Message to Students

Why Sherman & Howard? As students research different law firms and decide where to begin their careers, we are often asked "what makes you different?" Many law firms boast talented, smart attorneys, Fortune 500 clients, and wonderful and interesting work, but how do you decide which firm is the best fit for you? As with most issues you will encounter in the practice of law, there is no single answer. We encourage students to look beyond summer events and practice areas to discover what it is really like to work at a particular firm. What is the structure? What motivates the attorneys? What makes them tick? We feel that Sherman & Howard offers a unique environment in which to learn and practice law for many reasons.

History. Sherman & Howard has been a cornerstone member of the Rocky Mountain legal community since 1892. Our storied history is a testament to the relationships that we have built for decades with our clients and our community. Our client relationships are broad and deep, built on a shared vision to create and sustain businesses with long-term commitments to their shareholders, their customers, their community, and their employees. It is these client relationships that have helped us continue to grow and strengthen our practice and that have made Sherman & Howard a stable professional environment in which to build a career.

Philosophy. We are a unique law firm, entrepreneurial in nature and eschewing the traditional law partnership model for one that emphasizes efficiency and client service over the churn of billable hours. We push ourselves to set our goals higher than expectations, and then to exceed those goals. We pride ourselves in our dedication to the precepts of professional responsibility and ethics upon which our profession was founded.

Management Structure. As an attorney at Sherman & Howard, you will not find the committees, policies and internal politics that abound at other firms. We found long ago that one's ability to practice law and serve his or her clients' needs is not related to the number of committees that he or she sits on. At Sherman & Howard, each attorney is freed from the typical burdens created by the "management by committee" style to do what we are all trained to do best - practice law. Administrative decisions are made by a highly-trained and respected professional management staff, not by lawyers.

People. We never lose sight of the fact that the quality of our firm is directly related to the quality of the people who comprise it: lawyers, paraprofessionals and staff. We recognize that our only productive assets are our minds, our dedication and our hard work. We attract and recruit top quality lawyers to work at Sherman & Howard and give them the training and tools that they need to provide only the best legal services to our clients. We have an open, collegial and cooperative environment that recognizes and respects everyone as a valuable member of the team.

Life. We respect the individual and understand that all of us have families and lives outside the office. That does not mean that you will not work hard; you will. But you will be working with and learning from the best lawyers in the profession and on cases and matters that you will be proud to work on. When attorneys are done with client work they leave the office. There is no presumption of "face time" in any of our departments.

Hiring. We are looking for bright, energetic attorneys who share our vision and who want no more than to be the best at everything they do. We only hire the number of summer associates that we to expect to hire as full time associates, and we only hire the number of full time associates that we expect to consider for membership at the end of their sixth year. Every associate will receive the attention, training and guidance necessary to develop into a long-term contributor to the firm.

We hope that you will consider Sherman & Howard L.L.C. during your important search. Please feel free to contact me or Katie MacIntyre, if you have any questions regarding the firm or our hiring process. Thank you for your interest.

Sincerely,
Christopher R. Mosley
Hiring Member