Recruiting

Why join the team at Cairncross & Hempelmann?

The people at C&H are genuine. We are all here because we want to make a difference in our working environment and have fun while we produce top-notch legal work. We strive to balance professionalism with a fun, family-style atmosphere. If you visit our offices, you'll notice that we don't put names on office doors for a reason - we'd rather take a moment to discover the person behind each desk.

At C&H, each individual has a voice. Ideas about procedures and practices are regularly solicited from employees and often acted upon. All employees have opportunities to be heard and acknowledged at meetings, retreats, and on a day-to-day basis.

C&H members approach career and outside activities with energy and enthusiasm. Their interests revolve around family, outdoor activities, and the arts, among others. Members of the firm serve on the boards of directors of the South Asian Bar Association of Washington, the Seattle Repertory Theatre, the Pioneer Square Preservation Board, KidsQuest Children’s Museum, the Hear See Hope Foundation, the Cross Cultural Health Care Program, Whim W’Him and the Parenting Matters Foundation, among many others. Some of us are devoted to spectator sports, theater, and opera, while others prefer to actively participate in activities like cycling, mountaineering, backpacking, fly fishing, gourmet cooking, snow and water skiing, sailing, music, kayaking, paragliding, and youth programs.

Attorneys and staff of different backgrounds add to the richness of our firm environment and better enable us to serve our many (and diverse) clients. The firm continuously seeks diversity through hiring efforts at all employee levels.

If you'd like to see what some of our newest associates had to say about why they joined Cairncross & Hempelmann, just keep reading for the high points of our latest C&H New Associate Survey.

Question 1: What made you choose C&H?

Combination of reputation and culture that C&H nurtures; wanted to work with great attorneys and represent interesting clients; could envision establishing a career here.

I thought Scott was pretty cool. The members of the real estate group seemed genuinely friendly and somewhat desperate for help so I figured conditions were good for me to step in and give it a shot. I also liked the office and its location in downtown.

Strength in practice area and overall health of the firm.

Knew through friends that this was a unique firm that did good work where people treated each other well.

Good impressions from interview.

Entrepreneurial spirit and a respect for quality of life away from the office.

Size, atmosphere, environment, people.

It was a newer, progressive firm with flexibility and opportunity for the future. Sophistication of work and practitioners.

Variety of practice areas.

Question 2: What was the tone of your interview(s)?

Honest and direct.

Upbeat with everybody speaking highly of the firm.

Convivial, the interviewers seemed like colleagues that I had not yet had the opportunity to work with in my legal career.

Got the sense that one of the primary drivers was an evaluation by C&H of how well my personality, commitment, and temperament matched that of the firm's.

Normal except that this one mysterious attorney was never available to meet with me; had a very enjoyable interview dinner at the Met.

Collegial.

Genuinely enthusiastic.

Happy; friendly; excited.

Comfortable.

Fun and informal - we actually had a beer at Collins Pub.

Positive, productive, and professional.

Open and honest.

Challenging, but casual.

Question 3: What were some of your first impressions?

I felt an immediate connection with many individuals here; loved the office space - C&H is ensconced in a wonderful and historic Pioneer Square building, with high ceilings, hardwood floors, and beautiful art.

The pace of the office was more upbeat and active then I had experienced before and I liked that. I also liked the happy hours and thought it was cool that associates and partners kicked back at the Collins Pub together.

Group of people that enjoy working together, cares about their work, and respects each other's family and other commitments/interests outside of work.

Unique and interesting group of people who weren't following the same, staid path of most law firms.

Partners seemed young, progressive, fun and like they had a clear plan and goals motivating the hiring decision; associates seemed to have had similar career paths - had worked at larger firms, but had come here for high quality work in an improved working environment.

Less hierarchy than other law firms.

I was impressed by the management style and the uniformly upbeat presentation by all of the people I met.

Appeared to have a great respect for diversity of people.

Everyone here is a happy workaholic - like me.

Enjoyable and interesting people.

Impressed and stimulated by the opportunities for the future.

Camaraderie.

Family-style atmosphere.

Great reputation.

Practical and pragmatic.

Supportive environment.

The attorneys actually enjoy the practice of law.

Free flowers!

Question 4: What was the best thing about your first week?

Overall positive feeling I had about how nice and fun the people here are.

Flowers from the firm (a refreshingly welcoming attitude), barrage of lunch/coffee invitations, and immediate invitations for client contact and work projects lined up.

