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  1. Careers at Winston

Experienced Attorneys

Winston offers a first-rate platform for experienced attorneys to achieve excellence and success.

Kenzie Whitfield, Senior Manager, Lateral Associate Recruiting

Experienced Attorneys

Winston offers a first-rate platform for experienced attorneys to achieve excellence and success.

Kenzie Whitfield, Senior Manager, Lateral Associate Recruiting

Available PositionsAvailable Positions
  • Available Positions
  • Benefits
  • FAQs
  • Search Firm Guidelines

Available Positions

What differentiates life at Winston is the quality of our people, our collegial culture, the challenging work, and the resources and opportunities we provide for professional growth.

The Work

  • You will work with world-class attorneys on important matters for significant clients. Learn more here.
  • Our assignment process ensures you will work on meaningful and challenging assignments that help you develop your skills and grow as an attorney.
  • You will receive feedback and formal reviews to maximize your learning and growth.


Our Culture

  • You will work with outstanding attorneys who are genuinely concerned about your professional growth and happiness.
  • We have woven a culture of inclusion and opportunity into the fabric of our firm. Learn more.
  • Winston is known for its commitment to excellence in serving the public interest. Learn more.

We are always seeking outstanding lawyers who want to join the Winston team. If you are interested in building your legal career with Winston, you can search and apply for available positions here. Learn more about career opportunities in Europe here.

Please Note: We only consider candidates who apply online. Please do not submit a duplicate application directly to a recruiting contact.

View our Policies & Notices.

Before I even had my computer I had two voicemails from attorneys welcoming me to the firm and offering me work.

Timothy Kincaid, Chicago, Transactions Department Co-Chair

In the end, people make up a firm, and the people at Winston are the type of people you want to work with and for.

Sofia Arguello, New York, Litigation Partner

I wanted to be more entrepreneurial in my practice, and Winston has always encouraged me to be innovative.

David Enzminger, Los Angeles, Litigation Partner

I have a hard time imagining any other firm that can offer better opportunities to learn from and work alongside attorneys who are routinely recognized as the best lawyers in the courtroom.

Jovial Wong, Washington D.C., Litigation Partner

U.S. Benefits

Winston’s comprehensive benefits provide the full spectrum of coverage and support for full-time attorneys and their families.

Our generous benefits and perks, which are subject to eligibility and may change from time to time, include:

Health & Well-Being
  • Medical, dental, and vision plans - coverage begins on first day of employment
  • Life & disability insurance
  • Pre-tax commuter benefit
  • Employee assistance program
  • Mental health first aid responders

Transparency in Coverage

Family-Friendly Support
  • 20 weeks of paid parental leave for both moms and dads of newborns and newly adopted children, regardless of caregiver status
  • Parental leave liaison and working parents career strategist
  • Reduced hours targets during ramp-down and ramp-up
  • Flexible hours schedules
  • Back-up child and elder care through Bright Horizons
  • Free overnight shipment of breast milk for nursing moms when they travel for work
  • On-site nursing rooms

Learn more.

Retirement
  • 401(k) retirement plan

Time Off
  • 10 paid holidays
  • Flexible vacation time

Compensation — View our associate salary disclosures
  • Discretionary performance bonus based on experience level, firm profitability, and billing 2,000 hours
  • Up to 100 hours total of billable hours credit for pro bono, DEI, firm investment, and firm citizenship hours
  • Prorated hours targets for laterals and ramp-up time provided to laterals

Reimbursement
  • Up to $5,000 relocation reimbursement if moving more than 75 miles
  • Bar registration and annual dues for one jurisdiction

Clerkship Benefits
  • Bonus for Judicial clerks joining Winston directly from an eligible clerkship
  • Credit for time spent clerking for both compensation and seniority purposes determined on a case-by-case basis

 

Interview FAQs for Experienced Attorneys

Winston only accepts applications submitted via our online self-apply system rather than by email or hard copy. Duplicate applications to attorneys or recruiting contacts (by email or hard copy) are discouraged. Visit the Search Available Positions section for more information and to view and apply for available opportunities at the firm.

