Overview
Introduction
With approximately 350 lawyers across 10 offices—including two international posts—Bracewell LLP is a global firm with a range of practices. But the firm’s Texas roots are still as strong as demonstrated by its impact in the energy sector, four offices within the state, and a friendly, hospitable culture.
Firm Stats
Total No. Attorneys (2024)
No. of Partners Named (2023)
Featured Rankings
No. of 1st Year Associates Hired (2024)
No. of Summer Associates (2024)
Base Salary
Vault Verdict
Bracewell hires are academically accomplished and come from top schools near regional offices. Coworkers are personable and socialize easily to the point of becoming friends. Partners are accessible and responsive to requests for guidance and feedback, and there is no shortage of hands-on learning opportunities. The associate/partner relationship is a highlight of the firm. Official training through CLEs and boot camps is impactful. Lateral hires feel welcomed, supported, and onboarded effectively. Leanly staffed teams and frequent interactions with clients mean that associates have engaging, challenging work assignments. Bracewell management and partners ensure that work distribution is fair, and paired with the 2,000-hour billable requirement there is an emphasis on gaining expe...
About the Firm
Bracewell LLP is a global firm, with approximately 350 lawyers covering a range of practices across the firm’s 10 offices. The firm’s roots in the Lone Star state are still strong as is demonstrated by its four Texas locations and impact on the energy sector.
Hailing from Houston
Bracewell started as a glimmer in the eyes of four Houston attorneys (three of whom bore the surname Bracewell) in 1945. J.S. Bracewell, his sons Searcy and Fentress, and Bert H. Tunks established a practice that was quickly associated with Texas movers and shakers. Searcy Bracewell was elected to the Texas House of Representatives in 1947 and Senate in 1949. Harry Patterson joined in 1951 and ascended to name partner in 1966. Originally a litigation shop, the firm established a corporate practice in 1971...
Associate Reviews
- “Bracewell is very collegial. We care deeply about our colleagues, and throughout the firm, you can tell that there are many close friendships between people here. Lawyers socialize outside of work as friends and with their families all the time. There are also plenty of firm-organized opportunities to socialize, both at and outside the office.”
- “The firm culture is very much on the most social end of the spectrum as far as the elite law firms are concerned. The hierarchy is aware of this and makes a point of over-indexing on the social/culture fit, and the attorneys here view that as a good thing. Many of the attorneys here have spent the entirety of their legal career here and want to retire here.”
- “The firm culture is interactive, personable, and mentoring. Bracewell gives us excellent opportunities to work with multiple partners and grow professionally. Many of the lawyers socialize together in firm-organized events, bar and professional organization-organized events, and events planned by individuals.”
- “There is an open-door workplace at Bracewell. No matter the time of day, there is always someone to talk with in the hall. My practice group does impromptu happy hours, but we also have a set happy hour planned [for] the first Friday of every month. There are also a lot of office-wide events like all-attorney lunch, which allows the different practice groups to get the chance to hang out.”
Why Work Here
Hands-on experience, combined with meaningful interactions with partners and associates, make Bracewell an ideal place to launch your legal career. Our summer associate program offers opportunities to work on substantive legal matters, professional development training, formal and informal mentoring, and social activities that allow you to form lasting connections.
Getting Hired Here
- “We hire a lot from Texas schools (University of Texas at Austin, SMU, University of Houston, South Texas College of Law), but we also hire a lot from Vanderbilt, University of Virginia, and others. We try to diversify our classes by bringing in at least half of our classes from out-of-state schools. We are generally looking for performers at the top of their classes from highly ranked schools, ideally in the top one-third at a top 15 school and in the top one-fourth at schools ranked outside of the top 15.”
- “Must be a strong culture fit and also needs to have good grades from a top law school. Generally the firm draws most associates from UT and UVA and also selects a handful of the top students from SMU, Tulane, UH, and Baylor.”
- “Bracewell utilizes the usual process of on-campus interviews and callback interviews. The firm generally looks for a well-rounded candidate who has good grades, interesting extracurricular activities, and a personality that fits in with the rest of the attorneys. The main feeder school for the Houston office is the University of Texas Law School. Bracewell has guidelines to help avoid bias during interviews.”
- “I think we have formalized our recruiting efforts in the DC office recently with the hiring of a dedicated recruiter. This has improved the quality and fit of potential candidates. We typically recruit from a handful of DC-area schools (GW and UVA) as well as from Texas schools (UT).”
Perks & Benefits