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My Firm is So Cheap That They . . .
Posted: Wed Mar 23, 2022 6:14 pm
by Anonymous User
Thought this might be a fun thread. Simply finish the sentence and name the firm. I'll start.
My firm is so cheap that they sent around a four page policy memorandum on how to get reimbursed for $25 dollar in-person lunches. Note the Palo Alto office must eat at the firm cafeteria and only gets $18 dollars as opposed to the $25 (inclusive of tax, tip and any other fees).
Wilson Sonsini.
Re: My Firm is So Cheap That They . . .
Posted: Wed Mar 23, 2022 6:20 pm
by Anonymous User
Anonymous User wrote: ↑Wed Mar 23, 2022 6:14 pm
Note the Palo Alto office must eat at the firm cafeteria and only gets $18 dollars as opposed to the $25 (inclusive of tax, tip and any other fees).
This is a plus because AFAIK these meals are tax-exempt.
Re: My Firm is So Cheap That They . . .
Posted: Wed Mar 23, 2022 6:45 pm
by Anonymous User
My firm is so cheap that they: still haven't matched Cravath...
Re: My Firm is So Cheap That They . . .
Posted: Wed Mar 23, 2022 7:16 pm
by Anonymous User
What does this mean must eat at the cafeteria, are you not allowed to bring in a sandwich? Or must eat in the cafeteria for it to be free. My firm doesn't pay for my lunch.
Re: My Firm is So Cheap That They . . .
Posted: Wed Mar 23, 2022 7:45 pm
by Anonymous User
Anonymous User wrote: ↑Wed Mar 23, 2022 7:16 pm
What does this mean must eat at the cafeteria, are you not allowed to bring in a sandwich? Or must eat in the cafeteria for it to be free. My firm doesn't pay for my lunch.
Firm sponsored meals to promote in-person interaction. If you choose to have the firm pay or reimburse you for the meal, at work in the PA office, you must eat at the cafeteria for it to be reimbursable. Sorry, no Chipotle. Limit, once per week and must be group approved.
Re: My Firm is So Cheap That They . . .
Posted: Thu Mar 24, 2022 7:12 am
by Anonymous User
My firm is so cheap they have never offered a technology stipend, and even made people go in person to their offices early on during the pandemic to pick up their external monitors for WFH.
Re: My Firm is So Cheap That They . . .
Posted: Thu Mar 24, 2022 11:19 am
by Anonymous User
During the height of covid they sent us a gift package. Mine consisted of a coffee mug with jelly beans inside of it. When I got it the mug was broken and the jelly beans spilled throughout the package.
Foley and Lardner.
Re: My Firm is So Cheap That They . . .
Posted: Thu Mar 24, 2022 9:47 pm
by Anonymous User
Anonymous User wrote: ↑Thu Mar 24, 2022 7:12 am
My firm is so cheap they have never offered a technology stipend, and even made people go in person to their offices early on during the pandemic to pick up their external monitors for WFH.
BCLP?
Re: My Firm is So Cheap That They . . .
Posted: Fri Mar 25, 2022 8:23 am
by Anonymous User
Deleted.
Re: My Firm is So Cheap That They . . .
Posted: Fri Mar 25, 2022 11:34 am
by Anonymous User
Anonymous User wrote: ↑Wed Mar 23, 2022 6:14 pm
Thought this might be a fun thread. Simply finish the sentence and name the firm. I'll start.
My firm is so cheap that they sent around a four page policy memorandum on how to get reimbursed for $25 dollar in-person lunches. Note the Palo Alto office must eat at the firm cafeteria and only gets $18 dollars as opposed to the $25 (inclusive of tax, tip and any other fees).
Wilson Sonsini.
You guys get reimbursed for in-person lunches???
-Weil associate
Re: My Firm is So Cheap That They . . .
Posted: Sat Mar 26, 2022 1:43 pm
by Anonymous User
Anonymous User wrote: ↑Thu Mar 24, 2022 11:19 am
During the height of covid they sent us a gift package. Mine consisted of a coffee mug with jelly beans inside of it. When I got it the mug was broken and the jelly beans spilled throughout the package.
