Overview
Introduction
With headquarters in Boston, Foley Hoag is home to more than 300 lawyers who focus on multiple practice areas. Low on hierarchy and high on transparency, the firm attracts lawyers who are collaborative and respectful. Small teams enable attorneys to spearhead their own work, whether tackling public international law issues or committing to civic engagement.
Firm Stats
Total No. Attorneys (2024)
No. of Partners Named (2023)
Featured Rankings
No. of 1st Year Associates Hired (2023)
No. of Summer Associates (2024)
Base Salary
Vault Verdict
Foley Hoag has deep roots in Boston, and just like Boston, the firm’s impact is relatively large for its small size. The firm’s recruiting process is rigorous but holistic. A wide net is cast to catch talent not only at T14 but also, especially, Boston-area law schools. The firm prides itself on its friendly, collegial, and “unproblematic” culture, so personality and diversity of experiences and backgrounds are emphasized in the hiring process. The hours can be long—the firm is, after all, in BigLaw—but the billable requirements are reasonable, with an 1,850 billable hour expectation that includes unlimited eligible pro bono hours and up to 100 DEI, Foley Hoag Foundation, and legal recruiting hours. Attorneys prioritize work-life balance and respect each other’s lives outsid...
About the Firm
Hailing from the land of the Red Sox and chowder, Foley Hoag stays close to its Boston roots but has expanded to four additional locations: New York, DC, Denver, and Paris. Although the firm is smaller than many of its BigLaw competitors, Foley Hoag has made a name for itself through its strong practice and progressive history.
A Diverse Foundation
Foley Hoag was founded during World War II when Henry Foley and Garrett Hoag set up shop in Boston in 1943. As the firm grew, so did its commitment to diversity. In 1979, the late Charles J. Beard II of Foley Hoag became the first African-American partner of a Boston law firm. Beard specialized in cable television regulation and business law and served for many years on the firm’s Hiring Committee and as the firm’s marketing partner. In 19...
2025 Vault Rankings
Associate Reviews
- “Foley Hoag has a generally social in-office culture with attorneys and legal assistants mingling in the halls but not much out-of-office social gathering. I understand this feature has not always been the case and may be a lingering effect of the pandemic and remote work. Regardless, everyone at the firm is friendly, social, and supportive. People ask about my life outside of work and my family and respect the time I set aside to be with my family.”
- “Lawyers associate together, and they are all very pleasant, professional, and willing to help. Some gatherings are organic; some are sponsored. The daily atmosphere is very pleasant, and people are nice. Interaction happens over emails, in person, and sometimes over the phone.”
- “People are friendly in the office. There is some socialization that happens at firm-sponsored events, but most of it happens organically. I think the number of firm-sponsored events is appropriate—it is not so much that they become a burden but not too few either.”
- “There is a strong culture of welcoming and support at the firm. I feel like you can pretty much stop by anyone's office (with the exception of a few) and speak with them. Most people are approachable, even the partners. Foley's emphasis on mentorship also highlights its commitment to professional support. There's usually good attendance at firm-sponsored events, and there's respect between staff and lawyers.”
Why Work Here
Foley Hoag's Unique Culture
Put simply, “Foley Hoag is a great place to work.” With a unique combination of substantive work, “wonderful” mentors and consistent work-life balance, associates have nothing but positive things to say about life at their firm. “The people are great, the work is interesting, I'm learning all the time, and I am encouraged to maintain something of a life outside the office,” notes a Boston contact. Weekend work, the bane of most associate’s existence, is a rarity at Foley Hoag and any last-minute projects can usually be taken care of from home. A junior contact adds, “Everyone is very kind and helpful, but also very professional. Most partners make associates feel like valuable team members rather than underlings.” The firm’s overall culture, too, is described as “friendly, academic and open,” ensuring that associates consistently feel like “valuable team players rather than underlings.”
Diversity at Foley Hoag LLP
Getting Hired Here
- “Boston law schools are heavily represented. The firm seems to consider personality/diversity/experience as much as they do grades.”
- “Firm values diversity and is good about recruiting outside of the T14 and mentoring individuals throughout law school (or even earlier). Many students are local to the city, but not an overwhelming majority.”
- “I love that my firm doesn't only recruit from T14 law schools. They are on the hunt for well-rounded individuals, kind, and hardworking. We're an unproblematic bunch! If that's you, then you'll fit in.”
- “The firm is competitive in its hiring process. I think the firm is looking for intelligent and successful candidates from top law schools or exceptionally high performers from more-average law schools. The firm seems to recruit heavily from Boston-area schools.”
Perks & Benefits