Milbank Tweed Reviews

Pros

Until fairly recently, Milbank management on the Legal side of the personnel office was made up of relatively dull people who could have done well in the Post Office if they hadn't lucked out with gigs at MTHM. The firm's focus on moneymaking, which took hold almost 2 decades ago when Mel M. Immergut assumed chairmanship, led them to adopt the latest techniques in worker manipulation. What makes employees tick? How much crap will they take before leaving? If they go, should you care?

It pretty much worked. Profits shot thru the roof, and although prestige among peers suffered (latest ranking puts it around 35th place on the Amlaw list, wayyyy down from its former top 10 status), this is after all the law business. The place makes a lot of money.

Not too long ago, a shuffle in legal personnel ended up with one of the brainiest, most likable people ever to stumble through the doors at 1 CMP. Seems Mel got tired of dealing with yes-men and -women who could not think. Now that that's out of the way, working as a paralegal at the law firm the Rockfellers treated like family has gotten, well, pleasant. It's been years since I could tell someone I love working here. Happy days are here again.

Cons

Not the worst pay, but considering how good some of the paras are, you would think they'd make more than a legal secretary. They don't.

Advice to Senior Management

Keep a good thing going with the Middlebury connection. Start taking Marketing seriously -- there's not enough damage control and the work is, well, sloppy. I should know. I proofread it.

Pros

It is a big law firm, like all the rest. Some people working there are impressive, while others are not.

Cons

Working at a big law firm is pretty rough place to work for anyone, regardless of how good you are or how much you like the work.

Advice to Senior Management

The law firm should not be afraid to buck the trend among large law firms and provide better feedback to associates and more information and transparency in general.

Pros

Good firm. Pretty good pay. Treated fairly.

Cons

There really is no growth from a Legal Assistant position unless you hang around for 10 years to become a case manager. Only way to move up is to go back to law school to become lawyer, then try and get a job with Milbank. That is expected though when becoming a paralegal/legal assistant

Advice to Senior Management

None

Pros

It is a prestigious firm. Associates are able to work with high level clients.

Cons

long hours, flat bonus structure

Advice to Senior Management

Dont make promises you can't keep. Announced layoffs after promising no layoffs

Pros

It is rated well by investment banks and financial institutions.

It has a geat discounted cafeteria, which makes food al a carte. There are two soups of the day, which is a great option. It is open early for breakfast. It is also open after lunch for snacks.

Some of the departments get involved in notable transactions. Often these transactions allow one to work with interesting clients. There is scope for an attorney after having worked with a client to procure a job offer from the client. Accordingly, it is a good leg up to a cushy in-house legal role.

Cons

It is a specialised firm, therefore it is hard to learn quickly about different areas.

It is located Downtown, away from all the other law firms, so you cannot hang out with old law school friends.

The name does not carry as much as other big law firms in New York.

Only some of the departments in the firm are recognised well. If one gets stuck in one of the other areas, work is not as challenging or rewarding. There is very limited scope for moving to a different area, or even working with a different area. Related to this, the firm is not "fully integrated" within, the different departments are run like they were different law firms. If an attorney does not join the firm as a summer associate, it is very hard to get to know people in other departments.

Advice to Senior Management

The firm should work on co-operation between sub-groups.

The firm should be ashamed about its tops-down approach to management, and "hierarchy" within the working environment. They should stop insulting the intelligence of junior associates.

Pros

Pleasant attorneys, good salary, good benefits, nice cafeteria. Many secretaries here 25 - 40 years -- Firm must be doing something right!

Cons

Too many managers that do nothing being paid big bucks. Not enough overtime for adminsitrative staff and poor overtime policy.

Advice to Senior Management

Scrutinize your managers and get rid of those that do nothing -- open your eyes!

Pros

Pays top market salaries, but the work expectations are relatively reasonable (you are considered 100% utilized - i.e. not on the block for new assignments - if you are billing 40 hours a week). No target hours for making bonus, which they are always one of the first few firms to match upon every bonus increase. The firm has a subsidized cafe and a solid dinner program.

Cons

The partnership seems to be pretty miserly when it comes to reinvesting profits. Who can forget when they removed the coffee machines from floors a couple years back to save a couple bucks (although they have since been shamed into returning them).

Advice to Senior Management

Higher an interior designer.