Hey guys,
What is the work life balance of Bryan Cave or Armstrong like for their St. Louis office in terms of required billables vs actual billables?
Also, general environment?
Thanks
Work life balance at St. Louis Law Firms? Forum
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Re: Work life balance at St. Louis Law Firms?
I have no firsthand experience with either, but I've heard some things from associates at these firms and at others.
BC has a reputation for generally more work than other firms in town, but I think the variation from group to group can be pretty wide. Hours are always a hard thing to nail down, because at secondary market firms the year-to-year variation within groups can be as big as between groups or firms. BC has a reputation as a pretty congenial place.
I know nothing about hours at AT, but its reputation is that it's a rough place to work. From what I've heard, the partnership is on a pure eat-what-you-kill system, and it makes for a cutthroat place. I have heard this from a former associate and a partner at another firm, so I am guessing they got it second hand. If you hear otherwise from someone more likely to know, I would go with what they say.
That being said, outside of IP, I don't think anyone in St. Louis really considers AT in the top tier. Firms like Husch and TC are definitely held in higher esteem, and BC is in it's own category. I would take BC hands down for anything but IP. If IP, I would talk to some people in that area, because I don't know enough about BC's practice to help. I definitely wouldn't take AT just in the hopes of better hours though.
BC has a reputation for generally more work than other firms in town, but I think the variation from group to group can be pretty wide. Hours are always a hard thing to nail down, because at secondary market firms the year-to-year variation within groups can be as big as between groups or firms. BC has a reputation as a pretty congenial place.
I know nothing about hours at AT, but its reputation is that it's a rough place to work. From what I've heard, the partnership is on a pure eat-what-you-kill system, and it makes for a cutthroat place. I have heard this from a former associate and a partner at another firm, so I am guessing they got it second hand. If you hear otherwise from someone more likely to know, I would go with what they say.
That being said, outside of IP, I don't think anyone in St. Louis really considers AT in the top tier. Firms like Husch and TC are definitely held in higher esteem, and BC is in it's own category. I would take BC hands down for anything but IP. If IP, I would talk to some people in that area, because I don't know enough about BC's practice to help. I definitely wouldn't take AT just in the hopes of better hours though.
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Re: Work life balance at St. Louis Law Firms?
I practice in stl, but not at either of those firms. Anon above me stated exactly my understanding. I have friends at BC who love it. The only person I knew at AT (besides various opposing counsel) left after being told he wasn't putting in sufficient hours to be considered partnership material. He billed over 2300 hours that year (at least that's what he told me).
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Re: Work life balance at St. Louis Law Firms?
AT associates I know are not/were not happy and are seeking/have sought other opportunities (which are pretty good if you are in IP). AT comp dipped drastically. Definitely not in line with the "St. Louis Elite," in terms of comp or prestige. BC, TC, Husch, and probably even Lewis Rice in the first tier. AT/Greensfelder Tier 2, although Greensfelder at least pays closer to market.
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Re: Work life balance at St. Louis Law Firms?
Greensfelder is actually on the lower end of pay. BC, Husch, TC, and Lewis Rice are all even. Greensfelder starting salary is 10 - 15k lower.
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