Overview
Introduction
A litigation powerhouse, appellate all-star, and corporate law force, Gibson Dunn is a Vault top 10 firm with impressive practice and client lists across its 21 worldwide offices. Gibson attracts go-getters who will succeed in the firm’s free market system and integrate with the professional, amiable culture. Attorneys who want to engage in pro bono work, with these hours satisfying billable requirements, will find robust, dynamic opportunities at Gibson Dunn. The firm’s flex-time program with pro-rated hours and compensation, is attra...
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
As one of the top BigLaw firms in the country, Gibson Dunn naturally looks for the best and brightest candidates, and although credentials might get someone an interview, only friendly people get in the door. Gibson Dunn is known for its incredibly warm and collegial culture, which associates attribute in large part to the firm’s free market assignment system; associates can choose the work they want to do and the people they want to work with, so everyone is incentivized to treat each other well. The free market system also gives associates a great deal of control over their schedules, and with Gibson’s hybrid work policy that allows flexibility for remote work, many associates feel that work-life balance is achievable. Mentorship is a hallmark of the Gibson ethos, so although tr...
About the Firm
With more than 1,900 attorneys across 10 countries, Gibson Dunn & Crutcher is a force. Among the top firms in the country, Gibson Dunn is well-known for its litigation and trial work—especially its bustling Appellate Litigation and Securities Litigation practices—as well as its top-notch antitrust, M&A, white collar, transnational, private equity, and real estate work.
Tinseltown and Beyond
Gibson Dunn was formed through a partnership between John Bicknell and Walter Trask in 1890. Seven years later, Judge James Gibson joined the firm. The trio joined forces with William Dunn, a former Los Angeles city attorney, and Albert Crutcher, a former assistant city attorney, to create the largest law firm in Los Angeles at the time. During the 20th century, the firm expanded to ...
Associate Reviews
- “Gibson has a great balance. My colleagues are normal, happy, personable people who are happy to connect interpersonally but who also have rich lives at home independent of their work. Lawyers get along—the free market system serves to protect against any form of unpleasant behavior—and socialize at firm-sponsored events and in the world at large, but it's also not a rah-rah party atmosphere that feels forced or intense. Lawyers and staff interact with a high degree of respect and good humor.”
- “The firm's culture is the reason I chose to work here. Everyone is so kind and willing to help others. Lawyers across the firm seem to get along well and enjoy socializing together. The firm is good about having events throughout the year.”
- “Everyone is about as relaxed and respectful as you can be and still work in BigLaw. A lot of emails at all hours, but that's the nature of having demanding clients. There are various in-firm social events. Most people get along very well.”
- “Our firm fosters a great social, professional, and respectful atmosphere where collaboration and camaraderie are encouraged. Lawyers and staff often come together for both firm-sponsored events and spontaneous gatherings, helping to cultivate a strong sense of community. On a daily basis, the environment is lively yet supportive, with an emphasis on open communication and mutual respect at all levels. Interactions among lawyers and staff are common and informal, truly reflecting our firm's commitment to inclusivity and teamwork.”
Why Work Here
A Leader in Every Sense
Gibson Dunn is a full-service global law firm advising on some of today’s most complex and significant matters. We are known for excellence in the practice of law and are committed to providing the very highest level of legal services. We offer unparalleled, innovative thinking for clients with the most challenging needs and aspire to handle all matters as partners with, and not merely as service providers to, our clients.
Gibson Dunn has ten offices in the United States and ten international offices. Despite that geographic spread, we operate as a single, unified law firm. Our attorneys work together in seamless teamwork across borders, jurisdictions and legal disciplines, finding the right combination of talent and resources for each unique matter entrusted to us by our diverse, multinational client base.
Diversity at Gibson Dunn
Getting Hired Here
“We hire high performers at top law schools and people who come out of prestigious clerkships. And I also think we look for something of a cultural fit. We're basically all law nerds who are generally respectful of each other and recognize each other's humanity.”
- "I think Gibson Dunn is looking generally for smart, capable, and respectful professionals who can contribute to the culture of the firm. There are no ‘feeder schools,’ and my peers come from all over the country and world. Journal experience is always a plus, and grades are probably the most important, especially if you are not coming from a ‘top’ law school. Many of my peers have clerked, but I did not and do not plan to.”
- “Gibson is looking for the best of the best across all aspects of diversity. Candidates are smart, courteous, professional, dynamic, and prepared. For associates, top 10% of your class and top law schools generally, though the firm has branched out to other law schools in an effort to be more diverse. Journal and mock trial are not required but are, of course, helpful.”
- “Grades are huge. … We have been pulling from schools outside the T14, which I appreciate. We do have training for interviewers, and I like that we have associates and partners at every stage of their career involved in interviewing each candidate.”
Perks & Benefits