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how are the hours, work/life balance at Milbank Tweed? Cadwalader? From what i've heard and read, responses go from average for nyc biglaw to a complete sweatshop. Average I can deal with, complete sweatshop is a big problem though. Thanks for the feedback.

Cadwalader is the worst.

is there any degree of control? Like, if you are not aiming to make partner or get a big bonus, can you lay relatively low billing 1900-1950 or so hours (its insane that that counts as relatively low) and still be ok, or will you just be pummeled with work no matter what you do?

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Cadwalader has no respect for their associates. Partners will treat you like shit (as in scream and throw shit at you). Hours are pretty standard for biglaw, though, from what I've heard.

Also, I've heard good things about Milbank.

Cadwalader came up early and often in last cycles firms to avoid thread. I think they also remain leveraged at a pretty high rate. Make of that what you will.

Had a pretty bizarre interview at Milbank back when I was interviewing. The interviewer kind of looked like Jack Nicholson in the Shining, and kind of acted like it too.

Also have a friend there who is not a big fan. YMMV of course.

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Anonymous User wrote:Had a pretty bizarre interview at Milbank back when I was interviewing. The interviewer kind of looked like Jack Nicholson in the Shining, and kind of acted like it too.

Also have a friend there who is not a big fan. YMMV of course.

Anon, can you give more info on your interview with them? I have a screener for this year's OCI and appreciate any advice you may have to offer.

When I interviewed at Cadwalader, an associate said the best thing about working at Cadwalader is the resume line you get when you apply other places. I don't think he meant it the way I interpreted it, but it was telling that the "best" thing about a firm was inherently tied to leaving the firm.

Anonymous User wrote:When I interviewed at Cadwalader, an associate said the best thing about working at Cadwalader is the resume line you get when you apply other places. I don't think he meant it the way I interpreted it, but it was telling that the "best" thing about a firm was inherently tied to leaving the firm.

To be fair, this is true of most biglaw firms. No associate should say it in an interview tho.

What is your idea of "complete sweatshop"? The "average" biglaw firm seems to be a lot of people's definition of sweatshop. I doubt the difference in (actually worked, not billable) hours between Cadwalader and Milbank is going to be all that huge, although the culture could differ in other ways.

Anonymous User wrote:Cadwalader is the worst.

I think this is no longer true. Guy who apparently made this firm really bad has left for GT. The firm has also consciously been trying to improve morale.