McDermott Will & Emery
Main Office: 227 West Monroe Street | Chicago | IL | 60606-5096
Phone: 1312-372-2000 | Fax: 1312-984-7700
McDermott Will & Emery follows the set of hiring criteria outlined below.
Hiring Criteria
McDermott firmly believes that a law school student today can certainly be groomed and skilled into a successful lawyer at the firm. However, the firm has in place well-structured and logical hiring criteria that it follows meticulously.
McDermott requires from students an excellent academic record along with superior writing skills. Besides, participation in Law Review, Journal and Moot Court along with relevant work experience is preferred. Candidates are also expected to demonstrate a balance of academic and personal success. Careers at the firm include judicial clerks, laterals, trainee solicitors, and openings for European graduate recruits.
For the purpose of recruiting, the firm attends campus interviews at law schools such as Boston College Law School, Boston University School of Law, Harvard Law School, Stanford Law School, University of New Hampshire School of Law, and Yale Law School. It also attends job fairs such as Boston Lawyers Group Job Fair and the Lavender Law Job Fair.
Pro bono
McDermott's firmly believes that its Pro Bono and Community Service Policy is for the underprivileged and deprived members of society who are in need of legal services but cannot obtain legal services in the market place.
Therefore, the firm provides Pro Bono services to low income individuals and families, non-profit organizations, entrepreneurs, and small business serving low income communities, who cannot afford appropriate legal representation. McDermott has also won several awards and accolades for its Pro Bono work such as:
Honored with the Pro Bono Attorney Award from Lawyers for Children America for dedication to representing abused and neglected children.
Awarded the National Association of Pro Bono Professionals "2011 William Reece Smith Jr. Special Services to Pro Bono Award" with special recognition for its long-standing collaboration with Medical-Legal Partnership and the National Center for Medical-Legal Partnership (National Center).
Recognized by the Family Defense Center for its dedication to FDC's mission by advocating for justice for families in the child welfare system.
McDermott partners and associates were honored by the Illinois Legal Aid Online as Pro Bono Volunteers of the Month for securing asylum for a victim of sex trafficking.
The firm encourages its lawyers to work on pro bono matters after screening the matters and allotting them to concerned legal team. Some of the areas which it has provided pro bono activities are:
Asylum & Immigration
Disability Rights
Gay
Lesbian and Transgender Rights
Homelessness and Hunger
Prisoner's Rights
Racial & Ethnic Discrimination
Foster Care & Government Custody
Civil & Human Rights
Environmental Law
Labor & Employment
Consumer Rights
Mergers & Acquisitions
Tax Preparation & Counseling
Tax Disputes
Death Penalty
Habeas Corpus
Domestic Violence
Affordable Housing
Habitability
Landlord/Tenant
Social Security Benefits
Intellectual Property
The firm also considers the lawyer's personal interests and expertise before allocating the case. McDermott allocated 3.24% of billable hours to pro bono activities last year. This translated into a 53 average hours per attorney last year.
