Overview
Introduction
As a global giant, Dentons provides a plethora of opportunities for associates to develop their legal careers. Meaningful mentorship complements early responsibility, and many associates envision long-term careers at the firm. The Dentons culture is supportive and social, and associates work hard but feel that their life outside the firm is respected.
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
With almost 6,000 attorneys across more than 160 offices, Dentons leads the way in size, scope, and opportunities for associates. The hiring department casts a wide net—there are no specific feeder schools—to snag ambitious, well-rounded candidates. At the firm, associates find team-oriented, collaborative coworkers who enjoy personal interactions and socializing. Partners are personally and professionally invested in associates, taking time to both seek input and provide feedback. In addition to limited, but helpful, formal training programs, senior associates and partners augment associate development by serving as supportive, positive resources. Dentons makes sure lateral hires are onboarded effectively. Work assignments vary, ranging from document review and drafting to challe...
About the Firm
Through a long history of combinations, Dentons is the Pac-Man of law firms. Its rapid growth began in 2010, when Chicago’s Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal—known for its real estate prowess—and U.K.-based Denton Wilde Sapte joined forces to create SNR Denton. Soon after, SNR Denton set its sights on Europe and Canada, courting Salans Hertzfeld & Heilbronn and Fraser Milner Casgrain LLP (FMC). The March 2013 megacombination of these three firms—SNR Denton, Salans, and FMC—created Dentons.
The new law firm was immediately one of the world’s largest, with locations in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, continental Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. But the firm wasn’t done expanding. In January 2015, the partners of Dentons and 大成 (pronounced Da-CHUNG)—the largest law firm in China—announced the appro...
2025 Vault Rankings
Associate Reviews
- “Lawyers are very collaborative on all levels and with administrative staff. Lawyers often encourage each other to take additional responsibilities and take leadership roles with client matters.”
- “The firm truly prioritizes community and congeniality. Everyone is nice, and happy hours are common (when you can find the time). Lawyers and staff are very much on the same team and treat each other accordingly.”
- “The firm has luncheons at least twice a month that are open to all associates and partners, but I have not witnessed much organic socializing between colleagues. Day-to-day atmosphere is quite social when people are in the office, and lawyers treat the staff just like they would each other. In that regard, it's very professional but friendly.”
- “The firm has multiple firm-sponsored events that are well-attended. Staff are appreciated greatly and treated with respect. It is not the kind of environment where everyone is everyone's best friend, but everyone is friendly and approachable to one another.”
Diversity at Dentons
Getting Hired Here
- “The firm regularly hires from the law schools within our geographic area (city and state). The firm provides guidelines for associates who participate in interviewing professional candidates. The competitiveness of the hiring process depends on the number of associates the firm is looking to hire in any given year based on the work level in different practice areas at that time.”
- “I believe the firm does a great job at not limiting itself to feeder schools and offering all applicants an equal opportunity to be hired. Hiring criteria vary from practice group to practice group, but the firm largely appears to be committed to hiring individuals with strong lawyering skills.”
- “Dentons has high standards and looks at grades and pedigree when interviewing potential candidates. That said, experience and diversity make a difference, so having a few years of hands-on experience and coming from a unique background can overcome prior law school factors.”
- “Dentons is looking for stand-out candidates from non-T14 schools. Drive is more important than elite pedigree.”
Perks & Benefits