So far, over 3,000 people have completed the RollOnFriday Firm of the Year 2016 survey, and you can still have your say here if you haven't already done so.

And lawyers themselves have come in for close scrutiny. At Herbert Smith Freehills one lawyer says that the "new generation of partners are friendly and approachable" - but goes on to warn that the open communication led to him being "given instructions on a matter whilst in the gents." At Eversheds a lawyer says the only good thing about the firm is the "gallows humour" of the team. Whilst a staffer at Mayer Brown thinks it's a bad thing that "everyone says hello".

The survey also highlights divisions within firms. A lawyer at Allen & Overy says the firm is a "21st century version of Downton Abbey" with "posh toffs vs chavs" (but fails to mention which side they are on). A trainee who perhaps already has an eye on the top job at Ince & Co criticises the "large number of business services people (incl. management)" and wonders "just what do they do all day long?" At Bird & Bird an NQ highlights a possible office design flaw: "there's such a great open door policy that some departments don't even have doors!"

Other firms are praised for having partners who break down divisions by getting plastered. At Travers Smith, one associate has fond memories of "two very senior partners" singing karaoke to "Madonna's Like a Virgin at 3am". Whilst at White & Case, one lawyer can't get enough of "Prosecco-pong in the kitchens with the partners joining in".

  But which is your firm?
 

A fair number of respondents also focused on food. The Olswang cookie debate rages on, with one lawyer claiming they remain "as good as ever", with another complaining they "are several days old". Times appear to be tough at Hill Dickinson where a lawyer has written in to say that the coffee "has been downgraded from Nescafe Gold to Nescafe Blend 43. Terrible stuff." At Bird & Bird the porridge is marked down for being "too inconsistent". And smug lawyer at Bond Dickinson has revealed "when we do have biscuits, they are not ordinary biscuits, but M&S biscuits." If only the same could be said at Pinsent Masons, which has "naff" biscuits.  And a Shearman & Sterling lawyer complained about the terrible "4 week period before Christmas when they replace the cookies with mince pies". And relax, it's all over now.

Wellbeing is a hot topic too. Leading the Namaste field is Nabarro, where one stress-free staffer says "we are being massaged and yoga'd to within an inch of our lives". Although whilst yoga pants might be ok, there are "no jeans or trainers allowed on dress down days" at the firm. One lawyer at Norton Rose Fulbright seemed to be disgusted at the healthy approach as biscuits were replaced "with seed packets and Naked Bars, absolutely gutted."

The survey runs for another week so make sure you chip in.
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Comments

Anonymous 14 January 16 23:02

Couldn't have put it better myself about Allen & Overy. The divide is well and truly established but it's management to blame. A&O are well known to pay lawyers/partners well leaving very little for the help. Society really hasn't changed much since 1920s.