SEC reviews

4.5

85% would recommend to a friend

(305 total reviews)

Mary Jo White

77% approve of CEO

66% positive business outlook

SEC has an employee rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars, based on 305 company reviews on Glassdoor which indicates that most employees have an excellent working experience there. The SEC employee rating is 24% above average for employers within the Government & Public Administration industry (3.6 stars).

Reviews by job title

305 reviews
5.0
Aug 21, 2023
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Working as an attorney for the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) offers several noteworthy advantages. First and foremost, it provides an unparalleled opportunity to operate at the nexus of law and financial markets, enabling attorneys to influence and interpret securities regulations that shape the U.S. economy. This pivotal role ensures that SEC attorneys remain at the forefront of legal developments, allowing them to gain a deep understanding of complex financial instruments and transactions. Moreover, employment with the SEC is accompanied by the prestige and recognition of working for a preeminent regulatory agency. The collaborative environment encourages continuous learning, mentoring, and professional growth. Additionally, given the public service nature of the SEC, attorneys often find fulfillment in the knowledge that their work directly contributes to the protection of investors, the maintenance of fair and efficient markets, and the facilitation of capital formation. The combination of these professional experiences and the mission-driven nature of the work can be deeply rewarding for those passionate about the intertwining of law and finance.

Cons

Layers of bureaucracy that can make the decision-making process slow.

5.0
Feb 19, 2023
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

I was in a rulemaking office, and I got great exposure to regulatory work. I got assignments on several high-profile proposed rules. I sat in on meetings with big trade organizations and advocacy groups. I listened to the SEC staff debate changes to proposed rules. I also got a sense for the other Divisions in the SEC and solid face time with the attorneys within my Office.

Cons

I spent a lot of time on repetitive, semi-substantive assignments (filling out excel sheets with data, etc.). The attorneys I worked with on these projects appreciated my effort and the boring work always lead to more substantive assignments. But, in general, this externship had more rote, repetitive work than the other legal jobs I’ve had during law school. Also, the SEC has somewhat onerous rules around applying to jobs in the securities area during your externship. If you are looking for jobs while working in the SEC (which basically all law students are), then it might be worth asking about these rules before you accept an offer. Also, it’s worth mentioning that this position does not lead to guaranteed employment at the SEC. However, doing the program qualified me to apply for a few SEC fellowship positions, and it gave me plenty of good experience to talk about in subsequent job interviews.

Viewing 52 - 54 of 305 Reviews

Glassdoor has 505 SEC reviews submitted anonymously by SEC employees. Read employee reviews and ratings on Glassdoor to decide if SEC is right for you.