Skadden Arps – “Well-deserved reputation as a soulless sweatshop”

Pros

Money and prestige. Access to high-profile, challenging cases.

Cons

No realistic prospect of career advancement - you are more likely to be struck by lightning than to make partner. Not a quality of life firm - you are expected to be tethered to your blackberry at all times. Expect to work on your birthday, your children's birthdays, your wedding anniversary, etc. Extremely high turnover, which can be very disruptive to your cases, the staffing is always changing. Super-senior associates, those with, say, 10+ years of experience but no prospect of partnership, are who you will interact most directly with, and by and large they are bitter and power-mad.

Advice to Senior Management

Overworked, stressed-out, unappreciated associates who are being terrorized by your super-senior associates are not providing the best quality work product for your clients. Consider that weekends may be a necessary time off.