While some of our attorneys started their careers at Caplin & Drysdale, others transitioned to the firm after holding distinguished positions with government agencies, international law firms, accounting firms, or in-house legal departments. Attorneys are drawn to our firm because of the collaborative environment and extraordinary opportunities and responsibilities they are given to build a successful practice. When attorneys join a new firm, the initial transition can seem overwhelming and frustrating. We take significant pride in ensuring our new attorneys feel welcome and become a contributing member of the team. During their first week, new attorneys receive a one-on-one orientation, lunch with other attorneys, and are honored at a ‘Welcome Event', where the entire firm has an opportunity to meet them.
Our Associate base compensation structure is lockstep and based on either 1,700 or 1,950 billable hours (depending on an Associate's practice group and past performance). The firm’s current base compensation for a non-litigation first-year Associate is $185,000, and a litigation first-year Associate is $225,000. Associates become bonus-eligible at 1700 hours and bonuses are driven by performance, with no cap. Indeed, recent bonuses for exceptional performers have exceeded the market rate. Caplin & Drysdale also offers a highly competitive benefits package, including a generous 401(k) Plan, parental leave (maternity and paternity), various cafeteria plan benefits, and flexible work schedules.
We believe in our attorneys and are devoted to helping them advance and succeed in their careers. Several ways that we’re able to do this is through the implementation of a broad range of professional development programs and initiatives, a formal mentorship program, continuing legal education, and business development training. One of the notable perks that we offer is financial reimbursement in obtaining advanced legal degrees, including an LL.M. in Taxation while working at Caplin & Drysdale, to all qualifying attorneys. Our boutique style practice also allows new attorneys to work on high-profile matters early on in their careers, while receiving regular supervision and guidance. Moreover, Caplin & Drysdale makes significant investments in technology, staffing, and other resources to ensure our attorneys have the proper support and resources to improve their work-life balance. We invite you to speak with any of our attorneys to see if Caplin & Drysdale would be the right fit for you.
For more information or to apply, please contact Nawel Moreno at nmoreno@capdale.com or apply here.
Lateral Attorneys
Unlike other law firms, we rarely handle routine tax and litigation matters; therefore, our attorneys need to be highly-skilled legal advocates. We aim to offer our clients a very high level of service, which is facilitated by hiring attorneys who already demonstrate an exemplary skill set, strong knowledge base, and relevant experience.
Caplin & Drysdale regularly seeks out experienced lateral attorneys to join the firm. We consider attorneys that have related experience, excellent academic credentials, and a passion to meet the diverse needs of our clients. If you are looking for an accomplished law firm where you can continue to focus on providing the highest standards of professional and ethical excellence, then you've come to the right place.
Entry Level Attorneys
It can be nerve-wracking for a recent law school graduate to walk into a law firm and be expected to perform with little practical experience. Here, we take the necessary steps to make transitioning into our firm an enjoyable learning experience.
As a first year Associate, you will find a significant difference between being an entry level attorney at a large firm and practicing at a firm like Caplin & Drysdale. You will not be "just a number", you will not be stuck in an office pushing papers and doing document review for the first few years, and you will not be lost in the shuffle. At Caplin & Drysdale, you are more than an entry level attorney, you are an integral part of the team. You will get hands-on experience from day one, working directly with senior Members and practice group leaders, as well as interacting with clients. Our first-year Associates are given substantive and challenging assignments and are encouraged to voice their opinions and offer input.
If you are looking for a firm that values teamwork, personal and professional growth, inclusion, hard work and achievement, please submit your resume and transcript for consideration.
Law Students
For any position in the firm, we’ve always hired with care since we value our collegiality. Our Summer Associate classes were traditionally small, and we designed it that way for a reason. We would view each new Summer Associate as a future Associate and Member, and we wanted to give law students a real-world perspective of an attorney’s life at Caplin & Drysdale. By keeping our classes small, we were able to focus on each Summer Associate and give them the level of attention and guidance needed to be successful in their careers. Many of our current Members, Of Counsels and Associates started their careers at Caplin & Drysdale as Summer Associates.
Our past Summer Associate recruiting efforts had largely focused on first-year law students interested in tax law, with the intention that those Summer Associates would return to the firm after their second year of law school and ultimately as a first-year Tax Associate. Our goal was to introduce tax law to students who may otherwise not cross paths with it, and hopefully help spark an interest. We are proud to know that many of our former Summer Associates continued their careers in Tax.
We do not presently have any openings for Summer Associates, but if you would like to submit your materials to have on file or for a Law Clerk position, please submit your resume and transcript for consideration here.
If you are a 3L law student who would like to apply for a first-year Associate position, please submit your application here. We encourage applicants to also check for current Employment Opportunities on our website.
Judicial Clerks
Caplin & Drysdale values the practical experience that judicial clerks are exposed to and in turn are able build upon after their clerkship is completed. We want to be a part of the process of helping you explore that experience and to ensure your success in the legal profession. In recent years, we have hired judicial clerks from various courts across the country, some of whom were previous Summer Associates at our firm.
The firm encourages judicial clerks to apply for an Associate position with us. Generally, Associates who have clerked immediately following graduation from law school will be hired and compensated at the same level as their graduating class. Also, we will consider bonuses to judicial clerks once employment commences.
For more information, please contact Nawel Moreno at nmoreno@capdale.com.
