Keker & Van Nest LLP

Ours is a small firm. Associates work directly with senior attorneys and are given significant responsibility early. In culture, style and practice, we believe we have much to offer associates in comparison to our larger peers.

First, we encourage associates to assume as much responsibility as possible. Typically, this means that within a year of starting at the firm, associates will be taking and defending depositions, briefing and arguing substantive motions, and working directly with clients.

Second, given our size — about 65 attorneys — and the fact that we are not highly leveraged (we have slightly more than one associate per partner), we do not have the luxury of staffing cases with layers of associates, one reporting to another. We staff cases leanly, many times with only one partner and one or two associates. For those cases that carry a larger workload, we seek to put together a "team" that will stay constant throughout the course of the case. This approach provides associates with a deep knowledge of the cases on which they work, and the confidence to take on new challenges and advance their legal skills.

Third, because our associates do get hands on litigation experience faster, being considered for partner during the seventh or eighth year following graduation is the norm rather than the exception.

Fourth, we strongly believe that the complete skill set of a great litigator can only come with the broad practice experience one gets from working in many substantive areas of the law. Therefore, we have not formed formal practice groups. While many of our attorneys are renowned in specific fields, we pride ourselves in our ability to tackle any and all complex litigation, whether civil or criminal. We especially encourage our associates to work on a variety of cases.

Consistent with this approach, we seek attorneys who flourish in an environment where they have an opportunity to grow and to accept new challenges. Initiative and the ability to make decisions independently are among the qualities we admire most.