We believe that attorneys are looking for most, if not all, of the following when they choose a law firm:
- A practice that is diverse and challenging
- Excellent training; direct contact with clients
- Colleagues who enjoy their jobs, are willing to mentor and can combine the highest intellectual and ethical standards with an understanding that the most important part of anyone’s life should be outside of the office
- A competitive salary and benefits package
It is difficult to satisfy all these desires. The large firm experience can be a paper chase with little client contact and an overemphasis on hitting billable hour targets. And, partner-associate ratios being what they are, many young associates have no realistic expectation of ever becoming a partner. Some small firms, on the other hand, may not provide a sufficient variety of matters or intellectual stimulation.
We think OLSS offers the best of both worlds – a sophisticated and diverse practice in a small firm culture. Our younger lawyers quickly become engaged in the actual practice of law, working directly with our most experienced lawyers and our clients on challenging matters. And as for our culture, we think OLSS is wonderfully quirky and an absorbing place to work, particularly for lawyers who have a good sense of humor.
To practice law as we do, we have to attract top-notch candidates. Take a look at our attorney biographies and we think you’ll agree that we have been able to do that. The real trick, though, is retaining those talented people, so we work hard to give our attorneys a nice place to work and insist that they are entitled to lives outside the office.