The interview process may involve multiple rounds of meetings, which could include a combination of phone screenings, virtual interviews, and/or in-person interviews with attorneys from all levels of seniority. The initial interview is typically with one or two partners from a specific practice group followed by a second round of interviews with four or more attorneys, including a mixture of partners and associates.

Candidates who have degrees in electrical engineering, computer engineering, physics, biology, chemistry, and life sciences who are interested in becoming a practicing IP attorney are encouraged to submit their resume for consideration.

In response to associate feedback, Winston developed and implemented an improved Path to Partner process that has more structure, communication, and participative elements. Associates are first eligible for election to partner in their eighth year of practice, and decisions are made based on a clear set of criteria outlining performance expectations and business needs.

Our comprehensive Welcome to Winston lateral attorney integration program combines general orientation and IT training with targeted introductions to key firm contacts and includes content on the firm’s programs and policies designed to support attorneys’ success, Corporate Social Responsibility, and social media training. Lateral associates in their first year at the firm also participate in our formal Mentoring Program. 

Under our Winston University model, we provide an extensive selection of legal and professional skills, business development, and practice management skills training programs. Our integrated professional development team provides attorneys at every level with cutting-edge programs, optional coaching services to assist with career planning, and tailored learning curricula. Our holistic approach ensures our attorneys have the resources for peak performance. Visit our Professional Development page for more details.

All attorneys at Winston have access to one-on-one coaching to help them achieve peak personal and professional performance. Winston’s Director of Coaching and Well-Being works with attorneys on a case-by-case basis to help them develop personalized career plans, expand their business skills, and develop greater emotional and physical resilience.

The firm has a democratically elected Associates Committee empowered by firm management to provide honest and candid feedback. Recommendations from the committee have resulted in enhancements to technology resources, the evaluation process, training and mentoring, and other firm programs. The committee includes attorneys from domestic and international offices, as well as a partner liaison who acts as a formal resource and sounding board.

Our comprehensive Welcome to Winston lateral attorney integration program combines general orientation and IT training with targeted introductions to key firm contacts and includes content on the firm's programs and policies designed to support attorneys' success, Corporate Social Responsibility, and social media training. Lateral associates in their first year at the firm also participate in our formal Mentoring Program. 

Winston’s commitment to pro bono is reflected in the firm’s policies regarding credit for pro bono hours. Associates may apply 100 pro bono hours toward their 2,000-hours minimum requirement for bonus eligibility and are eligible to receive unlimited credit for pro bono hours after reaching a minimum of 1,900 billable hours. Visit our Pro Bono page for more details.

Winston offers an array of programs to help our attorneys balance and integrate their personal and professional lives, ranging from Reduced Hours Schedules and 20 weeks of gender-neutral parental leave, regardless of caregiver status. Visit our Attorney Work-Life Integration page for more details.

Search Firm Guidelines

Note to Legal Search Firm Agencies & Third-Party Job Posting Boards: Our posting of the positions on this website does not authorize placement agencies or other third parties to directly solicit candidates on the firm's behalf. We ask that search firms only submit resumes for positions posted on our website. All submissions must be made via the online application form.

All inquiries regarding prospective candidates should be directed to appropriate recruiting contact. There are no exceptions to this procedure and a placement fee will not be paid or a priority recognized for any resume sent to the Firm in any other manner.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding the firm's hiring policy or wish to discuss a potential working relationship with the firm, please contact a member of our attorney recruiting team.

View our recruiting contacts.

Associate Candidates

We require a current resume and law school transcript in order to consider a candidate. In addition, the Search Firm section of the online application must be completed and a current signed fee agreement must be on file with the firm. If you have a strong candidate whose experience and interests do not match an available position, please send Kenzie Whitfield a brief email summarizing the candidate's credentials and we will get back to you should we have a future opportunity.

View our associate salary disclosures.

Partner Candidates

Winston & Strawn works with select search firms on lateral partner recruiting. If you have a candidate who you believe would be a good fit for the Firm, please contact Melissa Ertek. Please note that we do not accept blind submissions.

 

 

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