Foley and Lardner.
Any thoughts on whether Foley is going to match the new Cravath scale, even for the first 3 years? Failure to even do that is the bigger sign of cheapness imo
Re: My Firm is So Cheap That They . . .
Posted: Sun Mar 27, 2022 3:15 pm
by Anonymous User
Anonymous User wrote: ↑Sat Mar 26, 2022 1:43 pm
Anonymous User wrote: ↑Thu Mar 24, 2022 11:19 am
During the height of covid they sent us a gift package. Mine consisted of a coffee mug with jelly beans inside of it. When I got it the mug was broken and the jelly beans spilled throughout the package.
Foley and Lardner.
Any thoughts on whether Foley is going to match the new Cravath scale, even for the first 3 years? Failure to even do that is the bigger sign of cheapness imo
I would bet they will but they will wait until mid-year to announce and then push the effectiveness until 2023 (new pay will start in Feb 2023). That's their modus operandi for market raises (I'm a 7th year and every raise was like this). They'll also do compression after year 3 - my current comp (before the raises) is 30k below NYC market salary.
Re: My Firm is So Cheap That They . . .
Posted: Sun Mar 27, 2022 4:13 pm
by Wanderingdrock
Anonymous User wrote: ↑Sun Mar 27, 2022 3:15 pm
Anonymous User wrote: ↑Sat Mar 26, 2022 1:43 pm
Anonymous User wrote: ↑Thu Mar 24, 2022 11:19 am
During the height of covid they sent us a gift package. Mine consisted of a coffee mug with jelly beans inside of it. When I got it the mug was broken and the jelly beans spilled throughout the package.
Foley and Lardner.
Any thoughts on whether Foley is going to match the new Cravath scale, even for the first 3 years? Failure to even do that is the bigger sign of cheapness imo
I would bet they will but they will wait until mid-year to announce and then push the effectiveness until 2023 (new pay will start in Feb 2023). That's their modus operandi for market raises (I'm a 7th year and every raise was like this). They'll also do compression after year 3 - my current comp (before the raises) is 30k below NYC market salary.
Why do you work there
Re: My Firm is So Cheap That They . . .
Posted: Sun Mar 27, 2022 4:54 pm
by Anonymous User
Wanderingdrock wrote: ↑Sun Mar 27, 2022 4:13 pm
Anonymous User wrote: ↑Sun Mar 27, 2022 3:15 pm
Anonymous User wrote: ↑Sat Mar 26, 2022 1:43 pm
Anonymous User wrote: ↑Thu Mar 24, 2022 11:19 am
During the height of covid they sent us a gift package. Mine consisted of a coffee mug with jelly beans inside of it. When I got it the mug was broken and the jelly beans spilled throughout the package.
Foley and Lardner.
Any thoughts on whether Foley is going to match the new Cravath scale, even for the first 3 years? Failure to even do that is the bigger sign of cheapness imo
I would bet they will but they will wait until mid-year to announce and then push the effectiveness until 2023 (new pay will start in Feb 2023). That's their modus operandi for market raises (I'm a 7th year and every raise was like this). They'll also do compression after year 3 - my current comp (before the raises) is 30k below NYC market salary.
Why do you work there
Secondary market so pay has historically been top of market; with the most recent raise it no longer is. If things go my way I'll be leaving sometime this year.
Re: My Firm is So Cheap That They . . .
Posted: Sun Mar 27, 2022 9:07 pm
by Anonymous User
You’re only allowed to get better pens with seniority. Want a pen that costs $1 from Costco? You better be a partner. At least attorneys weren’t forced to use the 5 cent big pens like secretaries were
Fried Frank
Re: My Firm is So Cheap That They . . .
Posted: Sun Mar 27, 2022 10:36 pm
by Wanderingdrock
Anonymous User wrote: ↑Sun Mar 27, 2022 4:54 pm
Wanderingdrock wrote: ↑Sun Mar 27, 2022 4:13 pm
Anonymous User wrote: ↑Sun Mar 27, 2022 3:15 pm
Anonymous User wrote: ↑Sat Mar 26, 2022 1:43 pm
Anonymous User wrote: ↑Thu Mar 24, 2022 11:19 am
During the height of covid they sent us a gift package. Mine consisted of a coffee mug with jelly beans inside of it. When I got it the mug was broken and the jelly beans spilled throughout the package.
