Lateral Link Members report that the firm strongly encourages pro bono work, and say its pro bono efforts are “excellent.”  The firm does not require a minimum pro bono commitment from associates, but it recommends 100 hours per year.  In 2010, a high percentage of associates - 84% - each completed an average of 137 hours of pro bono work.  Pro bono hours are fully credited towards the firm's billable target and bonus consideration.  Lateral Link Members warn that associates need to monitor their pro bono work because "it looks bad if . . . you don't do any pro bono," but too much pro bono is "frowned upon."

The firm has two partnership tracks.  According to one Lateral Link Member, the time for eligibility to partnership feels like it ranges "from eight [years] to infinity," but in practice, it averages between eight and ten years.  Most Lateral Link Members agree that partnership chances at the firm are a "long shot,” and think that the most important factors affecting an associate’s prospects are probably hours, reputation, practice area, diversity and politics.  In general, lateral associates have a better chance of making partner than homegrown associates.  According to Members, senior associates passed over for partnership are generally reconsidered the following year.  In 2009, Gibson promoted 11 attorneys to partner; Members report that less than half of these were made equity partner.  Although the firm brought in 25 lateral partners in 2008, Members note that some were pushed out in 2009. 

Benefits at the firm include annual retreats, occasional catered lunches, free dinners after working a certain number of hours, an annual client development budget of $1,000 for all associates, an annual book allowance, and backup childcare.  Some offices, including the Los Angeles and London offices, have a subsidized cafeteria on-site.  Associates receive their own office in their first year.  New associates who come directly from law school receive a starting stipend of $13,333, as well as all bar exam related expenses and relocation benefits, including direct billing with preferred movers.  Associates in the New York office can also request an interest free advance, which they must replay in the first six months of work.  Gibson also provides a 24/7-concierge service to assist its attorneys.

The firm offers 10-week summer associate programs in most of its domestic offices.  Survey respondents in Gibson Dunn's summer program praise the “approachable and brilliant” people who create a “laid back but hardworking culture.”  Additionally, respondents appreciate the “top notch” and “important” assignments they receive, and while “the standard for most assignments is perfection,” more than one respondent felt they “learned more useful information during this summer than in [their] two years of law school.”  Survey respondents cite a wide range of work assignments that include writing an appellate constitutional memo, proxy statement drafting, attending client meetings, and working on a pro bono trademark case.  Attorney summer coordinators assign work, but summer associates can also seek work directly from partners and associates, and are encouraged to take assignments in a variety of practice areas.  Summer associates are expected to complete six to 10 assignments over the course of the summer, and they typically bill about six hours a day working on assignments.  Formal training includes “deposition training and lots of informal practice group lunches;” however most survey respondents agree that “most of our training came through the individual assignments and the feedback we received on each.”  The firm provides summer associates with BlackBerrys, but respondents in the summer program note that they are still generally expected to be in the office during working hours, which are usually until about 6:30 p.m.  Weekend work for summer associates is uncommon and, according to one respondent, “the summer coordinators would step in and intervene if we felt that we were being overwhelmed.”  The lunch budget is $35 for summer associates in New York, but they are limited to two attorney lunches per week; in other offices, lunches are budgeted at $25 per person, but summers can attend as many as they want.  The firm hosts one to three social events each week, ranging from rafting trips and a day-trip to the Hamptons to sailing events and Broadway shows.  Each office sent its summer associates to a mini-retreat at different locations including Vail, Colorado, and the Wintergreen Resort in Virginia.  In 2011, the firm ranked first nationally in The American Lawyer's 2011 Summer Associates Survey.  The firm made offers to 89% of its 149 2009 summer associates; in 2010, the firm made offers to 93% of its 107 summer associates.  All incoming associate classes have started work at the firm on time.