Covington sets salaries on a lock-step system.  In November 2009, Covington froze associate salaries in all offices except New York.  The firm is considered a follower in terms of setting bonus amounts, with Lateral Link Members noting that "bonuses [are] typically lower than [those at] other similar firms" and that "the firm tends to provide 'quality of life' type benefits rather than large bonuses."

Lateral Link Members offer high praise for the firm's associate development programs and applaud the informal mentoring program as well as the formal training offered by the firm.  Associates describe the firm's staffing system as an "unstructured" free-market system, although one Lateral Link Member notes that "partners are increasingly trying to make sure that they are aware of associates' workloads and interests."  The firm has consistently been named one of Working Mother's "100 Best Companies" since 2006 and was also recognized by Yale Law Women as one of the "Top Ten Family Friendly Firms" in 2009.  To date, Covington has not had to undertake any layoffs or institute a salary freeze, and Lateral Link Members say that morale at the firm is fairly high, with most associates thinking "that the firm is well managed and has a sufficiently diverse business and client base that it will weather the economic downturn."

Covington requires a minimum of 1,950 billable hours annually.  Lateral Link Members report associates should average between 1,850 and 1,950 hours to qualify for a bonus.

Covington offers its attorneys four weeks of vacation time.  Many Lateral Link Members report having to work regularly on weekends and holidays, although they say it is usually possible to do such work from home.  Although there is no formal face time requirement, associates are expected to "be at the office when people need [them]."  However, Lateral Link Members say they "doubt anyone would get upset if you were occasionally absent from the office" and report that the firm is "fairly flexible" regarding face time.

There is no required minimum pro bono hours, but the firm encourages pro bono work, and a high percentage of associates-93%-perform, on average, an admirable 168 pro bono hours annually each.  The firm holds a pro bono awards ceremony each year and recognizes all attorneys who have worked 50 or more pro bono hours during the preceding 12-month period.

Covington has a one-track partnership system, with an average of eight years before becoming eligible for partner.  Despite the deteriorating economic climate, in January 2009, the firm made 12 partners, twice the number it did in 2008, and Lateral Link Members seem to think that partnership is achievable goal if you work hard for it.

In addition to moving benefits and bar expenses, new associates receive an $8,000 starting stipend.  The firm also offers an in-house cafeteria, on-site gym, weekly happy hours, and dinner reimbursement and car service if working after 8:00 p.m.  Additionally, "associates get their own office from Day 1."  Attorneys normally attend a firm-wide annual retreat, but it was recently cancelled due to the economic climate.

Covington & Burling is one of the law firms most resiliently weathering the economic downturn, and its summer program is one of the few remaining at 14 weeks long. Lateral Link Members say that "compared with the competition," Covington is "fantastic" when it comes to summer salaries and offers "job security" that is hard to find elsewhere. Summer associates are expected to complete about 10 assignments during the summer in various practice areas, as well as attend weekly training sessions. Members in the summer program say they are assigned "real" work for the most part, although one Member notes that summer associates do not necessarily "get as much exposure to what an attorney might actually spend their day doing" since the firm is somewhat "rigid" in its requirement of a written work product and one-week assignment length. In New York, summer associates attend a two-day deposition training course alongside junior associates. The firm provides summer associates with BlackBerrys, but Lateral Link Members in the summer program report that they usually leave the office by 6:30 p.m. and generally are not expected to work on weekends. In addition to unlimited attorney lunches, the firm puts on "constant" social activities, ranging from canoe trips to barbeques to baseball games to theater nights.