Foley and Lardner.
Any thoughts on whether Foley is going to match the new Cravath scale, even for the first 3 years? Failure to even do that is the bigger sign of cheapness imo
I would bet they will but they will wait until mid-year to announce and then push the effectiveness until 2023 (new pay will start in Feb 2023). That's their modus operandi for market raises (I'm a 7th year and every raise was like this). They'll also do compression after year 3 - my current comp (before the raises) is 30k below NYC market salary.
Why do you work there
Secondary market so pay has historically been top of market; with the most recent raise it no longer is. If things go my way I'll be leaving sometime this year.
Thanks for the response. That makes a ton of sense, and I wish you the best of luck with your job search this year.
Re: My Firm is So Cheap That They . . .
Posted: Mon Mar 28, 2022 5:35 am
by Anonymous User
Wanderingdrock wrote: ↑Sun Mar 27, 2022 10:36 pm
Anonymous User wrote: ↑Sun Mar 27, 2022 4:54 pm
Wanderingdrock wrote: ↑Sun Mar 27, 2022 4:13 pm
Anonymous User wrote: ↑Sun Mar 27, 2022 3:15 pm
Anonymous User wrote: ↑Sat Mar 26, 2022 1:43 pm
Anonymous User wrote: ↑Thu Mar 24, 2022 11:19 am
During the height of covid they sent us a gift package. Mine consisted of a coffee mug with jelly beans inside of it. When I got it the mug was broken and the jelly beans spilled throughout the package.
Foley and Lardner.
Any thoughts on whether Foley is going to match the new Cravath scale, even for the first 3 years? Failure to even do that is the bigger sign of cheapness imo
I would bet they will but they will wait until mid-year to announce and then push the effectiveness until 2023 (new pay will start in Feb 2023). That's their modus operandi for market raises (I'm a 7th year and every raise was like this). They'll also do compression after year 3 - my current comp (before the raises) is 30k below NYC market salary.
Why do you work there
Secondary market so pay has historically been top of market; with the most recent raise it no longer is. If things go my way I'll be leaving sometime this year.
Thanks for the response. That makes a ton of sense, and I wish you the best of luck with your job search this year.
FWIW I genuinely like the place. Overall, more good people than bad. I've really liked my team and the partners do seem to care. That said, last year got a bit out of hand and we were short staffed (they never would admit it but a lot of people left for more money). I am just burnt out and exhausted. If they gave me 3 or 6 months off (full or partially paid) I'd probably stay and give it another 2-3 years. But I'm ready for a change of pace. Hopefully I can find that somewhere else.
Re: My Firm is So Cheap That They . . .
Posted: Mon Mar 28, 2022 2:30 pm
by Anonymous User
Anonymous User wrote: ↑Fri Mar 25, 2022 8:23 am
My firm is so cheap that it limited its Cravath scale match just to its US offices despite being a NY-based international firm with US attorneys working in various overseas offices. Its Asian offices haven't yet matched the current NY scale even though some of them are much busier than its NY office. Terrible, abysmal hours. Associates in certain Asian offices drowning in work, dying. Still getting paid under the old DPW scale. Associates in a few offices even getting paid under the antiquated 180k scale. Hours suck everywhere but at least compensation has to be market-level. That's the only way biglaw works.
W&C
This is terrible, so much for being the MOST "international" firm out there....
Re: My Firm is So Cheap That They . . .
Posted: Mon Mar 28, 2022 2:43 pm
by Anonymous User
Many years ago my firm imposed a $10/person limit on summer lunches. After much complaining, they generously increased the limit to $15/person, allowing us to get reimbursed for guac and a soda at Chipotle (back when they were good).
Re: My Firm is So Cheap That They . . .
