Advice to law firm management:
The work environment here needs to be improved, especially in regards to the partners. Disrespect is never a good thing; it hurts the firm's morale and productivity.

Pros:
The firm does a great job providing little perks for the entire office: donuts and bagels, a well-stocked fridge, and birthday parties making working here that much better.

Cons:
One of the partners is incredibly disrespectful to associates and support staff, which is having a negative effect on morale in the office.

Career Opportunities:

Compensation & Benefits:

Work/Life Balance:

Senior Management:

Culture & Values:

Current or former employee?:
Current Employee

Length of Employment:
10+ years

Advice to law firm management:
Get anger management training/ therapy/ and leadership training for the partner who needs it.

Pros:
Staff and Associate attorneys are nice.

Cons:
The heavyset partner in Sarasota is downright hostile. Expect gritted teeth and bulging eyes if you ask any questions. An assistant compared “the look” she gives to Jaws. Expect to be spoken down to, not given clear instructions, and no guidance. Expect aggression when you ask questions if you don’t understand something she says. Office staff cowers in fear, walks on eggshells, and rejoices when she is not in the office. Pretty much all associates start looking for another job after a month of working with her. Turnover is the fastest I’ve seen at any firm. A friend who interviewed with her and was offered a job described her as “full of self hate that could I could feel. I knew it could be taken out on me if I accepted, so I declined.” The billing requirements are ridiculous, and you will be paid nothing. Comparable firms pay five figures more, plus monthly bonuses for hitting the same hours they expect you to hit here. This place is a sweatshop- low pay and verbal torture from a hostile partner. Expect the managing partner to do nothing and brush it under the rug. He’s insanely cheap with no understanding of valuing employees. That’s why he can’t keep any. No young attorney is going to be bullied, stingily paid, work in a dingy firm in the middle of nowhere, while practicing in an undesirable area like worker’s comp for long. Some of those variables you can’t change- so change the ones you can. Don’t let Jaws treat people like garbage and pay them more.

Partners to Avoid and Why:
The overweight female partner in Sarasota.

Favorite Things About this Firm:
Everyone lives in fear together, so staff and associates get along for the most part. Everyone knows how horrible she is.

Career Opportunities:

Compensation & Benefits:

Work/Life Balance:

Senior Management:

Culture & Values:

Current or former employee?:
Former Employee

Last Year at Employer:
2018

Job type:
Full time

Length of Employment:
10+ years