Overview
Introduction
Home to more than 970 attorneys in over 25 U.S. offices, Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough is a full-service powerhouse with deep roots in the South. The firm boasts more than 100 different practice areas, and associates have confirmed the firm’s sterling reputation for quality of work. The firm is known for its commitment to pro bono work, with over 813,000 pro bono hours logged by firm attorneys since 1990.
Firm Stats
Total No. Attorneys (2024)
No. of Partners Named (2024)
Featured Rankings
No. of 1st Year Associates Hired (2024)
No. of Summer Associates (2025)
Base Salary
Vault Verdict
One Nelson Mullins associate said it best: the firm is “a Southern firm with a Southern feel,” in all the good ways. Don’t be mistaken—the firm might have a Southern soul, but it operates on a national scale. Still, the firm values roots, and a big factor in getting hired here is demonstrating a true interest in the office and city in which you’re interviewing, along with strong credentials. The firm’s culture is relaxed and cordial, and partners follow an open-door policy that encourages associates to seek out support and build relationships. Socializing among attorneys and staff varies by office, but most associates report feeling satisfied with the amount of social interaction at the firm. Associates find the firm’s 1,900 billable hour requirement to be reasonable, but billable...
About the Firm
Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough is a southern gem. It is one of the top 15 firms in Vault’s Best Law Firms in Atlanta and the top 10 in Vault’s Best Law Firms in the South Atlantic rankings. Notably, its reach extends much farther than the South Atlantic region. The firm’s attorneys, policy advisors, technical specialists, consultants, and other professionals work in 16 states and 35 offices across the United States in the Carolinas, Colorado, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Massachusetts, New York, Tennessee, and West Virginia.
A Family Firm Blossoms and Booms
Nelson Mullins was founded in 1897 by Patrick Henry Nelson II in his home state of South Carolina. Nelson was a major player in South Carolina, serving as a member of the South Carolina House of Repres...
Associate Reviews
- “The firm has been very open and collaborative, and I've gotten to know and work with attorneys and staff across the nation. Since joining the firm, I've had a very easy time identifying and connecting with attorneys with similar interests and expertise, or for assistance with areas that I'm unfamiliar with, regardless of their geographic location. The firm has a great business development and marketing team, too, and I've enjoyed collaborating with them on several matters. The firm is org...
Why Work Here
Culture & Inclusion at Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP
"Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough's success as a law firm is dependent on our maintaining a steadfast commitment to inclusive excellence, with our professionals enjoying equal access to the best opportunities for their professional development and growth. Correspondingly, we are committed to achieving and maintaining robust diversity in all aspects of Firm life, where we value a wide array of backgrounds, characteristics and life experiences among our professionals -- including those associated with race, gender, age, ethnicity/national..."
Getting Hired Here
- “The firm looks for the usual criteria: Grades, journal, diversity, interest in the firm. It's particularly helpful when a candidate has a good sense of what the firm actually does, where they want their career to go, and how the two align. Training materials are provided to those who interview candidates, but there is wide discretion on what to ask.”
- “It seems that each practice group has certain qualifications they are looking for, and that there is a trend towards schools locate...
Perks & Benefits