Vantaggi
- Access to technology and resources/CLEs
Svantaggi
- Attorneys collaborate (depending on their relationships), but they are treated as solos. The politics often get confusing between offices and some attorneys/practice groups as well. - The pay is dramatically lower than market because of the "work life balance" they claim to provide, but they really don't care as long as you are billing your time. Big law work setting without the benefit of the pay. von Briesen is aware of this as they are the only firm in Wisconsin to not report their starting salaries on NALP. The remaining WI firms report on average an 1,800/year requirement with a mean entry salary of approximately $175,000; von Briesen's is 1,700 and $130,000. - No general form bank or direction for associates; each shareholder operates their own ship leaving the associate to figure it out (associate success is heavily dependent on the willingness of your assigning attorney to communicate and direct) - Quality of attorneys and work product across offices differ dramatically - Associates receive regular monthly trainings with the same underlying message: bill, be available at all times to bill more, and don't forget to bill