Culture is important to us. Our Mission Statement says that we cultivate a culture and working environment that provides a humane, sustainable approach to earning a living and living in our world — for ourselves and for our clients. Further, we are committed to reducing our costs, and our footprint on the planet, by integrating virtually and avoiding the traditional “brick and mortar” costs associated with operating a law firm. We achieve this by ensuring that our team comes from diverse socio-economic, cultural, geographic, and educational backgrounds. We believe diversity is required to bring a variety of perspectives and approaches to our clients’ needs. Although we have the sophisticated clients and robust resources typical of a large law firm, we strive to maintain a relaxed, informal atmosphere that fosters professional development, personal satisfaction and growth.

If you’re interested in becoming part of a truly collaborative team consistent with our Mission, Core Values, Business Goals, and Promises to Each Other, then your journey begins here. Please visit the Gerber Ciano Career Portal or contact us at careers@gerberciano.com.

If you want to be part of our team, you should expect: 

• Immediate responsibility and client interaction;

• Court room experience from day one;

• Taking depositions, arguing motions and appeals;

• Competing with adversaries, not other firm lawyers;

• Resources and training;

• Encouragement and mentoring on building your profile and marketing your practice;

• Being part of continuity planning;

• Firm events that help form bonds and break down barriers that exist at most traditional firms, such as hiking, biking, etc.;

• A firm with a flexible partner track. You are a partner when it benefits both you and the firm to have you as a partner. There are no set numbers of years or amount of business. There is no one set standard;

• Encouragement for Pro Bono work and charitable giving;

• An environment that empowers women;

• A place where diversity is a fact, not a goal;

• A firm constantly looking at ways to decrease its carbon footprint

• A team that seeks and values your input

• Opportunity to advance.

If you’re interested in becoming part of a truly collaborative team consistent with our Mission, Core Values, Business Goals, and Promises to Each Other then your journey begins here. Please visit the Gerber Ciano Career Portal  or contact us at careers@gerberciano.com.

At our firm we look for team members who believe in and prioritize our Mission, Core Values, Business Goals, and Promises to Each Other. We also look for self-starters. Those looking for opportunity when it is presented and creating it for themselves. We believe this is partially described in a message published by Elbert Hubbard in 1899’s “A Message to Garcia.”

On February 22, 1899, the publisher of a small-town newspaper was discussing with a friend who the real hero of the Spanish-American War was. He wrote down his thoughts in an hour and put them in a leftover spot in his newspaper. Soon orders came for more copies, and eventually 40 million reprints of that article were distributed around the world. This is a powerful testimony to the worldwide recognition of the importance of diligence.

When war broke out between Spain and the United States, it was necessary to communicate quickly with the leader of the insurgence. Garcia was somewhere in the mountain vastness of Cuba — no one knew where. No mail or telegraph message could reach him. The President must secure his cooperation, and quickly. What to do?!

Someone said to the President, “There’s a fellow by the name of Rowan who will find Garcia for you, if anybody can.” Rowan was sent for and given a letter to be delivered to Garcia.

How “the fellow by the name of Rowan” took the letter, sealed it up in an oilskin pouch, strapped it over his heart, in four days landed by night off the coast of Cuba from an open boat, disappeared into the jungle, and in three weeks came out on the other side of the island, having traversed a hostile country on foot and delivered his letter to Garcia—are things I have no special desire now to tell in detail.

The point that I wish to make is this: McKinley gave Rowan a letter to be delivered to Garcia; Rowan took the letter and did not ask, “Where is he at?” There is a man whose form should be cast in bronze and the statue placed in every college of the land.

It is not book-learning young men need, nor instruction about this and that, but a stiffening of the vertebrae which will cause them to be loyal to a trust, to act promptly, to concentrate their energies: do the thing—“carry a message to Garcia.”

General Garcia is dead now, but there are other “Garcias.” No man who has endeavored to carry out an enterprise where many hands were needed has not been appalled by the inability or unwillingness of workers to concentrate on a task and do it.

Slipshod assistance, foolish inattention, dowdy indifference, and halfhearted work seem to be the rule. Put this matter to a test: You are sitting now in your office—six clerks are within call. Summon any one and make this request: “Please look in the encyclopedia and make a brief memorandum for me concerning the life of Correggio.”

Will the clerk quietly say, “Yes, sir,” and go do the task? He will not.

