Overview
Introduction
One of the most prestigious law firms, Sullivan & Cromwell adopts a generalist approach, allowing lawyers to work across industries and subgroups. Sullivan & Cromwell boasts an army of over 800 attorneys across eight countries. The firm prides itself on mentoring and career advising, as well as providing associates with a positive environment to work on cutting-edge legal matters with talented colleagues.
Firm Stats
Total No. Attorneys (2024)
No. of Partners Named (2024)
Featured Rankings
No. of 1st Year Associates Hired (2024)
No. of Summer Associates (2024)
Base Salary
Vault Verdict
At Sullivan & Cromwell, expect top-notch work, top compensation, and top opportunities for pro bono work. Candidates must have elite credentials with respect to the law school attended and grades and can expect a pleasant yet professional office setting. Coworkers socialize, but not to the detriment of their personal lives. Partners value associates, appreciate their contributions, and seem deeply invested in their training and development. The hands-on guidance that associates receive from partners is supplemented by more formal workshops and skills academies, though more attention could be given to onboarding lateral hires. Associates engage in some basic tasks, but most projects are interesting and often complex, and the firm has a formal staffing system. Sullivan &...
About the Firm
A BigLaw powerhouse, Sullivan & Cromwell has created a blueprint for legal success: It has grown internationally and in response to the increasing cross-border M&A, restructuring, and finance transactional demands of the biggest corporate clients in the world.
Kind of a Big Deal
Sullivan & Cromwell has consistently steered the development of many of the world’s corporate titans for more than 130 years. The firm founders, Algernon Sydney Sullivan and William Nelson Cromwell, advised J.P. Morgan—as in the man himself—during the creation of Edison General Electric in 1882 and later guided key players in the formation of U.S. Steel and the financing of the Panama Canal. These lucrative foreign ventures enabled the firm to be one of the first to expand internat...
Associate Reviews
- “Formal, but very respectful. Open to questions, engaged, and hardworking. Highly competent and very impressive.”
- “It has an old-school feel without feeling stuffy. There's a strong in-person culture without formal in-person requirements. People are mostly friendly and helpful.”
- “People are very friendly in the office and make time for non-work-related conversations, but there is no pressure to socialize outside the office. People understand that you have family and social obligations outside the office. Overall, I like that balance.”
- “S&C culture is warm and pleasant. The firm is flexible about being in the office, but most come in frequently, and there are perks of doing so, such as the free cafeteria and more frequent interaction with colleagues. There are almost-weekly happy hours that draw excellent attendance, and relationships between lawyers and staff are respectful and genuine.”
Why Work Here
Listen to our conversation with the managing partner of our Litigation Group, Sharon Nelles. Milana Hogan, Chief Legal Talent Officer, interviews Sharon about why she chose S&C, the Firm's approach to associate development and mentoring, her role as head of the Litigation Group, and her advice for students as they navigate their way through the recruiting process.
Diversity at Sullivan & Cromwell LLP
Getting Hired Here
- “S&C looks for candidates with strong academic performance from respected law schools. The firm recruits heavily from T14 law schools.”
- “Sullivan & Cromwell regularly hires from the top 10 law schools. The hiring committee heavily focuses hiring decisions on grades.”
- “Most important factors include grades and other experiences that display a genuine interest in the law and in pursuing a legal career. The firm predominantly hires from top-ranked law schools.”
- “I think the firm goes by pretty standard criteria: good grades from a good law school. …”
Perks & Benefits