bigGAYlaw ??? Forum

[j2d3]

What's the gayest biglaw firm? Not in terms of the type of cases the firm handles but the overall swish factor among partners and associates?

I'm legitimately curious, but flame on, if you must.

[Cupidity]

whichever one you end up at.

[j2d3]

whichever one you end up at.

This goes without saying. However, I need some help figuring that out!

Is there no GLBT100?

I have an idea for the next issue of the Advocate They're all into rankings and lists now because everyone in publishing is because everyone seems to love lists. Srsly. Have several friends who work there and at all those gay rags. You know they're all owned by the same company, regent media, which I call the Gay Media Empire or WOE (We Own Everything). Don't be surprised to see law firms and schools ranked according to GLBT friendliness very soon!

[crazycanuck]

WLRK

[IStillPlayVideoGames]

In case this is seriously, I'll answer: when I was interviewing at firms I paid special attention to firms that had a perfect score from HRC. That's the most accurate metric I could find. But let me know if you find something better.

[j2d3]

In case this is seriously, I'll answer: when I was interviewing at firms I paid special attention to firms that had a perfect score from HRC. That's the most accurate metric I could find. But let me know if you find something better.

I am serious, sorry I frequently sound like I'm joking when I'm not and vice versa thanks for the hrc tip, I didn't know about that.

[IStillPlayVideoGames]

In case this is seriously, I'll answer: when I was interviewing at firms I paid special attention to firms that had a perfect score from HRC. That's the most accurate metric I could find. But let me know if you find something better.

I am serious, sorry I frequently sound like I'm joking when I'm not and vice versa thanks for the hrc tip, I didn't know about that.

No problem, it was everyone else's reaction that gave me pause about your sincerity, not your question.

Another thing, a lot of firms have affinity groups for different groups and a lot of one for their LGBT employees. This isn't dispositive and I've never been a huge fan of them, per se, but it's something to look into.

[Anonymous User]

I've heard Arent Fox and Covington are gay-friendly. Look into them maybe.

[Kretzy]

First off, I love this question, and have been really curious about this as well.

Historically, Wachtell did all of the pro bono work for Steffan v. United States in the early 90s. I don't know who else is really gay friendly, but I'd like to know.

[chocolatechip]

In the NALP forms, there is a portion where firms can list their number of openly glbt peeps for a particular office.

[underdawg]

In case this is seriously, I'll answer: when I was interviewing at firms I paid special attention to firms that had a perfect score from HRC. That's the most accurate metric I could find. But let me know if you find something better.

Most firms do. Watch out for ones with lower than 100.

David Boies from Boies Schiller is working on pro bono stuff with gay marriage.

Also have any of you guys interviewed with anyone obviously gay? I haven't, but my gay-dar sucks.

[IStillPlayVideoGames]

Also have any of you guys interviewed with anyone obviously gay? I haven't, but my gay-dar sucks.

I have. One big firm gave me a bunch of interviewers from the gay affinity group. Another had one of the attorneys come out to me during the interview, and a third sent to to lunch with one. I actually really enjoyed being able to talk to gay attorneys who work at the firm as it allowed me to better gauge how comfortable I would be working there.

[regatsrj]

Apparently Cleary Gottlieb is nicknamed "Queery Gottlieb."

[crazycanuck]

In case this is seriously, I'll answer: when I was interviewing at firms I paid special attention to firms that had a perfect score from HRC. That's the most accurate metric I could find. But let me know if you find something better.

Most firms do. Watch out for ones with lower than 100.

David Boies from Boies Schiller is working on pro bono stuff with gay marriage.

Also have any of you guys interviewed with anyone obviously gay? I haven't, but my gay-dar sucks.

Shhhh, don't be scared.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fWEW-9J-cLs

[DavidYurman85]

Mayer Brown just had a glbt atty (Steve Sanders) argue in front of SCOTUS. There was an article about him on ATL and a small note at the bottom about other glbt attys that have argued in front of SCOTUS.

[BradyToMoss]

Mayer Brown just had a glbt atty (Steve Sanders) argue in front of SCOTUS. There was an article about him on ATL and a small note at the bottom about other glbt attys that have argued in front of SCOTUS.

Sanders was only a 4th year associate, too. Pretty damn impressive to be in front of SCOTUS just 4 years out of law school.

