Overview
Introduction
Vinson and Elkins’ lean-team model leads to great training opportunities for associates via hands-on experience, strong partner mentorship, and new challenges. Overall, associates agree that V&E offers a great culture, great compensation, and great work. With its largest office in Texas, V&E’s southern hospitality shines at the firm, and associates don’t shy away from an opportunity to socialize inside and outside the office. Through its market-leading approach, V&E has been tackling some of the most complex leg...
Firm Stats
Total No. Attorneys (2023)
No. of Partners Named (2023)
Featured Rankings
No. of 1st Year Associates Hired (2023)
No. of Summer Associates (2023)
Base Salary
Vault Verdict
Vinson & Elkins is Texas through-and-through, from its work in the energy field to the hospitable nature of its offices and friendliness of its partners. Recruiting focuses on grades and law school attended (especially schools in Texas) and is expanding to consider a greater range of diverse candidates. Coworkers—including partners—are kind, supportive, and team-oriented partners who take a keen interest in the personal and professional development of associates. Their on-the-job guidance combined with structured workshops and CLEs helps associates feel prepared to take additional responsibilities. The firm welcomes and effectively onboards lateral hires. Work assignments seem to be a combination of level-appropriate and challenging tasks with an appropriate degree of clie...
Firm's Response
Vinson & Elkins provides deep legal experience in handling sophisticated transactions, investments, projects, and disputes worldwide, and the firm is a trusted adviser to clients in the most important financial, industrial, and digital industries. With more than 700 lawyers working across 13 offices, V&E is highly regarded ...
About the Firm
Founded in Houston in 1917, Vinson & Elkins was one of the most vital energy law firms. Today, V&E attorneys are trusted advisers to clients in the most important industrial, financial, and digital industries, such as renewable energy, technology, banking/finance, M&A/private equity, real estate, media, complex litigation, and tax.
A Dynamic Centenarian
With 13 offices across the globe, V&E comprises a diverse partnership and team of professionals who solve problems and create opportunities for client transactions, investments, projects, and disputes. In 2021, the firm celebrated the 50th anniversary of its London office, making it one of the oldest U.S. law firms with a continuous presence in the city, and 2022 marked the 50th anniversary of its Washing...
Associate Reviews
- “I think V&E has a very convivial and team-oriented feel, which was one of the main reasons I chose this firm. There are lots of social interactions, ranging from quick conversations in the hallway, lunches during the work week, happy hours and non-work-related gatherings on the weekends. I like that our office has wide hallways to facilitate quick chats throughout the day.”
- “The culture at V&E is phenomenal. The lawyers are incredibly kind, genuine, and supportive. I never once felt any competitiveness or uncomfortableness. Everyone truly is looking out for each other, and everyone is incredibly humble despite having such impressive backgrounds.”
- “V&E firmwide has a strong culture where lawyers and staff members are treated as valuable members of the same team.”
- “I think V&E is a special place because no one takes themselves too seriously. The attorneys are actually friends outside of work, which makes the work stuff much more pleasant.”
Diversity at Vinson & Elkins
Getting Hired Here
- “Firm is serious about recruiting and looks at high-quality candidates from a broad range of schools, though the majority of new hires come from T10 law schools.”
- “Grades are a bare minimum, but the firm places a large emphasis on personality and bringing together attorneys with diverse perspectives. Coming directly from law school, the firm primarily hires from T14 and reputable schools in the south-central region of the country.”
- “The firm has a commitment to grades and journal experience more so than other firms I have worked at. There are feeder schools which we maintain a heavy presence at.”
- “The firm interviews academically competitive candidates and focuses on regional and top-ranked schools. The firm is clearly committed to hiring a more diverse group of associates based on the candidates we interview. The firm cares a lot about personality fit, given that there are so many academically competitive candidates. There is training and additional resources for interviewers.”
Perks & Benefits