What separates us from the pack?

It is a challenge for top law firms to distinguish themselves from each other. All top law firms have distinguished client lists. They all have excellent lawyers. They all have prominent alumni. We like to think that Fenwick & West is a special place, and that we offer superior law school graduates a truly unique experience.

The Free Market System
Most undergraduate students change their majors during their college years. Similarly, we feel that young associates need to be exposed to a variety of legal practices, both as summer associates and as young associates. Our associates have an extraordinary amount of control in selecting their work from among our practice groups and partners. We call this the Free Market System.

"In law school, you can't imagine the Free Market System at Fenwick & West. The outside world doesn't understand or believe it because it is so rare and unique. My interviewing partner told me about it, and I learned that no other firm has such a thing. It is extraordinary."

Professional Development
Your education doesn't end when you leave law school. We have committed extraordinary resources to our professional development program, Fenwick University. We have formal training programs for associates every other year, there are ample practice group courses and significant opportunities for development and training in fields tangent to law such as client relations, business and other related fields. Your mentoring partner, assigned on the first day, will help guide you through your array of professional development choices.

"The Professional Development program is incredible. It is my understanding from my law school classmates that we have a PD program that is pretty unique. It includes classes and training from outside the legal field, but is still pretty important to know; e.g., business training and building relationships."

Technology and Life Sciences
Since 1972, Fenwick & West has worked with clients who live on the cutting edge of science and technology. From entrepreneurial startups to multinational Fortune 50 companies, Fenwick & West attorneys live at the intersection of law and cutting-edge technology.

"Fenwick & West grows organically, it is a great, organic Silicon Valley firm with longtime roots among all the major players in the valley. I had no idea how much cool stuff Fenwick & West has done! I mean, we incorporated Apple! And for all the cool stuff we've done, there is no arrogance."

Lifestyle
The attorney lifestyle at Fenwick & West mirrors that of the engineers and scientists who populate the rapid growth companies of the San Francisco Bay Area. We work hard and we play hard. We expect all of our people to maintain a healthy balance between their working lives and their personal lives. And, of course, associates enjoy our Maui property on an annual basis. See www.fenwick.com/careers for details.

"I didn't realize the degree to which Fenwick & West was about having a positive lifestyle. We work hard, but we have fun, we celebrate birthdays and other events, we have happy hours, we can be silly and we can be irreverent."

The Fenwick & West Mountain View gym facility opened on January 18, 2008.