1. 800. 973.1177
LAWCROSSING FEATURED EMPLOYER OF THE WEEK
Palmer & Dodge [Joann Chang] With less than 200 lawyers, Palmer & Dodge is able to offer its clients an extensive array of legal services, ranging from affordable housing finance to venture capital law, while still offering its attorneys an exceptionally collegial work environment.
With less than 200 lawyers, Palmer & Dodge
find that although the firm has a minimum
practice area, get a base salary of $110,000.
is able to offer its clients an extensive array
billable hours requirement, the yearly
And if the new Back Bay office’s proximity to
of legal services, ranging from affordable
expectation of 1,800 hours is easily fulfilled.
Fenway Park wasn’t enough for its diehard
housing finance to venture capital law, while
For those associates with family priorities,
Red Sox fans, previous years have seen bo-
still offering its attorneys an exceptionally
the firm allows part-time opportunities. In a
nus levels of up to $40,000. In addition to life
collegial work environment. After 100 years
recent year, 17 out of the firm’s 80 associ-
insurance, emergency day care options and
in Boston, Palmer & Dodge has recently
ates took advantage of this optional track to
discounted health club membership, Palmer
added satellite offices in New York City and
partnership. Overall, this midsize firm seems
& Dodge also extends one of the most gener-
Washington D.C. to enhance its airport law
to beat many of the larger firms when it
ous vacations plans in the country, allowing
practices. As one of the best lifestyle firms,
comes to job satisfaction.
up to 4 weeks off, including 12 days of paid
attorneys in these three East Coast cities
holiday time.
lucky enough to work here find that they are
Although the firm chooses many of their
able to balance family life with a satisfying
first year associates from below the top ten
While Palmer & Dodge receives positive
and challenging legal career.
law schools, recent economic factors and
attention for its pro bono work, the firm
the small size of the firm have led to some
has yet to improve its workplace diversity.
The emphasis placed on the humane treat-
stiff job competition. In 2003, the firm took
The challenges of promoting diversity in
ment of the firm’s employees makes it easy
only 10 summer associates compared to
a smaller firm have meant that the firm
to overlook the firm’s stellar legal work.
the 24 they accepted in 2000. The declin-
must work harder to incorporate and retain
Aside from having the largest bond counsel
ing numbers have made it more difficult for
minority lawyers. Currently, Palmer & Dodge
practice in New England, the firm has also
first-years to get hired here, since Palmer
reports that 52 associates are women and 9
been making headlines for its legal work in
& Dodge recruits primarily from its summer
are minorities. The firm’s efforts to pro-
biomedical products. One recent example
associate pool, but graduating from Boston
mote pro bono service seem to be making
has included the firm’s 2003 representation
College or Harvard Law seems to help.
more progress. The firm not only includes
of German biotech company Epigenomics in a
While the firm officially recruits from 13 law
the hours spent on pro bono activities in the
deal with a Swiss pharmaceutical corporation
schools, the majority of recent associates
annual billable hours requirement, but also
regarding applications of DNA methylation.
have graduated from local schools. Once in
encourages participation in a wide array of
Palmer & Dodge also maintains a large client
the firm, however, associates find partner-
community organizations. Palmer & Dodge
roster of major national commercial banks
ship a challenging, but not impossible, goal.
attorneys have been affiliated with Action for
and investment banking firms, as well as in-
Ranking first in terms of “Opportunities to
Boston Community Development, Lawyers’
ternational banks in countries like Australia
Work with Partners” by American Lawyer’s
Committee for Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties
and Japan.
survey of mid-level associates and boasting
Union of Massachusetts.
an almost one-to-one partner-to-associate As new occupants of one of the most aes-
ratio, associates report that they have ample
thetically pleasing office spaces in the nation,
contact with partners and are met with fair
Palmer & Dodge continues to be committed
evaluations of their work.
Jobs Palmer & Dodge currently has several openings in its Boston office including opportuni-
to its status as a lifestyle firm. The Boston office is frequently described as collegial and
Palmer & Dodge compensates its associ-
ties for experienced corporate, intellectual
exceptionally pleasant, with most attorneys
ates at top Boston levels and slightly below
property, and public law associates. More
dedicated to their family lives. Associates
national levels. All first years, regardless of
information regarding attorney positions at
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LAWCROSSING FEATURED EMPLOYER OF THE WEEK
Palmer & Dodge can be found in the LawCrossing job database.
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1.800. 973. 1177