[DavidYurman85]

Mayer Brown just had a glbt atty (Steve Sanders) argue in front of SCOTUS. There was an article about him on ATL and a small note at the bottom about other glbt attys that have argued in front of SCOTUS.

Sanders was only a 4th year associate, too. Pretty damn impressive to be in front of SCOTUS just 4 years out of law school.

I'll say...

[nealric]

Is this guy an associate? Is there a boat ride?

[j2d3]

Is this guy an associate? Is there a boat ride?

Big Gay Al is exactly who I was thinking of when I wrote the post. I'm glad I wrote it, too, it's been really helpful!

Speaking of Big Gay Al, did you see his appearance in last week's hilarious episode of Southpark? It was called "the F-word." I can't believe GLAAD took the bait. What a bunch of [homophobic language redacted]! http://www.queerty.com/cant-a-televisio ... -20091106/

I'm still in the getting-into-law-school stage of the process, but it's great to have all the info you guys have shared.

I'm super-duper, thanks for asking!

[Anonymous User]

I used to work at Arnold & Porter and it is EXTREMELY gay friendly. There were a number of GLBT partners and they did a lot of events. They also were the first firm to have a written policy against trans discrimination. Obviously it's a different issue, but IMO a good indicator of a very progressive stance. In any case I certainly never noticed anything intolerant about employee interactions.

[Anonymous User]

HRC is a good source to use for comparing employers, and another good source is lavender law. they have a career fair each year for lgbt applicants and any employer who wants to recruit at the fair must answer a few questions about the different benefits they offer for lgbt attorneys at the firm. it is another good indicator of how gay-friendly a law firm may be. check out the survey for this past year here: --LinkRemoved--

[Dania]

Weil Gotshal is supportive and there is a large gay community at Cravath.

[j2d3]

Just wanted to say thanks again to those of you who have responded. I've been researching by checking out the websites of the firms mentioned here and on the sites you've mentioned. I search for bios of lawyers who practice in the areas I'm interested in, and then check out where they went to school (since I'm still decided where I want to go). It's fascinating, and it actually undercuts a lot of the prestige-whoring drivel that is all over this website. I'm an Angelino and would prefer to stay in LA and practice IP law. The associates who matched my searches come from a wide array of schools, and it is quite clear that getting a biglaw job does NOT require a t14 school. (As I suspected.) Of course I want to go to the best school I can get into, but I'm much less worried about the USNWR ranking of the school than many people seem to be. The idea that you just can't get a job in biglaw anywhere without a t14 degree just doesn't hold up when you start doing the research.

RE Arnold and Porter's anti-trans discrimination policy. Yeah, it's not the same thing, but it's actually extremely important to me. I love that they were the first with such a policy. A&P looks like a great place to work.

[FLS08]

There may not be an LGBT 100, but Vault does rank the top 20 law firms for LGBT diversity. Surprisingly, Queery Gottlieb only came in second:

1 Jenner & Block LLP 9.531 Chicago, IL
2 Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP 9.486 New York, NY
3 Paul Weiss Rifkind Wharton & Garrison LLP 9.436 New York, NY
4 Irell & Manella LLP 9.400 Los Angeles, CA
5 Alston & Bird LLP 9.250 Atlanta, GA
6 Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP 9.229 New York, NY
7 Ropes & Gray LLP 9.208 Boston, MA
8 Morrison & Foerster LLP 9.188 San Francisco, CA
9 Allen & Overy LLP 9.152 New York, NY
10 Bingham McCutchen LLP 9.146 Boston, MA
11 Arnold & Porter LLP 9.103 Washington, DC
12 Debevoise & Plimpton LLP 9.091 New York, NY
12 Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal LLP 9.091 Chicago, IL
13 arent fox llp 9.076 Washington, DC
14 Mintz Levin Cohn Ferris Glovsky and Popeo P.C. 9.046 Boston, MA
15 Weil Gotshal & Manges LLP 9.043 New York, NY
16 Littler Mendelson P.C. 9.029 San Francisco, CA
17 Sullivan & Cromwell LLP 9.010 New York, NY
18 Manatt Phelps & Phillips LLP 9.000 Los Angeles, CA
19 Shook Hardy & Bacon L.L.P. 8.939 Kansas City, MO
20 Carlton Fields P.A. 8.920 Tampa, FL

[Kretzy]

19 Shook Hardy & Bacon L.L.P. 8.939 Kansas City, MO

Teeheehee. I'm 8 years old. Laughed for a full minute.