Atmospheres at V30 Firms Forum

[Anonymous User]

I couldn't find it using the search function, so I figured I'd make a new thread. Is there any information that gives applicants a good idea of what the general atmosphere is like at each of the V30 firms? Also, does each firm's atmosphere differ greatly depending on which office you go to, or are most of them similar in this regard?

It just seems really hard to know how to determine which firms to bid on for OCI (other than by practice area) when sites like Glassdoor give literally every firm 3 stars and all of the reviews say, "The pay is great, but there is no room for advancement and they overwork you."

[911 crisis actor]

The atmosphere at Cravath is much higher in oxygen than at other firms, this is in order to facilitate better productivity and tolerance of the hellish hours. Compare with a firm like GDC, known for being financially conservative, where there is barely any O2 in the air.

[patogordo]

The atmosphere at Cravath is much higher in oxygen than at other firms, this is in order to facilitate better productivity and tolerance of the hellish hours. Compare with a firm like GDC, known for being financially conservative, where there is barely any O2 in the air.

Sidley Austin NYC's atmosphere contained trace amounts of nanothermite.

[dead head]

Come on; it's not an unreasonable question. Different firms have different cultures, and cultural fit is a legitimate concern.

[BaiAilian2013]

Yes, but I suspect that's why the search function didn't work, because there have been plenty of threads on culture, but none on "atmosphere". Anyway, it's a hard question to answer, because it does depend on firm, but also office of firm, and practice group within office, and often team within practice group. My own general observation is that you pay for prestige in culture, but that's anecdata. There will be exceptions in both directions.

[Frayed Knot]

I don't think there is a great resource for figuring out culture pre-OCI. You can get some indication from Vault/Chambers/TLS/firm receptions, but it's really something you'll need to focus on once you're in a room with lawyers from the firm. If you are trying to read the pre-OCI tea leaves, two tips:

1) Both here on TLS and in some of the Vault profiles, people will throw around words that can help you get a sense of where firms fall on an introversion/extroversion scale. (Words like "fratty, social, work hard/play hard, or bros" vs. words like "nerdy, respectful, academic, intellectual"). There have been a few "fratty firms vs. nerdy firms" threads on TLS that might be helpful. All of this paints with a really broad brush, but it's something, anyway.

2) When thinking about culture/atmosphere, pay some attention to compensation system/assignment system (this information is frequently on Vault or easier to find). Some place with lockstep compensation where associates get work through a central database is almost necessarily going to have a different culture than somewhere with huge ranges in bonuses between top performers and everyone else and a free market assignment system.

[911 crisis actor]

Sidley Austin NYC's atmosphere contained trace amounts of nanothermite.

Can't... say... I know anything about that. You're... asking the wrong person.

[thegrayman]

Most of the "culture" as far as you are concerned is going to be a factor of which partners and associates you work for. At any firm, there are going to be certain attorneys that are desirable to work for, and others that aren't. Your individual experience is going to be determined much more by who you're working with than any overarching culture.

[09042014]

1) Why would you possibly limit it to V30?
2) Office culture often varies Office to Office.
3) The culture of the group or partner you work for is more important

[jbagelboy]

As desert fox said, why "V30" firm cultures? The 'atmospheres' of the V28 firm are are going to vary - or not vary - as much with the V34 as with the V16 (these are randomly assigned numbers not to be matched with where a certain firm landed in recent rankings).

Trying to get a sense of the true differentiation between firms is tough. Still in that process myself.

[A. Nony Mouse]

The atmosphere at Cravath is much higher in oxygen than at other firms, this is in order to facilitate better productivity and tolerance of the hellish hours. Compare with a firm like GDC, known for being financially conservative, where there is barely any O2 in the air.

Sidley Austin NYC's atmosphere contained trace amounts of nanothermite.

It is a perfectly reasonable question, people. Please don't troll the on-topics.

[Dafaq]

If by chance there is a V30 associate on TLS… would be interesting to receive firsthand information.

[goldeneye]

If by chance there is a V30 associate on TLS… would be interesting to receive firsthand information.

What if they're V31?

[Anonymous User]

Paul Hastings has a pretty decent culture. Billable hours expectations are for you to hit 2000, but plenty of people don't, and they don't get fired or yelled at. The people are friendly and not typical aspie assholes. But that comes at a price, the firm no-offers weird, rude, or aspie 2Ls.

The LA and NYC office are slave driven a bit harder, as is the employment department.

[DrGuano]

If by chance there is a V30 associate on TLS… would be interesting to receive firsthand information.

Been a long time for me on these boards, but I'd be happy to provide some insight.

I'm a junior associate at a V10 in Manhattan. While I can't speak to other firms, at my firm, there is no general atmosphere. Corporate and litigation are night and day. Within those two practice areas, each sub-group has a different culture and within each sub-group, there is a different atmosphere depending on which partner you are working for.

I have found myself a few incredible partners to work for and my experience has been great. My hours have been tolerable, the workload interesting, and most days are fun. We take conference calls together, gather for coffee midday and will have a drink or two on Fridays. I have other friends in the same sub-group that working for different partners and are miserable.

[Dafaq]

Thank you for your reply. My experience as an SA in BL (not V30 though) was excellent. I relayed that experience in another thread and was told that because I was only an SA I never encountered the true horror that awaits. I did not and do not buy it. Glad to hear from someone with firsthand experience.

[A. Nony Mouse]

Thank you for your reply. My experience as an SA in BL (not V30 though) was excellent. I relayed that experience in another thread and was told that because I was only an SA I never encountered the true horror that awaits. I did not and do not buy it. Glad to hear from someone with firsthand experience.

Of course, the poster above also said:

I have other friends in the same sub-group that working for different partners and are miserable.

I'm not sure working a SA provides you with the info about which partners you'll end up working for as a junior associate (not saying your experience is sure to be miserable, saying people had a problem with you assuming it wouldn't be based on experience as a SA).

[Anonymous User]

OP here.

1) I apologize for using the wrong terminology. (You all almost made me doubt my English for a second though... I almost thought that workplace atmosphere wasn't actually a term until I asked Dr. Google.)

2) 50 or even 100 firms seemed like a lot to ask about, so I arbitrarily drew the line at what I thought would be a number of reasonable firms to discuss, but feel free to talk about any firm.

[Dafaq]

I'm not sure working a SA provides you with the info about which partners you'll end up working for as a junior associate (not saying your experience is sure to be miserable, saying people had a problem with you assuming it wouldn't be based on experience as a SA).

I am not advocating that everyone in BL is happy as a clam but as an SA who was friends with a number of first/second years (in and out of the office), I did not hear that they were dissatisfied (actually, just the opposite). I worked with associates and partners from the time school let out to the start of the next semester… it was my option to leave whenever I wanted (but I decided to forgo my vacation for the experience and money). DrGuano's firsthand experience all adds up.

[Pokemon]

1) Why would you possibly limit it to V30?
2) Office culture often varies Office to Office.
3) The culture of the group or partner you work for is more important

Cause anon is v30 or bust.