Legal professionals choose to work at Pierce Atwood for many reasons. For some it's the opportunity to work at a successful firm with a first-class national reputation, for others it's the chance to work on interesting matters from small, local clients to large, national or international clients, and for many it's to work with smart people who value collaboration and collegiality.

Pierce Atwood strives to provide a very competitive compensation and benefit package. All attorneys are eligible for a competitive package of base pay and a discretionary bonus based on performance.

Benefits are an important part of our total compensation package. Each attorney's work and family situation is different and we have designed our package to be flexible to the unique needs of each attorney. First-year associates receive the following benefits:

Health Benefits

  • Medical Plans (self, family and domestic partner)
  • Dental Insurance (self, family, and domestic partner)
  • Vision Service Plan (self, family, and domestic partner)
  • Pre-Tax Dependent Care and Health Care Spending Accounts
  • Annual flu vaccines
  • Wellness program and funding for wellness related activities

Insurance Benefits

  • Employee Life Insurance
  • Short and Long Term Disability Insurance
  • Accidental Death and Dismemberment Option
  • Business Travel Accident Insurance
  • Supplemental Life Insurance Option
  • Identify Theft Insurance

Work/Life Benefits

  • Flexible Work Arrangements
  • Generous Paid Time Off and Holidays
  • Pre-Tax Parking and Transportation Accounts and subsidies
  • Emergency Back-Up Child and Adult Dependent Care
  • Paid Parental Leave
  • Tuition Reimbursement
  • Employee Assistance Program
  • Computer Discount Purchase Program
  • Personal Insurance Discount Program
  • Bereavement Leave
  • Employer sponsored 529 College Savings Plan
  • Adoption Assistance

Retirement Benefits

  • 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan
  • Discretionary Profit Sharing Contributions

We are committed to the education of all attorneys and their integration into the firm and the legal community. All attorneys regularly attend professional development programs of their choosing, as well as internal workshops and training.

For associates, the firm employs a responsible attorney (RA) system, reviews associates twice each year during their first three years, and then annually after the third year, conducts in-house training programs, and encourages associates to take advantage of continuing legal education programs that will further their substantive and career development. At the heart of the firm's associate development program is its system of assigning each associate to an RA who is responsible for:

  • supervising and orienting the associate to the firm's practices and culture
  • monitoring and fostering the associate's career and professional development
  • assigning matters to the associate, and assisting the associate in prioritizing matters
  • providing prompt, thorough, constructive, and personal feedback on an associate's work
  • ensuring that the associate is performing the type of work and having the type of experience appropriate for the associate given his or her experience and development
  • informing the associate of how he or she is progressing generally

The RA system is in our experience the best approach to ensuring that constructive feedback is given to associates on a regular basis, and that a manageable level and appropriately varied mix of work is provided to each associate.

In addition to the RA system, associate development is furthered by the performance evaluations given to each associate by the attorneys the associate has worked with during the review period. These bi-annual evaluations ensure that each associate's development as an attorney is fostered and that we are providing the associate with opportunities to grow and learn.

Finally, substantive and career development are furthered by our commitment to continuing legal education. We have a comprehensive professional development program. The program has included a one day client counseling and interviewing program, and a half-day mock deposition and deposition skills program, practice group spotlight sessions, writing workshops, presentation skills, business development workshops, Establishing Effective and Efficient Work Habits, and Twelve Secrets to Success as a Pierce Atwood Associate. The firm also pays for attorney attendance at continuing legal education programs and requires all attorneys to obtain at least 12 CLE credit hours per year.

Pierce Atwood LLP, a large New England based firm, is seeking an associate with 2-4 years of federal tax experience to join its tax practice. The associate will be based in the firm’s Portland, Maine office and collaborate with lawyers across the firm on a wide variety of matters, including debt and tax equity financings, with a focus on renewable energy and project development, mergers and acquisitions, and tax structuring.  We are seeking candidates with transactional tax experience (preferably in a large law or accounting firm) and excellent academic credentials from law school or a tax LL.M. program.

To apply, please submit your cover letter, resume and transcripts to Bev Doucette at bdoucette@pierceatwood.com. 

Pierce Atwood LLP seeks an associate with 3-5 years of corporate law experience to join and build the Business Practice Group in its Portland, Maine office.  Candidates must have a strong background in mergers and acquisitions.  Additional experience in general representation of business entities (corporate, partnerships, and limited liability companies), formation and structuring of business entities, and in finance and private equity transactions is preferred.  Securities law knowledge is a plus, but not required. 

Please submit your cover letter, resume and transcripts to Bev Doucette at bdoucette@pierceatwood.com.

Pierce Atwood seeks an associate or counsel with 4-7 years of substantive transactional experience concentrated in the areas of debt finance and restructuring. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to work with a diverse mix of borrowers and lenders in financing transactions of all shapes and sizes – secured, unsecured, asset-based, mezzanine, bilateral, syndicated, receivables financing, acquisition financing, cross-border financing, restructurings, workouts, etc. Proven experience and a significant interest in structuring, documenting, and managing financing transactions from term sheet to closing is required, although transactional experience outside the area of debt finance will also be considered. Restructuring, workout, and bankruptcy experience is desirable but not required.

To apply, please submit your cover letter and resume to Bev Doucette at bdoucette@pierceatwood.com.

Pierce Atwood LLP seeks a mid-level T&E partner for its Boston, MA office. Pierce Atwood LLP has an established and expanding T&E practice throughout four states in New England. The ideal candidate will be prepared to lead the T&E practice’s Boston team into its next phase, joining one partner in that office as well as an additional partner and two associates serving Massachusetts clients from other offices. 

We are seeking an ambitious and entrepreneurial attorney who has an excellent reputation in the area and can build on the firm’s existing client base and advisor relationships to accelerate our growth in the Boston market.  Responsibilities include independently managing all aspects of sophisticated estate planning and administration matters for high net worth clients.  Applicants must have excellent leadership, communication, and mentoring skills, extensive experience in complex estate planning and administration, and deep knowledge of tax planning strategies, gifting, and trust planning and administration.

To apply, please submit your cover letter and resume to Bev Doucette at bdoucette@pierceatwood.com.