Posted: Tue Mar 29, 2022 10:31 pm
by Anonymous User
They didn't give associates the non-free version of adobe pdf unless they begged and had a specific reason to use it. They refused to give summers adobe pdf, so as a summer associate I couldn't even OCR documents and had to read 300+ page deposition transcripts to find things without being able to control-f search. This was at Boies Schiller.
Re: My Firm is So Cheap That They . . .
Posted: Wed Mar 30, 2022 8:53 am
by Anonymous User
Anonymous User wrote: ↑Tue Mar 29, 2022 10:31 pm
They didn't give associates the non-free version of adobe pdf unless they begged and had a specific reason to use it. They refused to give summers adobe pdf, so as a summer associate I couldn't even OCR documents and had to read 300+ page deposition transcripts to find things without being able to control-f search. This was at Boies Schiller.
Wow. The other posts have been cheap, but this is idiotically cheap.
Re: My Firm is So Cheap That They . . .
Posted: Wed Mar 30, 2022 9:31 am
by Anonymous User
Anonymous User wrote: ↑Wed Mar 30, 2022 8:53 am
Anonymous User wrote: ↑Tue Mar 29, 2022 10:31 pm
They didn't give associates the non-free version of adobe pdf unless they begged and had a specific reason to use it. They refused to give summers adobe pdf, so as a summer associate I couldn't even OCR documents and had to read 300+ page deposition transcripts to find things without being able to control-f search. This was at Boies Schiller.
Wow. The other posts have been cheap, but this is idiotically cheap.
Penny wise, dollar stupid.
Re: My Firm is So Cheap That They . . .
Posted: Wed Mar 30, 2022 10:31 am
by TUwave
Anonymous User wrote: ↑Wed Mar 30, 2022 9:31 am
Anonymous User wrote: ↑Wed Mar 30, 2022 8:53 am
Anonymous User wrote: ↑Tue Mar 29, 2022 10:31 pm
They didn't give associates the non-free version of adobe pdf unless they begged and had a specific reason to use it. They refused to give summers adobe pdf, so as a summer associate I couldn't even OCR documents and had to read 300+ page deposition transcripts to find things without being able to control-f search. This was at Boies Schiller.
Wow. The other posts have been cheap, but this is idiotically cheap.
Penny wise, dollar stupid.
They're just billing out all that time it takes to review though...
Re: My Firm is So Cheap That They . . .
Posted: Wed Mar 30, 2022 10:34 am
by Anonymous User
TUwave wrote: ↑Wed Mar 30, 2022 10:31 am
Anonymous User wrote: ↑Wed Mar 30, 2022 9:31 am
Anonymous User wrote: ↑Wed Mar 30, 2022 8:53 am
Anonymous User wrote: ↑Tue Mar 29, 2022 10:31 pm
They didn't give associates the non-free version of adobe pdf unless they begged and had a specific reason to use it. They refused to give summers adobe pdf, so as a summer associate I couldn't even OCR documents and had to read 300+ page deposition transcripts to find things without being able to control-f search. This was at Boies Schiller.
Wow. The other posts have been cheap, but this is idiotically cheap.
Penny wise, dollar stupid.
They're just billing out all that time it takes to review though...
Okay then. Dollar wise, ethics stupid.
Not that clients pay for summers, but I imagine at least some of their clients haven't been too keen on paying thousands of dollars for associate review of long PDFs.
Re: My Firm is So Cheap That They . . .
Posted: Wed Mar 30, 2022 10:48 am
by Bramwell
Anonymous User wrote: ↑Fri Mar 25, 2022 8:23 am
My firm is so cheap that it limited its Cravath scale match just to its US offices despite being a NY-based international firm with US attorneys working in various overseas offices. Its Asian offices haven't yet matched the current NY scale even though some of them are much busier than its NY office. Terrible, abysmal hours. Associates in certain Asian offices drowning in work, dying. Still getting paid under the old DPW scale. Associates in a few offices even getting paid under the antiquated 180k scale. Hours suck everywhere but at least compensation has to be market-level. That's the only way biglaw works.
W&C
so go to a competitor. And if competitors are paying the same (or less), then I suppose your firm isn’t that cheap after all.