; Chicago = total trainwreck - avoid BD if local to Chicago)
      Clique-y BD culture firmwide. Like a sorority

    4. Helpful (1)

      "Good for Biglaw"

      StarStarStarStarStar
      • Work/Life Balance
      • Culture & Values
      • Career Opportunities
      • Comp & Benefits
      • Senior Management
      Current Employee - Anonymous Employee
      Current Employee - Anonymous Employee
      Disapproves of CEO

      I have been working at Latham & Watkins full-time

      Pros

      Market compensation with a 1900 billable requirement; good perks; generally down-to-earth fun people; range of strong practice groups

      Cons

      Biglaw is a grind and LW is no different; failure to give associates (particularly women/minorities) leadership opportunities on matters; lack of investment by partners in developing associates

    5. Helpful (1)

      "Dictating Leads with horrible attitudes"

      StarStarStarStarStar
      • Work/Life Balance
      • Culture & Values
      • Career Opportunities
      • Comp & Benefits
      • Senior Management
      Former Employee - Receptionist/Administrative Assistant in Los Angeles, CA
      Former Employee - Receptionist/Administrative Assistant in Los Angeles, CA
      Doesn't Recommend
      Neutral Outlook
      No opinion of CEO

      I worked at Latham & Watkins (More than a year)

      Pros

      Great Perks such as lunches and discounts

      Cons

      Lack of managemnent skills
      Too much trust given to unqualified leads

      Advice to Management

      Control the leads.
      Observe how the leads treat the employees.
      Step in more often.
      Force consequences on the leads.
      Understand that your lead is not qualified.
      Hire more mature leads who can handle different personalities and not talk smack about the employees when they walk away from their desks. (Amongst others)

      There was one in the GSO office who was very
      toxic to the environment, and made my daily work life stressful.

      The company is Amazing but needed management to step in more often.

    6. Helpful (1)

      "Best firm to work at"

      StarStarStarStarStar
      • Work/Life Balance
      • Culture & Values
      • Career Opportunities
      • Comp & Benefits
      • Senior Management
      Current Employee - Anonymous Employee
      Current Employee - Anonymous Employee
      Recommends
      Positive Outlook

      I have been working at Latham & Watkins full-time

      Pros

      Management genuinely cares about staff, awesome culture, embraces diversity, fun social events and supportive colleagues

      Cons

      Not a lot of upward mobility within position

    7. "Business Development"

      StarStarStarStarStar
      • Work/Life Balance
      • Culture & Values
      • Career Opportunities
      • Comp & Benefits
      • Senior Management
      Former Employee - Anonymous Employee
      Former Employee - Anonymous Employee
      No opinion of CEO

      I worked at Latham & Watkins full-time

      Pros

      great team both local and global, coworkers are all very smart and hardworking

      Cons

      work schedule is not flexible, not many opportunities to advance

    8. Helpful (2)

      "Wouldn't recommend if you want a friendly environment"

      StarStarStarStarStar
      Former Employee - Anonymous Employee in Los Angeles, CA
      Former Employee - Anonymous Employee in Los Angeles, CA
      Doesn't Recommend

      I worked at Latham & Watkins full-time (More than a year)

      Pros

      Some nice perks and wellness benefits

      Cons

      People think way too highly of themselves and don't treat staff well. Low pay.

    9. "Loved it here!"

      StarStarStarStarStar
      • Work/Life Balance
      • Culture & Values
      • Career Opportunities
      • Comp & Benefits
      • Senior Management
      Former Employee - Anonymous Employee in Washington, DC
      Former Employee - Anonymous Employee in Washington, DC
      Recommends
      Positive Outlook
      Approves of CEO

      I worked at Latham & Watkins full-time (More than 3 years)

      Pros

      Great people, the firm listens to all suggestions, ability to work seamlessly with other locations across the globe, amazing benefits and wellness program. There are many opportunities for staff to learn new skills or help other departments. High growth potential.

      Cons

      They form committees for everything (which is a pro because they care about their employees input) however, because it's a committee, it tends to take a while to make a decision. Really the only con I could think of.

      Advice to Management

      Keep it up!

    10. "Great culture"

      StarStarStarStarStar
      • Work/Life Balance
      • Culture & Values
      • Career Opportunities
      • Comp & Benefits
      • Senior Management
      Former Employee - Anonymous Employee
      Former Employee - Anonymous Employee
      Recommends
      Positive Outlook
      No opinion of CEO

      I worked at Latham & Watkins full-time (More than 5 years)

      Pros

      Terrific benefits provided to everyone. Culture is collaborative and collegial.

      Cons

      Hard to move up in company - retention rates are high so there are not a ton of openings unless you in one of the larger offices.