Hundreds of trainees and NQs have answered the siren call of RollOnFriday's Firm of the Year
2015 survey (which closes on Thursday, so enter now), and a few of their
revelations probably won't be featuring in recruitment brochures.
The grim reality of work/life balance at City firms is a popular topic. A new Linklaters trainee says she felt like a "lamb to slaughter" when an associate showed her the hours he worked, while a Clifford Chance trainee who isn't ranting about the infidel says making social plans can be a "waste of time and effort".
Meanwhile, a Slaughters NQ buffs up the firm's old-school reputation by recalling a recent IT demonstration "where people were encouraged to 'have a look' at an iPhone 6".
Others warn of pockets of macho culture. According to one trainee, Stephenson Harwood's dick-measuring hotspot is the shipping department, which is "brimming with aggressive men" trying to "beat their chest the loudest". Over at Weil an NQ says some peers "seem to see their female colleagues as nothing but meat", compensating for "the fact they don't have time to find anyone else outside of the office".
Most trainees seem fairly happy, though one at Olswang reveals that while "all my friends think I have a positive training contract" surrounded by "bright, enthusiastic" lawyers and a "decent" work life balance, "none of the above is true. I hate my life. Every time a partner says how lucky we are to be at Olswang it's basically a kick in the teeth". A Jones Day trainee who says the partners can be "class" has a much nicer secret: "I've had one help me with bundling".
If a partner has helped you with bundling, or bundled you into the back of a van and beaten you for your failings, fill in the survey.
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The grim reality of work/life balance at City firms is a popular topic. A new Linklaters trainee says she felt like a "lamb to slaughter" when an associate showed her the hours he worked, while a Clifford Chance trainee who isn't ranting about the infidel says making social plans can be a "waste of time and effort".
Meanwhile, a Slaughters NQ buffs up the firm's old-school reputation by recalling a recent IT demonstration "where people were encouraged to 'have a look' at an iPhone 6".
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Others warn of pockets of macho culture. According to one trainee, Stephenson Harwood's dick-measuring hotspot is the shipping department, which is "brimming with aggressive men" trying to "beat their chest the loudest". Over at Weil an NQ says some peers "seem to see their female colleagues as nothing but meat", compensating for "the fact they don't have time to find anyone else outside of the office".
Most trainees seem fairly happy, though one at Olswang reveals that while "all my friends think I have a positive training contract" surrounded by "bright, enthusiastic" lawyers and a "decent" work life balance, "none of the above is true. I hate my life. Every time a partner says how lucky we are to be at Olswang it's basically a kick in the teeth". A Jones Day trainee who says the partners can be "class" has a much nicer secret: "I've had one help me with bundling".
If a partner has helped you with bundling, or bundled you into the back of a van and beaten you for your failings, fill in the survey.
Comments
It did not go down well with the other attendees of the conference.
Nobody who want to be the best lawyer wants a work life balance really it just does n't work like that.
Who are you trying to convince - the NQs or yourself? Nobody who want [sic] to be the best lawyer posts without checking for typos. Also, some of us are happy being very good lawyers with jobs we enjoy while still having enough work/life balance to see our friends occasionally and maybe even start a family.
You say this like its a bad thing.