Overview
Introduction
Alston & Bird is home to 800-plus attorneys, has eight major practice areas and has been recognized for areas including healthcare, privacy & data security, real estate, and tax. The culture is friendly, mentorship is strong across the board, and pro bono is a source of pride for associates, encouraged by firm leadership and supported through high billable credit.
Firm Stats
Total No. Attorneys (2023)
No. of Partners Named (2023)
Featured Rankings
No. of 1st Year Associates Hired (2023)
No. of Summer Associates (2023)
Base Salary
Vault Verdict
Even with domestic and international expansion, Alston & Bird has maintained a welcoming feel that is a major draw for associates. Attendance at a top national or regional law school, good grades, journal or work experience, personality, and diversity all impact the hiring process. Office culture, a firm highlight, includes people who are friendly, easygoing, and who care about each other. This includes partners, who treat associates well and provide feedback and support for their development. Where formal training is lacking, mentors provide outstanding guidance on practical matters. The firm does provide solid infrastructure and guidance for lateral hires. Associates receive meaningful and challenging work assignments; a free-market work distribution system means partner...
About the Firm
Alston & Bird is home to 800-plus lawyers located across the U.S., with 10 domestic offices and three international locations. The firm has been recognized for its strength in such areas as healthcare, privacy and data security, real estate, and tax.
Shopping for Growth
Atlanta-based Alston & Bird’s predecessor firms date back to 1893. Nearly a century later, in 1982, the firm known as Alston, Miller & Gaines merged with Jones, Bird & Howell, and adopted the combined name Alston & Bird. The firm’s operations remained in Georgia, where it represented institutions like CNN, Emory University, and Augusta National founder Bobby Jones, a former firm partner, until the debut of its Washington, DC, office in 1990. A series of mergers and expansi...
2024 Vault Rankings
Associate Reviews
- “The firm's culture is very friendly and collegial. There is very little differentiation between associates of all levels, and I have not felt like the mid-levels hoard work or refuse to work with juniors. Each office hosts a happy hour on premises on Thursday afternoons to allow for a more relaxed atmosphere to interact with other attorneys and staff. On the day to day, however, most people keep to themselves, and I have only had lunch with colleagues on a few occasions, as most people prefer to eat at their desk.”
- “Alston truly does live up to its collegial reputation. Everyone I've worked with at the firm, from staff to other associates and partners, has been really friendly. Our office has a social once a month, and the firm also has mentor programs to help newer attorneys to get to know others.”
- “The firm's culture is probably one of the best aspects of the firm overall. People here are kind, friendly, and easygoing (while still being hardworking and ambitious). You get the sense that people here care about one another, which makes working here feel fulfilling, and which makes putting in long hours feel bearable.”
- “The atmosphere and culture is the best you will find among BigLaw firms. The attorneys, who are intelligent and experts in their fields, take their work very seriously, but not themselves. After hours, they are always willing to grab a drink or a coffee, and discuss career trajectory, billables, and their own personal lives.”
Diversity at Alston & Bird
Getting Hired Here
- “The firm looks for candidates with excellent grades and law school credentials (e.g., involved in organizations at the law school, with different bar associations, etc.), and who (likely) is engaged with their community. There are plenty of attorneys from Ivy League and other prestigious schools, but there are also plenty of attorneys from otherwise quality law schools that produce excellent attorneys. The firm provides ample resources and guidelines for those involved in interviewing and hiring to process.”
- “… [B]y and large I'd argue the firm looks for a specific type of person. These are usually very academically strong candidates, but, at least in my experience with my class, no one has the stereotypically big 'lawyer ego.' The firm is excellent at hiring top performers that are generally very kind and humble.”
- “… It's a holistic process overall. I would say the biggest thing to get your foot in the door is grades, then they look at school, prior work experience, journal, etc. Personality is definitely big here. You can have the best grades, but if you can't hold your own at an interview, the chances of getting hired here are much slimmer. Diversity is also very important to the firm.”
- “I think the firm focuses on academic excellence, strong legal writing skills, and a friendly, team-oriented personality.”
Perks & Benefits
