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How is the change management practice at your firm? Is there WLB in this field? Thinking of applying for a few Change Management Specialist roles but really want to be in a practice that has decent WLB and nice people. I have a background in comms and am currently in tech industry :’) Accenture Deloitte EY PwC KPMG
YOE: 1.8
Current TC: $130k
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Current billable hour count check?
I have a friend who works there and looks like classic big law hours constant 2 am nights. She was working Christmas Eve. Etc. One of the main reasons I wouldn't go into big law.
I summered there and was an asso for 2.5 years in a transactional group.
Comp is top notch (you'll never fear not getting a bonus given no billables and the firm's fast match speeds); culture differs a bit group by group and there 100% are bad apples but overall, people are very nice; support systems (legal assistants, tech, library, word processing, etc) are generally great; hours can get pretty terrible though that's the same at any particularly NY based big law - that being said, I don't think lit has been as busy as the transactional groups. Some lit assos have been known to be sent to restructuring to help out because our restructuring group is always slammed.
But lit seems to have more structure in terms of a non-partner/asso assignment coordinators and such that make life a bit easier because it is a huge group and maybe also because the chairman is an active litigator. I'd say look into the type of lit you want to practice and see if Milbank offers that.
I get the vibe they are traditional big law but actually have some pretty cool people unlike some stodgier firms
Top of the market comp, depends on group for specific culture but overall everyone I’ve worked with (across groups/offices) has been pretty laidback and friendly - I think we have a solid group of people at all levels. Certain groups are more intense than others hours-wise and I know several folks who’ve pulled 300 hour months. Mine have ranged from 60-260 (transactional). Now everyone everywhere is slammed and we are not immune from typical biglaw insanity (in normal times) but if you’re going to be in this line of work, my experience has been a good one overall.
I am in a finance group at Milbank and quite happy overall.
Positives:
-Top comp, no hours requirement
-Overall good people at all levels; it’s really nice to work with people that are overwhelmingly reliable, pleasant and interesting
-This is group specific, but I think the training I’ve received is better than what peers elsewhere describe
Negatives
-As with any large firm, much more can and should be done about diversity and the experience of women and parents
-Some groups seem rougher than others (litigation is not one of the rougher ones from what I hear)
-It’s biglaw so the generic hours complaints apply, although my group manages staffing well and I don’t have trouble taking vacation and such