Does Cooley pay their employees well?

According to anonymously submitted Glassdoor reviews, Cooley employees rate their compensation and benefits as 4.5 out of 5. Find out more about salaries and benefits at Cooley. This rating has improved by 5% over the last 12 months.

How satisfied are employees working at Cooley?

56% of Cooley employees would recommend working there to a friend based on Glassdoor reviews . Employees also rated Cooley 3.8 out of 5 for work life balance, 3.8 for culture and values and 3.9 for career opportunities.

What are the top reviewed jobs at Cooley?

Associate (66) , Legal Secretary (21) , Paralegal (11) , Practice Team Assistant (10) , Associate Attorney (8) , Marketing Assistant (7) , Patent Agent (7) , Attorney (6) , Conflicts Analyst (5) , Marketing (4) , Associate Lawyer (3) , Legal Assistant (3) , Legal Assistant/Paralegal (3) , Manager (3) , Marketing Specialist (3)

What are the pros of working at Cooley according to real employee reviews?

"Great people to work with!" ((in 49 reviews)); "Cool clients and good culture" ((in 30 reviews)); "Great pay and good company" ((in 20 reviews)); "The provide great benefits and have supportive management" ((in 19 reviews)); "Good salary and place of work" ((in 16 reviews))

What are the cons of working at Cooley according to real employee reviews?

"Long hours and long nights" ((in 20 reviews)); "Staff management also just doesn't support the staff at all" ((in 14 reviews)); "Little to no work life balance" ((in 8 reviews)); "There are too many directors and too many managers." ((in 5 reviews)); "Long hours (same for any law firm)." ((in 4 reviews))

What are employees saying about Cooley layoffs in 2026?

Explore Glassdoor’s employee reviews to understand what current and former employees are saying about Cooley layoffs and their outlook for job security at Cooley in 2026.

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Cooley

Cooley reviews

3.9

56% would recommend to a friend

(380 total reviews)

Joe Conroy

87% approve of CEO

80% positive business outlook

Ratings by category

4.5

Compensation and benefits

3.9

Career opportunities

3.8

Culture & values

3.8

Diversity & inclusion

3.8

Work/Life balance

3.3

Senior management

Cooley has an employee rating of 3.9 out of 5 stars, based on 380 company reviews on Glassdoor which indicates that most employees have a good working experience there. The Cooley employee rating is in line with the average (within 1 standard deviation) for employers within the Legal industry (3.8 stars).

Ratings by demographic groups

Race / Ethnicity

Gender

Sexual orientation

Disability

Parent or family caregiver

Veteran status

Reviews by job title

380 reviews

5.0

Aug 19, 2012

The least evil big firm out there

Anonymous employee

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

The attorneys/partners are really decent, reasonable folks

Cons

the cafeteria food is limited (in variety and hours)

3.0

Sep 8, 2010

Upstairs/Downstairs?

Anonymous employee

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

Firm still has solid 'high tech, emerging markets' reputation. Some business-oriented and business-savvy partners.

Cons

There's an 'upstairs, downstairs' mentality amongst many in the partnership - if you're not a partner then get below stairs to the sweatshop. There used to be a 'Cooley culture' espousing collaboration and 'we are one-firm' mentality. Not anymore.

3.0

Aug 24, 2010

About the Same as Other Big Law

Associate

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

Good compensation; Good contacts with client companies for your in-house job after Cooley; some excellent partners, especially the most senior partners in the firm; many smart associates; excellent locations and ability to switch offices if needed; some lawyers in other departments are terrifically helpful

Cons

Partnership chances are minimal; despite supposed emphasis on training, seemed to lack sustained training for associates or partners, with no emphasis on attending outside seminars if no CLE requirement in your state; younger partners in management seem more focused on hanging out with their buddies in the various offices than connecting with other partners or associates; the usual office politics

Viewing 370 - 372 of 380 Reviews

Jobs at Cooley

Office Technology Specialist

Legal Support Specialist

Communications Specialist (Awards & Rankings)

Litigation Case Assistant

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The least evil big firm out there

Upstairs/Downstairs?

About the Same as Other Big Law

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