Williams Mullen

Williams Mullen is proud of the experiences that our associates have as attorneys as they experience a quality of life not common in other firms. Associates are also given significant responsibility in the day-to-day services we provide for our clients. 

What to Expect

Associates experience an early professional responsibility and enhanced quality of life at Williams Mullen. These traits play an important role in the development toward becoming a shareholder of the firm. On average, associates generally become eligible for consideration for shareholder status during their ninth year. Associates at Williams Mullen are given responsibility from the first day they join the firm. From the start, we encourage and emphasize direct client contact. As an associate begins to exhibit ability and interest in a particular practice area, every effort is made to offer the associate opportunities to work in that field.

Although Williams Mullen has high professional expectations for our associates, we have not lost sight of the importance of personal and community commitments. Associates participate in a number of activities outside of the firm, including bar associations, community activities and pro bono work, and Williams Mullen's Business Development Team takes an active role in providing these important opportunities.

Associate Development

At Williams Mullen, we place significant emphasis on the professional development of our associates.

A new associate is assigned to work directly with at least one shareholder. This shareholder is responsible for monitoring assignments and workload. Although assignments often come directly from the supervising attorney, all associates are encouraged to accept projects from other members of the firm. The firm recognizes that many new attorneys have little practical background on which to base a decision as to the type of law they wish to pursue. For this reason, every new associate is given a broad range of work to provide exposure to as many practice areas as possible. In their first two years of practice, associates also participate in training sessions and mentoring programs to facilitate their professional development at Williams Mullen.

The Williams Mullen New Associate Training Program is designed to introduce new associates to the firm and the business of practicing law, as well as professional development aspects to help new associates transition from student life to firm life.

Associates continue to receive increasing levels of responsibility following their first two years at Williams Mullen. We encourage associates to develop skills outside of day-to-day legal work and also encourage and support associate involvement in activities outside of the firm.

Each year, associates complete self-evaluations that focus on their experiences at Williams Mullen and their professional development in and outside of the firm. An evaluation committee reviews these self-evaluations, along with evaluations prepared by supervising attorneys, and discusses them individually with the associate. The formal evaluation process combined with the routine day to day evaluation of work are designed to keep each associate fully aware of his or her status with respect to becoming a Williams Mullen shareholder.

Fast Facts

Associate Bonus Program*: Associates are eligible to receive both an hours bonus, paid in March, and a merit bonus, paid in September. The hours bonus is awarded to associates who achieve the bonus program goals, which for Juniors and Intermediates is 1800 hours and for Seniors if 1700 hours of billable work. The merit bonus is awarded based on the associate's overall performance, including non-billable firm activities, pro bono work and marketing efforts.

Shareholder Track: Consideration for shareholder vote is approximately nine years after passing the Bar Exam.

Start Date: First-year associates typically start the second Monday after Labor Day.

Bar Fees: Williams Mullen reimburses first-year associates for the BAR/BRI (or equivalent) review course fees, MPRE course fees and bar examination application fees.

Clerkship Recognition*: The amount paid is determined on an individual basis and is dependent upon the court level of the clerkship.

Vacation: Each associate receives three weeks vacation. Scheduling vacation is at the associate's discretion, subject to approval from the supervising attorney and department head.

Professional Allowances: Williams Mullen pays all professional license fees and renewals and customary bar association dues. Each attorney also has a bar association activities allowance.

Employee Benefits: Williams Mullen pays all or a portion of the cost of each associate's health, dental, vision, life, accident and long-term disability insurance. These same benefits are also available to eligible domestic partners. Associates pay for a portion of their health and dental insurance premiums with pre-tax dollars. Associates are eligible for flexible spending accounts for health and dependent care expenses. The firm also offers subsidized health club memberships and a graduated parking benefit. During the first of the month after 30 days of employment, associates are eligible to participate in the firm's 401(k) plan.

*All bonuses are compensation and subject to tax withholdings.