Baker Botts L.L.P.

Pros:

5.Current Employee, more than 1 yearBest firm everClient Development RecommendProsEveryone from the partners to the most junior staff is friendly and eager to get stuff done. The work is challenging and interesting. I get to work from home.ConsI'm on call all the time, but I like my job and peers so much, I don't really mind. New HR leader is implementing very unpopular changes.

Advice to law firm management:

Utilize all those non-attorney, non-billable managers you keep hiring to mitigate unproductive staff, instead of punishing everyone just to save a little money.

Pros:

Exceptional practicing attorneys who are the best of the best, and who treat colleagues at all levels with respect and appreciation.

Cons:

New HR leadership has changed the firm culture to one of mistrust and low morale among staff in less than one year. Apparently the leadership who enabled these changes believes hourly staff are misreporting time and don't deserve to use their earned time off.

Partners to Avoid and Why:

The three middle-aged, straight, white males who call all the shots at this firm, because they don't care about people anymore (they used to). They don't practice law, so clients won't be exposed to them. If you are an employee, you will be affected by their punitive policies.

Favorite Things About this Firm:

Practicing attorneys who bring in clients; dedicated and longtime, loyal staff colleagues.

Advice to law firm management:

Utilize all those non-attorney, non-billable managers you keep hiring to mitigate unproductive staff, instead of punishing everyone just to save a little money.

Pros:

Exceptional practicing attorneys who are the best of the best, who treat colleagues at all levels with respect and appreciation.

Cons:

New HR leadership has changed the firm culture to one of mistrust and low morale among staff in less than one year. Apparently the leadership who enabled these changes believes staff are misreporting time and don't deserve to use their earned time off, in keeping with similar law firms' policies.

Partners to Avoid and Why:

The three middle-aged, straight, white males who call all the shots at this firm, because they don't care about people anymore (they used to). They don't practice law, so clients won't be exposed to them. If you are an employee, you will be affected by their punitive policies.

Favorite Things About this Firm:

Practicing attorneys who bring in clients; dedicated and longtime, loyal staff colleagues.

Advice to law firm management:

Just a little more communication about onboarding would be nice!

Pros:

Supportive leadership, positive culture, market pay. Very family-friendly. Overall a great place to start a legal career.

Cons:

Occasional lack of transparency

Partners to Avoid and Why:

None

Favorite Things About this Firm:

Great people! So many snacks in the break room!

Career Opportunities:

Compensation & Benefits:

Work/Life Balance:

Senior Management:

Culture & Values:

Length of Employment:

Less than a year

Advice to law firm management:

Just a little more communication about onboarding would be nice!

Pros:

Supportive leadership, positive culture, market pay. Overall a great place to start a legal career. Very open to helping you find other opportunities should you decide to leave.

Cons:

Occasional lack of transparency

Partners to Avoid and Why:

None

Favorite Things About this Firm:

Great people! So many snacks in the break room!

Advice to law firm management:

Approach your work with an open mind and they will do everything they can to help you out to be successful.

Pros:

Baker Botts LLP is a wonderful law firm and I'm so glad I made the choice to join their family. They treat me better than any place I've worked.

Cons:

The hours can be hard and demanding. The work is very difficult, but it's very rewarding.

Advice to law firm management:

Working on improving management. Keep up the good work.

Pros:

The benefits are great and upper management is wonderful. There are great social opportunities for staff. The salary, holidays and benefits are good.

Cons:

Management is poor. Human resources doesn't know how to handle issues. Billable hours are intense and competitive.

Advice to law firm management:

I would like to see some sort of effort to encourage collaboration at this firm.

Pros:

Good Place to Work

Cons:

Not as collaborative of a work environment as I would like. People largelykeep to themselves and don't interact very much. I suppose that's just the kind of culture that thisfirm attracts. Introverts would fit in very well here.