Associates

Gould & Ratner is focused on building the next generation of leaders in law. Attorneys who come to Gould & Ratner stay at Gould & Ratner – providing continuity of service from generation to generation. Our associates have the opportunity to work in a professional, challenging and collegial midsized firm environment. Because of the diverse nature of our clients, our associates gain exposure to sophisticated transactions, complex litigation and intricate estate/wealth management planning, among other areas.

Like the individuals and businesses we represent, our lawyers are skilled in a number of technical disciplines, have an entrepreneurial focus, adapt quickly to changing market conditions and provide excellent client service and value.

Life as a New Associate at Gould & Ratner

Meet the team

We encourage our new associates to participate in attorney lunches and practice meetings to get to know your colleagues and find out more about Gould & Ratner and its practice areas. These meetings are also a great opportunity to talk to our lawyers about your experience and to promote cross-selling across our various practice areas.

Outreach

We use email marketing, news releases and social media to inform our clients and friends of the firm about your arrival. Associates are also encouraged to provide our Marketing and Business Development team with clients and contacts you want integrated into our CRM and to receive the news about your recent move.

Get-to-Know-You Activities

Making new attorneys feel welcome and included is an important part of our firm culture. Beyond getting to know the other attorneys in your practice, Gould & Ratner also invites associates to monthly “Lets GRab Lunch” small-group outings with other attorneys, paralegals and staff, as well as offers opportunities to participate in firm initiatives involving recruiting, marketing and professional development for associates. Associates also can participate – and even lead – activities that focus on social and business networking events, some specifically targeting opportunities for women lawyers, along with other programming promoting diversity and inclusion at the firm.

Mentorship and Professional Development

Our partners see the value of both formal and informal mentorship at every stage of an associate’s career. We provide our associates with the training resources needed to learn their craft on the pathway to partnership, as well as the advice and counsel to become distinguished providers of top-notch client service. Additionally, the firm’s Chief Talent Officer acts as guide, instructor and sounding board for associates.

50+

experienced attorneys

13

our midwest "best of the best" ranking

11

key service areas

8

decades of practicing law

2,500+

valued client relationships

Firm Culture

Gould & Ratner prides itself on our collegial and interconnected firm culture. We value an open-door policy, collaboration, inclusiveness and giving back to our community. Our attorneys, paralegals and staff enjoy the benefits of a friendly and flexible workplace with a focus on teamwork. We believe it's important to enjoy being at work, which is a big reason why we moved to new office space to provide more opportunities for creative collaboration and socialization.

However, the coronavirus pandemic also taught us that our bonds as a firm go beyond our formal offices, allowing for complete flexibility and productivity wherever we are. To that end, we allow for a flexible in-office work policy that currently doesn’t mandate in-office attendance more than 2-3 days per week (and sometimes less, if needed).

Diversity & Inclusion

At Gould & Ratner, we value and respect the collective diversity of experiences and perspectives among our employees, clients and communities. We recognize that diversity encompasses a broad range of characteristics including race, age, gender, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, political affiliation, marital status, veteran’s status and disability. We strive to maintain a work environment where every individual is appreciated and rewarded on the basis of personal contributions to the organization. Learn more about our firm diversity and inclusion initiatives here.

What Sets Gould & Ratner Apart

"Given our size, we can offer associates direct client contact almost from the first day they start at Gould & Ratner. And we invest in their legal training at every level, as well as offering resources and support in marketing, business development, professional development and mentoring that many firms our size don’t.”

Joe Marzo, Hiring Partner, Gould & Ratner

Why I Chose Gould & Ratner

Midsize Culture Meets Sophisticated Transactions

Rebecca Smart

Associate

Corporate

Choosing to join Gould & Ratner was a no-brainer for me. What drew me to the firm was its commitment and dedication to cultivating and maintaining a welcoming workplace culture in the midst of the pandemic. I was also drawn to the complexity and breadth of the services the Corporate Practice provides. Gould & Ratner is unique to me in the sense that it has the culture and work/life balance of a midsize firm, while simultaneously providing the technical expertise and resources to work on transactions of the size, structure and complexity traditionally thought of as attributable only to larger firms.

Access to High-Level Work and Clients

Michael Toussaint

Associate

Real Estate

I joined Gould & Ratner because I knew it was a great firm to sharpen my legal skill set through exposure to a wide range of clients and complex transactions. Immediately after joining the firm, I was exposed to interesting and sophisticated real estate transactions and had direct contact with clients. Gould & Ratner sets itself apart from other firms by providing its associates with opportunities to work at a high-level and providing access to dedicated mentors who are invested in the training and professional development of their associates.