OCC Listed as One of America's Greatest Places for Lawyers to Work

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency has been recognized as one of the best places in America for a lawyer to work.

In a new book, America's Greatest Places to Work with a Law Degree, published by Harcourt Brace Legal & Professional Publications Inc., author Kimm Alayne Walton wrote that "people who work at the OCC rave about the supportive, cooperative, and productive atmosphere there." She noted that new attorneys deal directly with agency policy makers, national banks and their lawyers, other bank regulatory agencies and the public on a daily basis.

"One of the OCC's priorities is to foster a positive work environment that encourages all employees to take advantage of their many talents and reach their full potential," said OCC Chief Counsel Julie L. Williams. "I'm delighted that an outside source has recognized our efforts to create a challenging and invigorating environment which is always striving for excellence."

The author said she selected employers based on interviews with law school administrators. School administrators, Ms. Walton said, "always struck me with their integrity, and they talk to law school students and graduates all the time—they're incredibly plugged into the legal community—so they're more knowledgeable than anybody about the great employers." Ms. Walton also interviewed new OCC attorneys and incorporated their observations in the section, "What It's Like to Work There." 

"We are appreciative of the author's conclusions about the work environment at the OCC," said Ms. Williams. "We are proud to be one of the federal agencies that made the cut, and we are committed to doing even better in the future."