Wilson Elser Reviews

Pros

Wilson Elser offered good salary, good benefits, and I enjoyed working with a lot of the attorneys and most of the secretaries and paralegals.

Cons

There is very little growth opportunity at Wilson Elser even though it is an international company. They didn't have any sort of career training or help further education so if you stay there, you pretty much stay where you are unless you're an attorney, in which case, you can move up the ladder.

Advice to Senior Management

It wouldn't be a bad idea to help with tuition assistance for legal secretaries. Many of them have very good legal skills on par with the paralegals and with some flexibility and monetary help, they could become great assets to the team. It would also provide better internal growth, company loyalty, and the drive that employees need to know that their hard work can help take them to the next level.

Pros

Salary, benefits, resume builder, good for those interested in insurance law.

Cons

Boring, no future in this career, morally heinous.

Pros

Courtroom experience for young lawyers

Cons

Low pay compared to similar firms

Pros

Salaries have gone up and there is a great work/life balance. There is a good chance to become partner if you prove your worth. If you are committed it can be a great place to have a career.

Cons

A large part of how many opportunities you may receive depends on which partner you work for. If you get hired into a good group you can do really well.

Pros

a lot of responsibilities; great if you like a lot of autonomy

Cons

Pay and cut throat environment

Advice to Senior Management

none

Pros

Its a salary; that's about all. You get what is required by law, but little else. Support staff is not treated respectfully.

Cons

No ability to advance; no respect. You have very little choice or say about your career. Technology is behind the times so you develop very little marketability.

Advice to Senior Management

Would be nice if they would care about support staff instead of treating them merely as pawns in filling their own pockets.

Pros

Good medical and dental benefit, good paid days off.

Cons

$100 dollar bonus for the support support and 2% percent raises. Now I ask you did i make you laugh!

Advice to Senior Management

Appreciate the support staff more!

Pros

Good for families/personal time balance depending on group.

Cons

Zero feedback, little support or guidance.

Pros

The billable requirements are not overbearing (1900). Depending on which group you are assigned to, you are given a lot of independence. Most associates and partners are willing to answer your questions and provide guidance.

Cons

The pay is paltry. The firm holds itself out as a "biglaw" firm, but the practice groups are very limited, and the pay is half of that offered at "biglaw" firms.

Advice to Senior Management

None.

Pros

You can get a lot of courtroom experience quickly, getting you out of the office. For insurance defense, they pay in the top tier.

Cons

Becoming an equity partner is very difficult as the partners fight over credit for work, even when you bring it into the firm. There is no training or formal mentoring program as young associates are "thrown into the fire." The endless push for more billable hours is a drain as you see the salary pale in comparison to BigLaw billing the same number of hours.

Advice to Senior Management

There needs to be better communication between the main office and the satellite offices and there should be a formal mentoring program for younger attorneys. Lastly, associates need to work towards something and the obstacles to just even making a contract partner (4 years with the firm, 9 years total as a minimum) is often short-sighted. Associates who bring in business should be rewarded and allowing a partner to take credit for a national client when he/she played no role in that client sending cases to another office is ridiculous.