We see the result of our system every day—young law students who quickly develop into outstanding Cravath lawyers fully prepared to deliver the sophisticated solutions our clients need.
The Rotation System
The Rotation System
Rotations are the linchpin of the Cravath System.
We primarily hire associates at the beginning of their legal careers, directly after law school or clerkships. Upon arrival, each associate chooses one of our five departments: Corporate, Litigation, Tax, Executive Compensation and Benefits or Trusts and Estates. Associates in the Corporate, Litigation and Tax Departments are assigned to work with a partner or small group of partners for a period of time. At the end of that period, each associate “rotates” to work with a different partner or group of partners within their department. Associates continue to rotate throughout their tenure with the Firm. The rotation system enables our lawyers to develop the skills necessary to master new areas of our practice quickly and provides our associates with a broad but intense training experience they are not likely to find anywhere else. After a few years, our associates are generally capable of handling almost any matter that arises within their area of practice.
Benefits Of The System
We believe the development of our lawyers is our most important long-term objective. Regardless of the department you select, the benefits of the rotation system are the same—a partner will always directly oversee your training and development, and each assignment will add to your ability to master an entire matter.
Every aspect of the rotation system promotes collaboration. Unlike a general assignment system, the rotation system removes the need for associates to compete for work, visibility or bonuses, producing an environment that, while demanding, is also uniquely cooperative. Ask a current Cravath associate what he or she likes best about the rotation system and you will learn that being assigned to an individual partner requires you to work hard when necessary, but never for the sake of appearing busy. You will also learn that the system promotes a sense of camaraderie among the associates, with each willing to be of help to the others.
Associates participate in the rotation system throughout their entire tenure with the Firm. When the time arrives to be considered for election to the partnership, associates have experienced the full spectrum of their department’s practice and are prepared to serve almost any of our clients’ needs. Because of this, partnership decisions are not based on the Firm’s immediate needs in a particular practice area but on each associate’s own proven record of accomplishment.
The partnership is organized on democratic and egalitarian principles, with all partners actively participating in the affairs of the Firm. Partners meet weekly to review the Firm’s business, and all major decisions, including the election of new partners, are reached by consensus. With very few exceptions, the Firm’s partners were associates at the Firm who were developed into well-rounded lawyers through our rotation system.
"Each rotation at Cravath provides an opportunity for associates to experience a new practice area within their departments and to develop their legal skills relevant to that practice area, which keeps the work interesting and continually challenging. Perhaps more importantly, the rotation system allows associates to work closely for a period of time with a number of different partners and other associates. This has given me an invaluable opportunity to observe and learn from numerous attorneys at the Firm as I develop my own legal skills and practice style, and I've found that it also leads to a highly collaborative work environment."
–Sixth-year Corporate Associate