He will look at you out of a fishy eye and ask one or more of the following questions: Who was he? Which encyclopedia? Was I hired for this? Don’t you mean Bismark? What’s the matter with Charlie doing it? Is there any hurry? Should I bring the book and let you look it up? What do you want to know for?

After you have answered his questions and explained how to find the information and why you want it, the clerk will no doubt go off and get one of the other clerks to help him try to find “Garcia”—and then come back and tell you there’s no such man.

This incapacity for independent action, this moral stupidity, this infirmity of the will, this unwillingness to cheerfully catch hold and lift—these are the things that drive employers to despair.

We have recently been hearing much maudlin sympathy expressed for the “downtrodden denizens of the sweat-shop” and the “homeless wanderers in searching for honest employment” and with it all often go many hard words for the men in power.

Nothing is said about the employer who grows old before his time in a vain attempt to get frowzy ne’er-do-wells to do intelligent work, and his long, patient striving with “help” that does nothing but loaf when his back is turned.

In every store and factory there is a constant weeding-out process going on. The employer is constantly sending away “help” that have shown their incapacity to further the interests of the business.

I know one really brilliant man who has not the ability to manage a business of his own and yet who is absolutely worthless to anyone else, because he carries with him constantly the suspicion that his employer is oppressing or intending to oppress him. He cannot give orders, and he will not receive them.

Should a message be given him to take to Garcia, his answer would probably be, “Take it yourself.” Tonight, this man walks the streets looking for work. No one who knows him dares hire him.

Of course I know that he is no less to be pitied than a physical cripple, but in our pitying, let us drop a tear, too, for the men who are striving to carry on a great enterprise, whose working hours are not limited by the whistle, and whose hair is fast turning white through the struggle to hold in line indifference and the heartless ingratitude which, but for their enterprise, would be both hungry and homeless.

My heart goes out to the man who does his work when the boss is away, as well as when he is at home, and the man who, when given a letter for Garcia, quietly takes it without asking any idiotic questions, and delivers it.

The world cries out for such. He is needed, and needed badly—the man who can carry a message to Garcia.

Condensed and adapted from A Message to Garcia by Elbert Hubbard. We note that this description uses the word “man” and we kept this to provide the original written text of 1899. We view the meaning as gender neutral.

If you’re interested in becoming part of a truly collaborative team consistent with our Mission, Core Value, Business Goals, and Promises to Each Other, then your journey begins here. Please visit the Gerber Ciano Career Portal  or contact us at careers@gerberciano.com.

One of our firm’s Business Goals is to provide “good income for team members by compensating fairly and well.” We believe team members must be acknowledged for their contribution to team success. We are not a “lock-step” firm where seniority trumps contribution, and we seek to reflect that in our compensation of team members.

If you’re interested in becoming part of a truly collaborative team consistent with our Mission, Core Values, Business Goals, and Promises to Each Other, then your journey begins here. Please visit the Gerber Ciano Career Portal or contact us at careers@gerberciano.com.

Vacation and Paid Time Off

Lawyer’s vacation is unlimited as long as he/she follows the firm’s Business Goals and Promises to Each Other. Eligible remaining full-time team employees begin accruing paid time off after their first full month and receive 3 weeks paid time off after a first full year of employment. Flexibility for personal time is also provided to non-lawyer team members in accordance with firm policy, work environment and schedule (i.e. office, flexible scheduling, telecommuting, full-time, part-time, flex-time). Team members may accrue paid time off in accordance with the firm’s current policy.

Life Insurance

Guaranteed issue life insurance is provided by the firm to eligible full-time team members pursuant to the terms and conditions of coverage. Additional life insurance protection is available at group rates for team members, spouses, domestic partners, and dependent children at the team member's expense.

Continuing Legal Education

The firm provides on-line resources for lawyers to achieve their minimum CLE requirements. However, we consider it vital that lawyers refine and develop skills ensure client service. We invest in our team by having members attend specialized in-person CLE from basic skills to participation in trial academies.

Short and Long Term Disability

Both short-term and long-term disability insurance is provided by the firm to eligible full-time team members pursuant to the terms and conditions of coverage. The firm provides “own occupation” disability insurance, which is broader than “any occupation” insurance. In addition, the firm provides a benefit of tax free disability benefits. When an employer pays for disability insurance, the benefits are generally taxable. However, if the employer provides a “tax option” policy, then employees are able to pay a small amount of tax on premiums paid by the employer. If ever they are disabled, then benefits are tax free. Gerber Ciano Kelly Brady LLP offers the “tax option” as a default for its team members. This option can be changed each year, and is particularly beneficial in years where there is a planned maternity leave.

