optimal
careers
Lean. Modern. Elite.
Optimal is an unapologetically different kind of top-tier ECVC & M&A law firm. We don’t believe that high performance and work-life balance are contradictory.
We do not represent public companies or do capital markets work. BigLaw is well suited for that. We also heavily prioritize company-side representation over fund-side work, valuing trusted long-term relationships with serial entrepreneurs.
We value working with top-tier early and growth-stage companies for whom our counsel truly “moves the needle.” Our boutique model emphasizes elite strategic advisory that is lean on overhead and rates, but also isn't inflexibly constrained by over-standardization and misuse of automation.
We run elite practices enabled by the latest technology, but we also take our personal lives and autonomy very seriously.
As a fully remote firm, we live and work wherever we want, without the office-centric biases of hybrid firms. Our Partners and attorneys are world-class, and yet Partner track is 1600 billable hours annually. Our associates earn more per hour than they would in BigLaw, at about half the hourly rate.
Our unique work culture blends high performance with unmatched personal life autonomy, and we love it that way.
General Requirements
for Consideration
law students
.svg)
.svg)
T25 law school, or top 10% of class outside of those schools. We will review transcripts.
Our 2L and 3L Fellows are provided both paid summer fellowships and opportunities to continued part-time paid work during their academic schoolyear.
Lawyers - ECVC Applicants
- at least 2 yrs of experience at an AmLaw 100 firm or high-end boutique practice.
- deal sheet demonstrating experience with seed through Series C transactions, with priority to company-side representation.
We will test your skillset as part of the recruiting process.
Lawyers - M&A Applicants
- at least 2 yrs of experience at an AmLaw 100 firm or high-end boutique practice.
- deal sheet demonstrating significant experience with sell-side, private market tech acquisitions.
All Applicants
If you'd like to apply:
- You should be comfortable with a fully remote environment (including a co-working space in your city, if desirable instead of working from home).
- Our recruiting places emphasis on what we call the “optimal package” of characteristics for successful legal counsel in the 21st century. This means we place as much emphasis on vetting “EQ” as “IQ.” Optimal attorneys are expected to be verbally fluid and socio-emotionally intelligent, not just technically and analytically impressive.
Qualified applicants can e-mail careers@optimalcounsel.com with a Resume, Deal Sheet (if applicable), and link to your LinkedIn profile.
Employment policy
Optimal Counsel is an equal opportunity employer.
All aspects of employment will be based on merit, competence, performance, and business needs. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, marital status, age, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, pregnancy, genetic information, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, or any other status protected under federal, state, or local law.
want to work with us?
Interested attorneys can explore our careers page.
Prospective clients can visit our Contact Us page or e-mail an attorney directly from their bio.
Stay up to date with the latest job opportunities by connecting with us on LinkedIn