Overview
Introduction
As a global force since its merger in 1987, Clifford Chance unsurprisingly seeks candidates with international aspirations and foreign language skills. This Magic Circle firm offers a welcoming culture and interesting work, and it genuinely supports pro bono and diversity efforts. One might assume that it would be easy to get lost in such a massive enterprise, but employee relations and firm transparency are exceptional.
Firm Stats
Total No. Attorneys (2024)
No. of Partners Named (2023)
Featured Rankings
No. of 1st Year Associates Hired (2024)
No. of Summer Associates (2024)
Base Salary
Vault Verdict
If you value a warm culture with significant international practice opportunities, Clifford Chance may be the perfect firm for you. The culture is collegial and respectful. Partners treat associates like equals, and are very transparent about firm affairs and personal performance. Associates are busy in terms of hours but not more than is expected when joining a BigLaw firm, and there is no formal billable hour requirement. Moreover, associates feel that they are very well compensated for the work they do with top-of-market salaries and bonuses. Work is generally substantive and appropriate for associate experience levels, and the firm’s tech infrastructure is robust and conducive to remote work. The firm is highly supportive of attorney wellness through its many activities and in...
Firm's Response
A law firm’s culture is defined in many ways: geographic reach, substantive strengths, client focus, inclusion, and core values. Candidates carefully weigh these qualities throughout the recruitment process, but once our associates arrive and become a member of the team, a key factor in their development is mentorship. Our partners and sen...
About the Firm
With 2,500 lawyers across more than 30 offices around the globe, Clifford Chance is a legal behemoth. The firm boasts a growing practice in the United States and a global reputation that shines.
Brits and Yanks
The modern Clifford Chance was created in 1987 when the giant U.K. firms Coward Chance and Clifford Turner merged, creating an entity The Times of London called “the country’s first mega law firm.” Indeed, Clifford Chance was twice as large as the firm that had previously been the U.K.’s largest: Linklaters & Paines. Over the years, Clifford Chance has opened offices and built client lists around the world, adopting a cross-border focus long before such an outlook became commonplace. The firm grew from hundreds of attorneys to thousands, which enabled it to take on sever...
2025 Vault Rankings
Associate Reviews
- “Our firm’s culture values social connections, fostering a supportive environment. Whether it's grabbing lunch together, formal and informal mentoring coffee dates, or officewide summer team-building events, we believe in building strong relationships that enhance our work.”
- “There are many opportunities to socialize with colleagues through social events, in-house teaching sessions, and during the workday. All of the professionals in the firm are very friendly.”
- “The firm is very collegial and prides itself on a teamwork mentality. This flows into the day-to-day interactions amongst partners, associates, and business professionals. The firm promotes internal social events for various affinity groups regularly, and there is support for organizing additional community activities when associates have ideas.”
- “The firm is social but respectful of people's personal lives, which I appreciate. People are very sociable and kind, and we have a day in our department where everyone is in the office, which fosters additional camaraderie.”
Why Work Here
Clifford Chance led the way for international firms when it started practicing US law in the 1990s. Now a thriving, full-service domestic firm, Clifford Chance US operates from offices in Houston, New York and Washington, DC, and we were the first international firm to open an office in Brazil more than 20 years ago. The US Firm's 400+ lawyers have a deep understanding of US, Latin American and global markets, and they routinely advise clients on high-profile matters across our transactional and litigation practices.
We offer clients the benefit of seamless access to Clifford Chance's elite global network spanning 32 offices in 22 countries. Collaboration is fundamental to our lockstep culture, and no firm is better placed to advise leading businesses on their complex domestic and cross-border matters.
For our candidates, we offer the opportunity to practice US law at the top level and to work on challenging matters in a supportive team-based environment, where the collective goal is to help our clients – elite US and multinational companies – succeed in a global marketplace.
Diversity at Clifford Chance US LLP
Getting Hired Here
- “I think the firm considers law school attended, grades, journal experience, personality, and diversity in its hiring decisions. I don't think there are particular ‘feeder schools,’ but sometimes there are a lot of associates from one school. The firm does provide training for those who interview candidates.”
- “I was hired through my law school's on-campus interview process. I participated in two rounds of interviews with Clifford Chance: one initial screening interview followed by four back-to-back 30-minute-long interviews with four different attorneys (two senior associates and two partners). There are not particular feeder schools, although the NYC office does hire many attorneys from NYC law schools (NYU, Columbia, Fordham, St. John's, and Brooklyn).”
- “Clifford Chance looks for candidates who are social, well-adjusted, and preferably had work experience between college and law school.”
- “I think we take a holistic approach. We look for intelligent, kind, and aspirational people who want to learn at a BigLaw firm.”
Perks & Benefits