Great legal assistant.

Friendliness of the other attorneys generally making me feel comfortable.

Working with John De Lanoy directly on some very interesting new projects right from the get go.

Beers at the Collins Pub with fellow attorneys.

New friends.

Free lunches.

Helpful maps.

A website with pictures.

Meeting everyone.

Helpful colleagues.

First-day introductions.

People simply stopping by to say, "Hi."

Question 5: What was the worst thing about your first week?

Nothing really.

After years of graduate school, the worst thing was attempting to get back into the groove of working on a more regimented schedule again.

Yelled at by cashier because not up to speed with Bakeman's ordering protocols.

Trouble getting used to firm software, tough without names on people's doors (the packet of bios we got later was very helpful).

Understanding where the work flow was to come from.

Having a string of folks dropping in to say "welcome"; while having a lot of fun work to complete.

New word processing.

Wearing stockings.

Fear of forgetting names.

Not having an office right away.

Lots of projects.

Getting around a new place.

Getting lost.

Not knowing where to eat lunch.

Question 6: About how long was it before you started to feel "at home"?

The answers ranged from "instantaneously" to "a couple of months".
Question 7: What do you tell your friends about C&H?

I brag that I'm here - they all know what a great firm it is.

Finally found a place that I can see myself staying for a good long time - where I meet the partners and no longer have that "I don't want to be you when I grow up" feeling.

Although everyone here is different in some way, we all seem to share a common goal - to do extraordinary work for our clients and to enjoy ourselves.

I enjoy my work; I am respected and trained well.

That they would like it here.

I am loving life. I like the environment and the work ethic and the quality of everyone I have worked with.

This place is not like other firms.

Interesting and challenging work.

The nicest bunch of lawyers in one place.

Working at C&H is much like working with a group of friends.

I would not practice law at any other law firm in Washington.

Question 8: What is it that makes C&H different for you?

I think the firm's best qualities are collegiality and lack of hierarchy. I don't deal well with hierarchy even in small doses and have been really pleased with the way that lawyers of all ages and skill levels work together here and enjoy one another.

The interactions between lawyers are very different from most firms - within a very short time I feel much more a part of the firm than I did after years at my old firm.

Attitude makes an enormous difference; a small size with a community feel helps.

The spirit of openness and teamwork combined with quality and interesting work.

C&H does not expect conformity among its attorneys or staff.

The structure - no turf wars, few petty squabbles.

The feeling of friendship.

An intangible, touchy-feely quality.

The feeling of TEAM in every respect.

The high value they place on life outside the law and family.

Open-door policies.

High standards.

Lack of egos

Reasonable expectations.

Management. This is a business more than a fraternity. That is a positive for me.

People care and know about each other and want to help each other become better lawyers.

Consistent focus and recognition of individuals.

Question 9: What would you say to a law student considering joining C&H?

This is a really special firm - it's got the caliber of attorneys and work that you would expect at a larger firm, but in the more collegial environment of a smaller firm.

If I know them and like them, I would say don't take four years trying to figure it out - join C&H.

C&H hits a very happy medium - large enough to have varied and interesting work, but small enough to maintain camaraderie and a fun atmosphere. The culture is diverse in many ways and, as far as I'm concerned, a better firm culture can't be found in Seattle. If those things are the most important to you in a workplace, C&H could be right for you.

Go work at a big firm for a couple years and then give us a call when you've been through the ringer enough to appreciate what C&H has to offer.

Let's talk - over a beer at the Collins Pub.

It's an important decision that warrants doing some background research.

Cairncross is an excellent place particularly if you don't require much structure. It is also a good place to learn your interests in the law and what practice area might be best for you.

If you want a place where people really care about your well being, come here.

The people here smile.

Talk to me and you'll see the differences.

We have all the pros as far as salary and excellence, and very few of the cons of "firm life."

Be prepared - we work hard but we also play hard.

You will not find another place like this.

Interview with other firms first.

If you want to work FOR a bunch of attorneys, go somewhere else, if you want to be a part of a team and work WITH great attorneys, C&H is the place.

Come here if you want to be happy long term.

The critical thing to consider about any job is the atmosphere - how it feels to go to work every day. If you are up to a challenge, but want to work with excellent people at a firm that truly achieves the work/play balance touted by other firms, give C&H a try.

Do it!