Overview
Introduction
Cadwalader has traditionally been a place for talented associates to launch their careers. The firm offers early hands-on experience, access to elite clients, and endless career paths within and outside the firm. Associates appreciate the friendly, social culture, and the mentoring opportunities available while working at the firm.
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 after 230 years, Cadwalader still gives its associates top-notch opportunities, especially in terms of partner-associate relationships, compensation, and quality of work. Recruiting takes place mostly at T14 law schools but extends to other schools as well; the common factors for successful candidates are top grades and work experience. Daily office interactions are open, pleasant, and collaborative, and the number of social activities varies by group. Partners are approachable and supportive but don’t micromanage associates, giving them opportunities to grow. Associate development continues through firmwide and practice group-specific trainings, assigned mentors, and regular feedback from senior attorneys. Lateral hires feel that their onboarding could be improved by diving ...
Firm's Response
A career at Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP is truly an opportunity to make history and become part of the legacy of the oldest Wall Street law firm with more than 230 years of legal experience and innovation benefiting our clients.
Today’s Cadwalader advises the world’s leading financial institutions, corporati...
About the Firm
Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP is the oldest Wall Street firm still in existence. Its practices include capital markets, corporate, finance, financial regulatory, financial restructuring, litigation, and real estate. The firm has a well-established presence in Charlotte, Dublin, London, New York, and Washington, DC.
Dating Back to the Days of Washington . . . As in George
Cadwalader was founded in 1792, when folks were still sealing letters with wax and writing with quills. It revolutionized practice by eliminating the old system of unpaid law clerkships and establishing the associate role.
Cadwalader forged a niche in the early New York legal field by working on commercial claims, litigation, maritime law, and real estate for banks and representing i...
Associate Reviews
- “The day-to-day atmosphere is very open and collaborative. Partners will stop by my office to go over deals, and most partners have an open-door policy to ask them questions at any time. The same is true for senior and junior associates. The lawyers and staff interact regularly, and it is all collegial. There are some social events outside of the office, which are fun. However, there are not a lot of these events.”
- “Depends on the team. Some teams like to do more frequent happy hours and get-togethers. Others are less frequent. Day-to-day interaction is great; we work with staff closely and have a great connection with them.”
- “Socially, the firm is totally fine; staff and attorneys are treated with mutual respect, no qualms there. It's a bit of weird professional culture, though, and the client base is all over the place. Some are great, some are typical BigLaw clients, and some are hard to work for with off-the-wall goals, but the main priority throughout (particularly in some groups) is whether they'll pay the bills.”
- “People at the firm tend to be pretty collegial. Generally speaking, people are very friendly at social events, and I routinely find myself fascinated with just about anyone I talk to at the firm in a one-on-one capacity. The day-to-day atmosphere is a fair bit quieter, but still pleasant. Interactions are usually very friendly. It often feels like the people here want to talk to each other more than they actually do talk to each other."
Why Work Here
At Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP, we put nearly 230 years of legal experience and innovation to work today for many of the world’s most prominent financial institutions, corporations and funds. Our attorneys provide counsel and strategic legal solutions to help their clients break new ground, accomplish business goals, and manage challenges. Our long legacy continues with our work on the most important, sophisticated and complex transactions, litigation, disputes, investigations and regulatory matters of the day.
As a firm community, Cadwalader is comprised of talented and driven individuals committed to excellence and innovation. Across practices, offices and transatlantic borders, we share the common goal of providing world-class client service through the development of a culture that fosters diversity, collaboration and professional growth.
Diversity at Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP
Getting Hired Here
- “CWT treats the summer associate process as one of the most important aspects of the firm, and it's all hands on deck during the summer to make sure it goes well. We want the best associates, and we're competitive in trying to get them early.”
- “The firm recruits mainly through the OCI process with specific feeder schools—UPenn, Columbia, Harvard, Georgetown, etc. There is a training meeting on the interview process, and there are guidelines to follow.”
- “The firm has a typical BigLaw hiring process and is looking for top students at top law schools, but not always T14. In the Charlotte office, Wake Forest, Ohio State, Duke, and Georgia are popular feeder schools.”
- “Law school grades and prior work experience seem to have been important in the firm's hiring decisions. My incoming class was extremely diverse in terms of the law schools we came from.”
Perks & Benefits