Latham & Watkins: What Law Students Should Know

Latham & Watkins is the largest law firm in the world by gross revenue. That sentence alone tells you something, this is not a firm that thinks small. Founded in Los Angeles in 1934, Latham has grown into a genuinely global operation with more than 3,000 lawyers across 30+ offices on four continents. It is the BigLaw firm most likely to have an office wherever your deal needs one.

The Basics

• Vault Rank: #4
• Headquarters: Originally Los Angeles, now effectively multi-headquartered (LA, New York, DC, London)
• US Offices: New York, Los Angeles, Washington DC, Chicago, Houston, San Francisco, Silicon Valley, San Diego, Boston, Austin, Orange County, Century City
• Size: ~3,000+ attorneys worldwide
• Starting Salary: $225,000

What They Are Known For

Everything. That is not a joke, Latham has top-tier practices across corporate, litigation, finance, tax, IP, environmental, healthcare, and more. The firm's strategy has been to build elite practices in every major area rather than concentrating on one or two signatures.

Corporate and M&A generate massive revenue. Finance, including leveraged finance, capital markets, and fund formation, is a powerhouse. Litigation is enormous, covering everything from securities to antitrust to white collar. The IP practice, particularly in Silicon Valley and San Diego, is among the best. Tax is strong. Environmental and energy are national leaders.

The firm's breadth is matched by its geographic spread. Unlike many V5 firms that are essentially New York operations with satellite offices, Latham has real, substantial offices across the country. The LA, DC, Chicago, and Houston offices are not afterthoughts, they are major revenue centers with hundreds of attorneys each.

Culture and the Free-Market System

Latham runs a free-market assignment system. There is no formal rotation. Instead, incoming associates are hired into a department (corporate, litigation, tax, etc.) and then find their own work within that department. You talk to partners, express interest in deals, and build your own book of assignments.

The free-market system rewards initiative. If you are the type who networks naturally and advocates for yourself, you will thrive. If you are the type who wants work assigned to you in an orderly fashion, it can feel chaotic, especially in the first few months.

Latham's culture is often described as entrepreneurial and collegial. The firm takes culture seriously, there is an annual retreat, significant investment in associate development, and a genuine effort to make the place feel less hierarchical than traditional BigLaw. Associates at Latham consistently rate their satisfaction highly in surveys.

The flip side of entrepreneurial is demanding. Latham works hard. Hours are high. But the firm is transparent about expectations, and the quality of work is consistently excellent.

Summer Program

Latham's summer class is large, often 200+ summers across all US offices. This is one of the biggest summer programs in the country.

The program is well-run and gives summers real exposure to the free-market system. You will be expected to seek out work, attend practice group events, and start building relationships. The social programming is excellent, Latham spends generously on its summers.

Offer rates are consistently high. Latham needs a large class to fuel its growth, and the firm works hard during the summer to make sure people want to come back.

Offices

This is where Latham genuinely differentiates itself. Most elite firms are New York firms that happen to have other offices. Latham is a national and global firm where multiple offices operate at the highest level.

New York is the largest office and handles the bulk of East Coast deal work. LA (Century City) is the historic home and remains a major hub, particularly for entertainment, PE, and West Coast corporate work. DC has a massive regulatory, litigation, and government practice. Houston is a powerhouse for energy and finance. Chicago is strong across the board. Silicon Valley and San Diego lead the IP and tech practices.

If you do not want to live in New York but still want V5-quality work, Latham is the most realistic option. The firm's multi-office structure means you can build a career in LA, DC, Houston, or Chicago without feeling like you are in a second-tier outpost.

Compensation

Latham matches the Cravath scale. $225,000 base for first-years with a $21,000 bonus. Total first-year comp: approximately $246,000.

Some offices in lower cost-of-living markets occasionally have geographic differentials, but the major offices are all at full market.

Who Should Apply

Latham is the right firm for students who want elite work without being locked into New York. It is the right firm for students who are self-starters and comfortable in a free-market environment. And it is the right firm for students who want optionality, with top practices in virtually every area and offices in every major market, you are unlikely to outgrow Latham's platform.

If you like the idea of a firm that is simultaneously massive and meritocratic, where the entrepreneurial associate who hustles for great work will be rewarded regardless of which office they sit in, Latham is hard to beat.