Associate Benefits

McDermott Will & Emery is an equal opportunity employer.  It is our policy to provide an equal opportunity to all individuals without regard to race, color, ethnicity, religion, gender, age, gender expression and identity, national origin, ancestry, disability, transgender or sexual orientation, marital status, type of discharge from the military (other than dishonorable) or any other classification protected by law. This policy applies to all aspects of the relationship between the Firm and an employee.

Adoption Leave (U.S. Offices)
All full-time Associates who are the primary caregiver in an adoption will be granted 18 weeks paid leave at 100% compensation when adopting an infant or young child.  Adoption Leave, Maternity Leave, Short Term Disability, Paternity Leave, and FMLA are administered concurrently. All full-time Associates who are not the primary caregiver when adopting an infant or young child are eligible for 4 weeks of paid leave at 100% compensation.

Attorney Referral Program
Any Income Partner or Associate who refers an experienced attorney or judicial clerk whom the Firm hires as a full-time associate will receive $10,000.  Referral fees are payable after the new hire has completed six months of employment.

Bar Associate Dues
McDermott will also pay the dues for one bar association membership for each attorney (limited to the actual required dues).  Section fees, subsections, or voluntary contributions are not included.

Attorneys Who are Members of Multiple Bars
McDermott pays the fees assessed by the jurisdiction in which you are a resident plus the registration fees assessed by any other jurisdiction in which the Firm has asked you to qualify or where considered in the business interests of the Firm.

Business Casual
McDermott’s dress code is business casual year-round in most offices.  Attorneys attending client meetings, court appearances, or on other appropriate occasions are expected to present themselves in a business attire. 

Backup Child Care (certain offices)
McDermott provides backup child care arrangements in certain offices for parents of children between the ages of 3 months and 13 years.  The program is designed to provide child care when regular child care is unavailable. 

Bar Registration Fees
McDermott will pay the Bar Registration fee for each attorney for the jurisdiction in which the attorney’s office is located.  (The fee is variously described as a registration fee, a bar fee, a licensing fee, or a licensing tax.)

Bar Exam and Related Expenses
McDermott will reimburse for the cost of the following exam-related expenses:

  1. One Bar Review Course
  2. One PMBR Review Course
  3. The Multi-State Professional Responsibility Exam, and one
  4. Bar Exam Fee  

McDermott will allow 3 weeks paid time off for lateral attorneys who need to study for and take a bar exam once they have begun working for the Firm.

Court Admission Fee
Admission fees for courts within the jurisdiction in which an attorney practices are paid for by the Firm.

House Hunting / Relocation Expenses
McDermott will pay house hunting and moving expenses up to $3,000 if the attorney is relocating more than 100 miles between their school/home to a city in which they will be joining McDermott. 

Judicial Clerkship Bonus
Associates who join McDermott directly from a clerkship with a United States federal court or the highest court in any state and the District of Columbia receive a clerkship bonus payable on their first day of work. 

Maternity Leave – Birth Parent  (U.S. Offices)
McDermott offers 12 weeks paid maternity leave at 100% compensation, effective immediately upon joining the Firm, to all full-time Associates who give birth and an additional 6 weeks if the attorney is the primary caregiver, bringing the total paid to 18 weeks.  Adoption Leave, Maternity Leave, Short Term Disability, Paternity Leave and FMLA are administered concurrently. 

Non-Birth Parent [Paternity] Leave Policy (U.S. Offices)
McDermott offers 4 weeks paid paternity leave at 100% compensation for the birth or adoption of a child to all full-time Associates who are not the primary caregiver  An additional 6 weeks is available for non-birth parents who serve as the primary caregiver   This benefit is effective immediately upon joining the Firm.

Savings and Retirement Plan (U.S. Offices)
The Firm maintains the Savings and Retirement Plan (SRP) for all eligible attorneys.  The SRP is a tax-qualified plan.  Attorneys are eligible to participate immediately upon their date of hire.