FAQs

Every attorney must be an active member in good standing of the bar in the state or jurisdiction of his or her resident office or must be actively pursuing such admission.

We do not sponsor a program for foreign-educated attorneys seeking a temporary position in U.S. law firms as a prerequisite for receiving their LL.M. degree. We do accept applications from individuals with a foreign LL.M. degree who have taken steps to be admitted to the state bar of their resident office or who are eligible to sit for a U.S. bar examination.

Resumes and law school transcripts are required of all applicants seeking employment opportunities. Interviews typically include meeting with four to six attorneys in the applicant's expressed area of interest. For lateral partner candidates, there are additional steps.

Our minimum annual billable requirement for full-time associate employment is 1,900 hours. Hours committed toward the firm's pro bono practice are also given billable hour credit.

Offices and practice groups handle attorney mentoring in a variety of ways. Some formally assign senior attorneys and partners as mentors for the professional development of new attorneys, while others focus on group mentoring. No matter how each program is designed, the goal is the same: to ensure that each attorney has a mentor who is committed to investing time in his or her professional growth.

Training takes many forms. New attorneys learn on the job, working side by side with more senior attorneys. Our orientation programs and seminars offer more structured training. Departments and practice groups present nuts-and-bolts sessions for junior attorneys, while the groups' monthly luncheons give attorneys at all levels a chance to exchange information and keep abreast of new developments in their areas.

We believe that our clients are best served when the solutions we offer spring from varied experiences and perspectives. We foster an environment that welcomes and includes all people, regardless of race, religion, ethnicity, age, gender, sexual orientation, or gender identification. Our Diversity Director and Diversity Committee oversee our efforts to increase diversity in the legal profession through the daily operation of the firm and through an array of outreach efforts. We support national, regional, and local organizations that work toward the advancement of diversity in the legal profession; we host and participate in minority job fairs; and we have developed a landmark pipeline project in Philadelphia to nurture the skills and aspirations of inner-city high school students.

Ballard Spahr staffs its cases efficiently, which gives all attorneys an opportunity for a high level of responsibility. Our professionals have access to excellent resources, allowing for the highest-quality services to be provided to our clients.

Ballard Spahr prides itself in offering the best legal services possible, which includes the ability to call upon all attorney resources in all offices, for each matter.

Attorney requests to work part time are evaluated on a case-by-case basis, taking into account the needs of the firm and the circumstances of the individual.

Attorneys are first eligible to be considered for admission to the partnership eight years after law school graduation.