Bar and Organization Dues

The firm reimburses lawyers for annual registration dues for any jurisdiction in which they are admitted. The firm reimburses each lawyer for the State and Local Bar Association for the State and locality in which they reside, so long as there is meaningful participation. If the lawyer chooses, he or she may allocate this to an equivalent organization such as a local defense organization. The firm reimburses membership in at least one additional organization aligned with the firm’s Mission Statement, Core Values, Business Goals and Promises to Each Other so long as there is meaningful participation. The firm reimburses additional organizations approved by management.

401(K)

Staff and lawyers are eligible to participate in the firm’s 401(k) plan.

Maternity/primary Caregiver Leave

The firm offers maternity consistent with applicable laws and industry standards.

FAMILY/PARENTAL LEAVE PROGRAM

In addition to statutory requirements, we provide paid leave of up to 10 days for team members who have been full-time employees for at least twelve months and who are the primary caregiver for a child, life partner or parent afflicted with a serious illness or injury. Our policy provides for flexibility to stagger leave within six months after a child, partner or parent is afflicted. A reduced-hours schedule is also available.

Bonus Program

The firm shares a percentage of success with all lawyers through its bonus program. Team employees are eligible for a team bonus based on contributions to client service. Both bonuses are based upon a team member’s contribution to the overall Business Goals of the firm — consistent with the firm’s Mission, Core Values and Promises to Each Other. A further bonus is available to team members who refer certain matters to the firm.

Student Loans

The firm is in the process of developing a student loan repayment program.

Health Insurance

The firm offers full-time eligible team members both HMO and Open Access Plus/Out of Network Plan coverage. The firm contributes to team member/dependent premiums. The firm offers HSA and Flexible Spending Accounts for eligible high-deductible plans. Domestic partner coverage is available.

Discount and Rewards Programs

We partner with technology, service and entertainment providers to provide discount programs to all team members. We are also in the process of developing the Gerber Ciano “Greenback” program which is designed for team members to recognize each other with a reward points systems that can be redeemed for gift certificates, movies, and other prizes.

Technology Stipend

The firm prides itself on mobility, access and being virtual. We have a “Bring Technology to Work” Policy. We install separate work numbers and security software on team member mobile devices. These costs (for device and use) are covered by technology stipends: (1) the firm provides a stipend of up $150 towards the purchase of a new mobile phone every two years; (2) the firm provides a firm-owned laptop every three years to lawyers and team members who need one; and (3) the firm provides $150 per month towards data and Wi-Fi. Team members have ownership of the phone and the mobile cell phone number, but must agree security measures are followed.

Gym Membership

The firm is currently developing a program to benefit our team members.

Casual Dress Code

We wear suits to court. We wear jeans to the office. Our office dress is extremely casual and more akin to a start-up tech company. We believe our team is most productive when not constrained by traditional notions of dress code. Watch for creative outlet opportunities and theme days.

Safe Harbor Program

Vulnerability does not match the general impression society has of lawyers as tough and ambitious. But research suggests that they are at much higher risk of depression, anxiety and substance abuse issues than people in the broader population — and may even be more susceptible than those in other high-stress professions, such as medicine. A study published in the Journal of Addiction Medicine in February 2016 found the rate of problem drinking among lawyers was between two and three times higher than among other highly educated professionals, including physicians. The American Bar Association and the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation funded the study. The rate of depression was about three times higher than the general population in the U.S.

We chose not to turn our heads and ignore the problems our community might face. We have an Employee Assistance Program that provides confidential assistance to deal with various personal problems such as stress, relationship issues, depression, peer conflict management, and other issues that affect work-life balance.

Wellness Program

We believe is promoting healthy activity organization-wide. We support healthy behaviors and improving health outcomes while at work. Our programs consist of activities such as health education and coaching, weight management programs, medical screenings, on-site fitness programs, and more.

We believe it is important to allow time for exercise, providing on-site kitchens and eating areas (where possible), offering healthy food options in vending machines, holding “walk and talk” meetings, and offering financial and other incentives for participation.

Holidays

Offices are closed for Christmas, New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Day, President’s Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, July 4th, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and the Friday after Thanksgiving. Offices will close half-days on Christmas Eve, New Year’s Eve and Good Friday.

