I hear from some people that they're "work hard, play hard" - but I hear from others (and the Vault Survey) that they have reasonable collegiality but are "closed door, work-obsessed ... go directly home" etc.

Anyone here with any insight?

Although I wouldn't say either of those are ideal, I'd prefer the latter to the former - lawyers have their good points but I'm not too interested in spending the little bit of time I have outside of the office with lawyers unless its a few that I've really built a real relationship with.

My ideal firm would be a place where people work really hard to beat the other side but aren't motivated to undercut each other(any more than is normal for a law firm, at least) and have their own lives outside of the office. Where's K&E in this calculus? (Specifically DC if anyone knows).

Thanks.

Current SA. It depends on the group and it depends on the occasion and it depends on the day. Some of the attorneys in some of the groups are definitely work hard/play hard. However, some of the other attorneys do definitely just go home after work. It's like any firm. There are a variety of personalities and a variety of working styles. Certain groups do definitely have more of a work hard/play hard mentality especially when it comes to summer recruiting events (and it becomes very obvious once you go to the firm), but others don't.

people's personalities don't magically change once they start working at a certain firm. they're not cults

Very interested in what some of the more work hard play hard groups are. M&A? Leveraged Finance? And curious as to what office has the frattiest culture?

In before someone uses the phrase "MARKET SHATTERING."

The thing is, though, that your personality does change based on your environment. People aren't monoliths, our behavior is very situational.

It definitely depends, and I don't think it's Kirkland-specific. As you'd expect, the attorneys with families or even just spouses at home tend to leave at decent hours and work from home if they have to; the single attorneys tend to come in later and stay in the office later and then go out afterwards.

At least on the west coast, I'd say that the corporate groups party more. There may just be a higher concentration of single folks there though.

As for the closed-door thing, I don't really see much of that. Generally a collegial group -- while the firm is known for being cut-throat, that seems to be more external than internal. The associates (to my surprise, to be honest, given KE's reputation) actually get along really well because there is more than enough work and reward for everybody.

This is all I can think about when reading this thread.

OP here. Thanks

From fratty to nerdy:

Bankruptcy>>>>>>>>>>>>>>corporate>>>>>>>>>litigation>>>>>>>>>>>>>IP

This is hilariously true of the summer associates at my office.

Also, *ahem*, restructuring.

MARKET SHATTERING BROWNIES