United States Legal Assistants

Diversity is not a buzzword or a question of quotas. It's about quality and excellence, now and in the future. By increasing the diversity of students and professionals at the Firm, we create a dynamic, supportive work environment and develop teams that provide the best solutions for our clients. Our lawyers represent 97 nationalities and speak 89 languages, which is vital to our ability to effectively represent our diverse clients throughout the world.

We go a long way to attract talent––both students and experienced lawyers––and to make sure that they have the most fulfilling personal and professional experiences at the Firm. We are proud to consistently achieve top national and international rankings on diversity surveys, when compared with the rankings of peer firms. We know that competition for the best lawyers is stiff, and we've got to stay at the top of our game to attract and retain top talent.

Our lawyers are active in a number of Firm-led and collaborative initiatives aimed at making a significant impact on diversity from grade school to graduate school and law firms to NGOs.

Visit our Diversity Initiative site to learn more.

We work hard to do good things.

White & Case is committed to providing pro bono services to those who cannot afford legal representation, and we partner with numerous agencies and organizations in these endeavors. Many legal assistants find it very rewarding to work on pro bono matters where they can utilize their legal assistant and language skills to provide much-needed support to members of the community.

Read more about our Pro Bono work and Global Citizenship initiatives.

Entry-level corporate legal assistants are college graduates who work under the supervision of corporate lawyers in providing legal services to clients. Responsibilities vary depending upon the section to which the legal assistant is assigned. Areas of practice include one or more of the following areas: bank finance; bankruptcy, workouts and capital markets; energy infrastructure, project and asset finance; and mergers and acquisitions. Corporate legal assistants acquire an understanding of a corporate transaction, assist with corporate research and learn the fundamentals of succeeding in a team environment.

Litigation legal assistants work in the disputes and competition practice groups. Our training prepares legal assistants with a variety of skills including how to organize cases, how to conduct factual research, how to cite check memoranda and how to participate in trial preparation such as e-discovery, attend trials and work on appellate proceedings. They use these skills along with technology to exceed our client expectations, and they have the opportunity to work closely with different lawyers on a variety of matters. Litigation legal assistants are given a lot of responsibility on their matters. Those who have had very positive experiences attribute it to our mentor program, good training and opportunities to lead and contribute on their cases.

Legal assistants hired to work on the evening staff normally work from 4:00 p.m. until midnight and participate in a late night rotation to cover after-midnight assignments as necessary. They are assigned to work on projects on an ongoing basis, such as closing set preparation, file organization, records submissions, case file maintenance, and trial and data room preparation. Evening legal assistants are familiar with the latest technology resources in order to fulfill lawyer and client requests in the most effective manner.

Legal assistants who have developed a valuable skill set, demonstrated an ability to deal with a variety of matters and exhibited a strong commitment to the Firm and its clients are eligible to be designated senior legal assistants. Typically, they have worked as legal assistants for at least three years.

White & Case provides an orientation and training program that teaches new legal assistants about the skills and technology needed to succeed. You will have the chance to use your previous academic, professional and personal experiences to exceed the goals we set in representing our clients and achieving our standards of excellence.

White & Case is a multicultural environment in which cases and transactions cross legal and geographic boundaries to create a climate full of opportunity. Legal assistants complement all practice groups with their own past experiences and internships. Our open-door setting provides exposure to billion-dollar deals and complex litigation matters and allows you to work side by side with smart, motivated people who possess unique talents and skills. As a member of one of our teams, you will see White & Case as a global firm with a common culture.

We also believe a support network is an integral element for the professional growth of our legal assistants and have created a Mentor Program, wherein each newly hired legal assistant is paired with an experienced legal assistant who is familiar with Firm procedures and culture. We believe this relationship eases the new legal assistant’s integration into the Firm. Some practice groups also provide lawyer mentors.

How many legal assistants work at White & Case?
More than  200 legal assistants worldwide; 54 of them work in New York.

How are legal assistants assigned to matters?
The legal assistants are assigned to practice groups. They receive their assignments from the legal assistant manager and directly from associates.

How does the Mentor Program work?
Depending on your practice area, you may have a lawyer mentor and/or a legal assistant mentor. New legal assistants have a legal assistant mentor as an additional resource. Mentors supplement the training and orientation and provide valuable insight to the culture of the Firm and share professional experiences.

How many legal assistants are you planning to hire?
That varies. We hire to replace people in specific positions. Depending on our current entry-level position vacancies, we look for candidates who want to spend at least two years with us and have the qualifications for the specific positions that become vacant. We also hire experienced legal assistants in certain practice areas if the need arises.

What do you need from me to apply?
We initially need your resume and a cover letter. We will ask for references, transcripts and writing samples later on in the process.

What kind of training is available?
You will have orientation and approximately eight weeks of live and taped sessions, providing you with many of the skills you will need to do your job.

Do most legal assistants go on to law school?
A good number go to law school, decide to work for one of our clients or go into other fields. We also have a number of career legal assistants at the Firm.

Do legal assistants come back to work at White & Case after law school?
Yes, we have several who were former legal assistants and have returned as summer associates and lawyers.

What do you look for in a candidate?
We look for at least a two-year commitment and a desire to learn and contribute to the Firm and our clients. We want candidates who have strong academic records, comparable employment and internship experiences; can demonstrate good technical, communication, writing and language skills; and have a strong work ethic.

How long does the interviewing process take?
Candidates should plan on a half-day of first round interviews and may be asked to return for additional interviews with lawyers and legal assistants. The process may take several weeks but we try to make decisions as soon as possible.

What are the average working hours?
It is hard to provide an average number of hours since it varies depending on workload. We ask people to be flexible, and sometimes that means working long hours to meet deadlines. It doesn’t happen all the time but it is an essential component of the job that lawyers and clients expect and appreciate.

What are the different kinds of career trajectories common for legal assistants at White & Case?
Our entry-level legal assistants are typically college graduates who want to learn about and work in the legal field. They may plan to go to law school or other graduate programs in a few years or may decide they want a career as a legal assistant. For those who would want to pursue the field as a career, we have developed a career track for legal assistants.

What specific skills/program knowledge do legal assistants gain from working at White & Case, and how are they beneficial to law school/legal career?
Litigation legal assistants have practical experience in how a case develops and how to manage the factual side of litigation matters, while corporate legal assistants learn about how a transaction is structured and the documentation that is involved. These experiences and the training we provide are invaluable to anyone pursuing a legal or business career.