Fun Work Environment

If you want an environment where lunch includes a class for healthy cooking, book clubs, chair massages, office chair relays, foosball tournaments, and the occasional Nerf gun battles, then consider us. We also organize firm events to help develop friendships and break down barriers that exist at traditional law firms.

Summer Fridays

Corporations have learned that Friday afternoons in Summer are some of the least productive as people are already looking at the clock and thinking of the weekend. Almost 50% of companies have adopted policies that allow team members to leave early on Fridays from Memorial Day to Labor Day, and we do as well. While we cannot always guarantee this as clients and their needs always come first, when we can accomplish this for our team, we do.

Travel

We provide opportunity to combine business with pleasure. We have a practice that extends to London, Continental Europe, Bermuda, and Southeast Asia. We understand and appreciate that a practice of law requires family support. When team members travel for client matters, client development and organizational involvement, we encourage family to be part of the trip. We encourage family, spouses and domestic partners to travel and extend a stay with our team members. In many respects, airfare and hotel are already factored in for firm business. We do not nickel and dime over spouse’s or domestic partner’s meal, etc. Instead, we are appreciative of their support of our team. For organizations and events where it is common for the attendee to bring a spouse or domestic partner, we pay for that person’s registration, airfare and incidentals.

Telecommuting

Lawyers have all kinds of reasons to be out of the office, and the world accepts this. But if a lawyer wants to replace office time with work at home, often people think the whole foundation of collective effort is undermined. We, however, cannot think of a profession more suited to telecommuting than the legal profession.

We believe that telecommuting results in increased productivity for lawyers. Full-time lawyers who telecommute often work more hours than full-time non-telecommuters. Because the cloud-based tools are always available, telecommuters often have a more productive workweek than their office-bound colleagues. We believe telecommuting also allows our team more flexibility to attend to such personal commitments as medical appointments (for themselves, their children, or their elderly parents) or for school functions. Telecommuters can keep such appointments and still put in a full day’s worth of hours (or more) by working before and after those events. We believe that because telecommuters have more limited personal interaction with colleagues, their communication with colleagues necessarily becomes more valuable and more precise. Telecommuting also reduces the firm’s need for office space and overhead expense, which we invest in our team to ensure they continue to be available for client service.

Flexible Work Policy

Flexibility in work schedule is a win-win scenario. Our team is our main asset. Motivating and enabling our team to work more efficiently and effectively is thus a key objective. In a firm such as ours, unpredictability of workload can make flexible working more difficult to accommodate – but not impossible. Where there is clear communication between colleagues about their working arrangements and where people know what is expected of them, there are enormous benefits to both the firm and its team members in a flexible work schedule.

Common types of flexible working at our firm include:

• Lessoned percentage of annualized hours on a permanent basis;

• Job sharing;

• Part-time;

• Working less or more than the normal hours, perhaps by working a four day week;

• Staggered hours – shifting hours of work to earlier or later in the day or breaking up the day;

• Lessoned percentage of hours after leave on a temporary basis.

Bereavement Leave

We offer adjustment of firm expectations for lawyers and paid leave of up to 10 days to team employees for the loss of a close family member or domestic partner.

Real Time Feedback and Engagement

We have employed electronic tools to regularly survey our team and seek input, measure internal happiness, and allow for confidential input and confidential response.

Charitable Support

The firm is currently developing a program to benefit our team members.

Dental and Vision

The firm contributes towards dental and vision coverage for all full-time eligible employees. Domestic partner coverage is available.

Health HSA/FSA

Eligible full-time eligible team members save money by paying for qualified medical expenses (i.e. co-pays, deductibles, qualifying prescriptions, certain medical equipment) with pre-tax dollars from a health savings account or flexible spending account. The firm’s health care FSA provides for a year-to-year rollover up to allowable limits.

Commuter and Transit Benefits

Eligible full-time team members save money by paying qualified commuting and parking expenses with pre-tax dollars from a flexible spending account. Qualified parking consists of parking near the workplace or close to a location from which employees commute to work either via transit, vanpool or carpooling.

Dependent Care Expenses

We offer eligible full-time team members a Dependent Care FSA. This is a pre-tax benefit account used to pay for eligible dependent care services, such as preschool, summer day camp, before or after school programs, and child or adult daycare. It’s a smart, simple way to save money while taking care of your loved ones so that you can continue to work.